Ever considered a vacation that’s entirely car-free?

Just in time for Earth Day, Jamie Stringfellow, founder of WeekendWalk.com, shares four ways to explore the eco-friendly destination of Santa Barbara, where the only footprint you leave behind is your own.

Don’t get me wrong. I love cars and road tripping, but if a vacation can involve hiking, paddling or biking by day, followed by a nice meal (with wine!) and a comfortable bed at night, why not step away from the vehicle and travel car-free?

Check out these four ways to explore Santa Barbara and its surrounding areas without getting behind the wheel.

Santa Barbara has had three disastrous situations they used as opportunities to create one of the more eco-friendly cities in the country.

The earthquake of 1925 devastated the city. From its rubble, the city created strict zoning laws—proscribing the red-tile roof Spanish design, creating and preserving access to the shore, and burying power lines.

After the 1969 oil spill, citizens rallied to make sure such a tragedy would never again soil their shores and wildlife. Earth Day was born in 1970 out of those efforts, and Santa Barbara’s original Earth Day inspired hundreds of similar celebrations, and awareness, around the country.

PeterGreenberg.com & local homeowner Oprah Winfrey are fans of Earth Day. Check out Oprah’s Earth Day Vacation Ideas. You might also enjoy the earth-friendly adventures of our Eco-Travel section.

The area became so beautiful and sought-after that too many people, in too many cars, drove into Santa Barbara County. By the late 1990s, air quality had gotten so bad that the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District knew it had to find some way to decrease the number of vehicles driving into the area without turning visitors away.

It was Mary Byrd at the Air Pollution Control District who in 1998 came up with the idea of Santa Barbara Car Free: a collaboration of the Conference and Visitors Bureau, Amtrak, hotels, restaurants, and other local partners that offer discounts to any travelers arriving without a car, or who park it for the duration of their stay.

For the average traveler, the city is a goldmine of car-free travel options: an Amtrak station in town; MTD electric shuttles, the largest fleet in North America; miles of bike lanes threading the city, shoreline and foothills; adventure guides leading kayaking, bike and hiking tours; wine tours via foot, bike and biodiesel van; and dozens of guided and self-guided walks around the city.

1. Self-Guided Walking or Biking Tours

Santa Barbara Car Free lists several great self-guided walks and bike rides, with downloadable maps and partner discounts. Founder Mary Byrd says her favorite walking tour is the Twelve Paseos (Pedestrian Walkways) of Santa Barbara. “You step away from the busy street and find a small quiet courtyard, or see a sculpture or mural, and you find yourself taking the time to slow down and savor the experience,” she says.

Another great walk is Beyond the Rooftops: The Santa Barbara Red Tile Walking Tour, which hits highlights of the city’s Spanish-Moorish architectural landmarks. My favorite was the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, with tile and stone floors, hand painted ceilings and giant murals painted by Cecil B. DeMille’s scenic designer Dan Sayre Grosbeck, and a clock tower that allows panoramic views of the city, from Mission Santa Barbara to the ocean.

Find out about the handful of other American train travel gems in 5 American Trains You Shouldn’t Miss

Urban Wine Trails are just one more good reason to go car-free, featuring 11 wineries with tasting rooms in town, including the excellent Wine Cask, with Doug Margerum wines (Try the M-5), and the CASK Restaurant and Bar. Download the walking map here: www.urbanwinetrailsb.com.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has 65 acres and more than 5 miles of paths meandering through an unrivaled collection of California flora, with views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. Eight different habitats represent various regions throughout California, including redwood forests, oak and canyon woodlands, meadows and deserts.

In the summer months, take the MTD Line 22, which also services attractions like the Mission, the Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural History.

2. Inn-to-Inn Hiking or Biking

In Europe, they call them “walking holidays”; in Australia, they’re “walkabouts.”

Either way, it means adventure by day and comfort by night.

Ride or walk from inn to inn, and you not only get to burn many calories (and save money …  and the planet), but you see the world at a human pace—smelling scents and hearing sounds, and having conversations—that you just can’t do in a car.

In California, there is a legacy of this: Father Junipero Serra designed the California Missions to be “A day’s walk apart.” Those must have been ambitious (and fit!) missionaries, because some of the California missions are 40 miles apart.

That said, there’s a great route to walk or bike from Mission Santa Barbara to Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, stopping at inns or B&Bs (or the Four Seasons!) along the way.

One option is to start at Upham Hotel, which offers discounted rate if you get around without a car. The Iris cottage, for example, has a fireplace and a little porch overlooking gardens and a rose-covered trellis, with room enough to park the bike delivered to my hotel by WheelHouse Bikes.

Check out the Hiking & Biking section for more travel ideas.

From the Upham, I meandered through town, slowly gaining altitude until I reached Mission Santa Barbara, about 1.5 miles away. Head back down along the generous bike lanes on State street, and out to the Coast Bike Route.

From here, the ride to Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura is about 30 miles away. It’s relatively flat and easy and traffic is minimal. Entering through Carpinteria, you’ll ride through orchards and farms, followed by a few freeway miles on a bike lane, an ocean road and a bike path that leads into Ventura. For ambitious types, it can be done in an as little as two hours.

If you’re not in any hurry, stop in Summerland at the Inn on Summer Hill, a shingled B&B overlooking the Pacific, with views back from where you started your journey in Santa Barbara. From the Santa Barbara Mission to The Inn on Summer Hill, it’s about 8 miles.

From there to Carpinteria (stop at the Best Western if you want another break), it’s about 4 miles, and another 18 or so onward to Ventura. The California Spanish-style Clock Tower Inn is near the mission, downtown.

If your mission-to-mission pedal or stroll tuckers you out, you can return to Santa Barbara by Amtrak’s Pacfic Surfliner, which takes bikes.

Want to just walk inn to inn? Start along the shore in Santa Barbara and take the coast bike route through Montecito (stop in at the Four Seasons Biltmore for tea and jaw-dropping views).

This route meanders along Channel Road next to Butterfly Beach.

Keep pedaling or walking to Summerland (about 8 miles) and spend the night at the Inn on Summer Hill, and come back the next day.

Check out more inn-to-inn suggestions, and detailed maps here.

3. Guided Adventures

Ride a bike along country roads, with views of green fields and wildflowers, and the sparkling Pacific beyond. Stop at wineries for lunch in a near-perfect Mediterranean climate. Spend the night at an inn, and wake to do it again the next day. Does life get any better than this?

Wine Country Cycling leads bicycling tours of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, including day trips. One of the stops might be at Bridlewood Estate Winery, where, if you do nothing else, try their Syrah. Talk about inspired pedaling after a taste of that.

Santa Barbara Walking Tours is at the top of every local’s list of favorite guided walks. Guide Ellen Durham is a passionate researcher and walker who will help you explore the city with tours such as “The Everyday Art Tour,” where she points out the surprising places to view art, many of which are invisible if you’re not on foot.

The Adventure Company of Santa Barbara can set you up with kayaking, hiking and custom biking tours, and discounts if you arrive car-free.

Let locals like the owner of the Adventure Company of Santa Barbara share more great finds with our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Santa Barbara

The Sustainable Vines tour involves biodiesel transportation to three of Santa Barbara County’s sustainable wineries, which grow their grapes organically (and often, biodynamically) …

Alma Rosa Winery, which was founded by Richard Sanford who sought out the best location for Pinot Noir after returning from Vietnam, has a Buellton tasting room made famous by a scene in the movie Sideways.

Under an olive tree at Ampelos Cellars in the Santa Rita Hills, we had lunch and learned about biodynamic wine from winemaker Peter Werk.

The afternoon ended the hillsides of Demetria Estates, where friendly dogs helped us sample wines on a hillside that will make you think you’re in Greece.

One of the best resources on walking Santa Barbara is the book by John McKinley, aka “The Trailmaster”, aptly called Walk Santa Barbara.

4. Set up a Base Camp

The Alisal Ranch, which has been the home base for active vacations for decades, is a working cattle ranch on over 10,000 acres, with more than 50 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails.

You can walk or pedal (or take your horse!) 2 miles in to Solvang, the quaint Danish town in the center of the Santa Ynez Valley.

On a bike, visit wine tasting rooms all over the Valley.

One of my favorites was family-owned Demetria Estates, a nice 15-20 mile pedal from the Ranch, on the Alisos Canyon Road.

Or tackle the hike to Nojoqui Falls, and return to Alisal for a barbecue, a massage, and a night in front of a fire.

Text and photos by Jamie Stringfellow for PeterGreenberg.com. Jamie Stringfellow is the co-founder and editor of WeekendWalk.com, a go-to source for car-free travel adventures.

Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com:

• Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Santa Barbara, California
• Suzy Gershman On Santa Barbara Shopping
• Oprah’s Earth Day Vacation Ideas
• One-Tank Trips: Los Angeles To Santa Barbara County
• Santa Barbara Radio Show Guest List – May 15, 2010
• Hour 1 of Peter’s Radio Show From Santa Barbara
• Hidden Gems: California
• 5 American Trains You Shouldn’t Miss