Team Building Experiences in Santa Barbara
The best way to get your group immersed in The American Riviera® lifestyle is to treat them to one of Santa Barbara’s signature team-building activities. Our local experience providers and purveyors are incredibly passionate about sharing their talents and the best of Santa Barbara with our visitors, going above and beyond to ensure your guests create memories to last a lifetime. Use the guide below for hands-on activities that promise to bring out the creativity, bravery and camaraderie in any kind of group.
FOR THE FOODIES
Eat This, Shoot That! blends local food and libations with photography lessons through custom culinary experiences curated for corporate groups. The food, wine and beer tours created for groups of up to 50 guests, showcase local flavors and makers in a variety of neighborhoods. Along the way, participants get smartphone photography tips as they document their flavorful adventures. Popular tour themes include the Funk Zone Food & Wine Tour; Funk Zone Food & Art Gallery Tour; Santa Barbara to Goleta Beer & Food Tour; El Paseo Wine Tour; and Presidio Dinner Tour.
Slate Catering also shines a spotlight on the aesthetics of food while upping your entertaining game. Groups learn how to create Instagram-worthy grazing style cheese and charcuterie boards. Instruction includes tips on sourcing ingredients and how to make an attractive display. Instructors spotlight premium Santa Barbara products and guests get to enjoy their finished creations on the spot—or take them home, along with the custom-made slate that serves as their canvas. These workshops are ideal for smaller groups of eight to 16 people.
Take your team on a cooking journey with Market Forays, led by chef Laurence. Raised in France, she boasts a unique program that immerses groups into the exploration of Santa Barbara’s rich local bounty. After sourcing the freshest ingredients at a local farmers market, revel in a collective cooking session at the chef’s Santa Barbara home.
ALL ABOUT THE ARTS
Wine and art go hand-in-hand at The Painted Cabernet. Classes include step-by-step painting instruction, materials and wine by the glass. Buy out their studio space for a private painting and sipping event for up to 40 people. Alternatively, they can bring the creative party to your group at an offsite venue and further customize the wine component of the experience. The classes typically take between 1.5 and two hours.
Take your group painting plein air style with Art Spot on Wheels. Their three-hour “Painting in the Vineyard” experience brings budding artistes to the heart of wine country to paint amid the vines. Between the views and the featured local wines guests get to sip while creating their masterpieces, this activity is all about drinking in the good life and the views. No experience is needed.
Wine becomes the medium for art in Danielle Renée Art’s wine painting classes. Danielle teaches groups how to paint with wine while enjoying a selection of local wines. This unique spin on painting is quintessentially Santa Barbara—the pioneering wine painter who inspired Danielle, Christina LoCascio, is also local.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE
Push your group’s limits in the great outdoors and beyond with Santa Barbara Adventure Company. The local outfitter has an impressive roster of global clients who have tapped into their menu of corporate team building activities and challenges for all levels, interests and budgets. All activities are designed to foster communication, problem-solving and team development. Options include a High Ropes Course, Field Olympics and Geocaching Scavenger Hunt. The stakes get even higher on the Sea Cave Kayak Tour, Amazing Race-style Great Race, Sand Castle Contest, Photo Scavenger Hunt and Murder Mystery Party. Or, unwind with an Urban Walking Wine Tour of the Funk Zone or sit back and relax with a curated Beach Day.
