South of Santa Barbara, US-101 widens into an eight-lane freeway along the coast. Looking out across the Pacific, beyond the partially disguised offshore oil wells, you can’t miss seeing the sharp outlines of the Channel Islands, whose rocky shores are protected as a national park. Consisting of eight islands altogether, they sit from 12 to nearly 50 miles off the mainland. Numerous scenic cruises around the Channel Islands start from Santa Barbara, but only the smallest and closest, Anacapa Island, is easily accessible to the public, via daily trips from Ventura Harbor, offered by Island Packers ($42; 805/642-1393).
