There is a reason Santa Barbara is home to so many pro surfers - like Bobby Martinez and Tom Curren - surfing is the heart and soul of Santa Barbara culture. There's a plethora of great breaks on our coastline, ranging from down south in Ventura all the way north to Isla Vista. Santa Barbara hosts a ton of surf shops and rental stores, and, once you're back from the beach, a wide selection of surfing clothing shops. Just trying to find some waves while you're in town for a few days? Check out the Surf Spots directory in the Surfing section. And if you need to grab a bar of wax on your way, we've made a compilation of all the best Surf Shops in Santa Barbara, complete with driving directions. Enjoy!