Travelers today seek more than a hot little hammock to tick away their vacation days. According to the Travel Industry of America, adventure pursuits are taking a front seat in travel planning, including activities such as kayaking, scuba diving and mountain climbing.

Basking in a lush, year-round Mediterranean climate with 100 miles of prime Pacific coastline, Santa Barbara-the American Riviera� runs full-throttle when it comes to cashing in on athletic adventures. Scouting ancient Chumash Indian sites, kayaking through Channel Island caves, eyeing eagles at Cachuma Lake or searching for whales in Santa Barbara Channel -- this city by the sea, with its diverse natural topography, is a ripe playground for the urban adventurist.

HYDRO-SPORTS For the weekend warrior, Santa Barbara's naturescapes pack plenty of punch. Day and multi-day trips to the Channel Islands National Park offer kayaking, diving, hiking and surf-fishing, as well as naturalist tours by the National Park Service. Adjacent to Sea Landing, where boat tours depart, Santa Barbara's historic harbor rents sea kayaks, bare boat and charter sailboats for the "traveling" captain.

Adventure can also be found aboard a whale-watching tour. More than 27 whale species inhabit Santa Barbara's warm waters throughout the year, including the mammoth 150-ton blue whale, which sports a heart the size of a VW. Visitors can also reel in the big one on a sport-fishing excursion or set out on a scuba dive or snorkeling soir�e.

Surfers are stoked to catch sets at the county's 18 beaches; Leadbetter and Rincon beaches are top picks. Water sports rentals are plentiful, including wave runners, jet skis and water skis. Those who prefer racking up a few laps during vacation will enjoy the 50-meter outdoor pool at Los Banos del Mar, set right on the shoreline. Those in search of more placid pursuits can rent a boat and fish at Cachuma Lake, a freshwater fisherman's paradise abundant with trout, bass and catfish. Cachuma also offers overnight camping and seasonal wildlife and eagle boat tours.

Blend a "Type A" day of 100 morning laps with an afternoon communing with nature along the Santa Ynez River. Fly-fishing is the favorite pastime here and visitors are assured silence and incredible scenery. One of the best access roads to the river is Paradise Road off Highway 154.

STREAMLINE YOUR SWING Seven 18-hole championship golf courses grace Santa Barbara's shoreline and interior, as well as a handful of private clubs with reciprocal playing agreements. Robert Trent Jones II left his imprint on the expansive Rancho San Marcos Golf Course, a 6,850-yard, par 72 course tucked along scenic Highway 154. The course features long challenging fairways, imposing barrancas and scenic elevated tees -- especially on the back nine. Unique to the course is its dedicated caddy training program and top-notch corps of qualified caddies.

Glen Annie Golf Club is a stunning hill course set on 130 lush acres. Coast Live Oak, Monterey Cypress and Jacaranda trees share space with some 58 bunkers, two lakes and commanding views of the Pacific. The 6,420-yard, par 71 course is fresh with narrow, tight fairways and unforgiving greens. The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort offers two 18-hole courses, including the River Course (open to the public) and Ranch Course (guests only). Designed by Billy Bell, The Ranch Course is a study in precise play and club execution. The 6,530-yard, par 72 championship course is punctuated by five par 5s, tight, exacting fairways and barrancas that traverse 15 holes. The River Course, a favorite among locals who enjoy its majestic setting and manicured fairways that roam along the Santa Ynez River, features a 6,800-yard par 72championship challenge.

Visitors can tap into an exceptional day of play at Sandpiper Golf Course, another Bill Bell-designed gem sprawling along the Pacific. Sandpiper is consistently ranked one of the top 25 public courses in the country (Golf Digest) and stands a favorite of avid players. Other top picks include the top-rated La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc and Santa Barbara Golf Club.

FACE OFF WITH MOTHER NATURE Pack up a few friends and take to the rocks with a challenging climb cresting the Santa Ynez Mountains. Adventours Outdoor Excursions and Santa Barbara Adventure Company lead visitors on a face-to-face bout with Mother Nature that's certain to tax even the most buffed bodies. Focus, balance, inner and physical strength are prerequisites, but all levels may apply. Santa Barbara is rife with rocking opportunities from Gibraltar Rock, a popular sandstone outcropping overlooking the Pacific with sheer overhangs and an abundant mix of both novice and expert routes, to the city's lush canyons, wooded gorges and oceanfront cliffs.

Hikers and backpackers can delve into the Los Padres National Forest, California's second largest national forest with wilderness areas, lakes, streams and plenty of workout terrain. Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours offer a variety of mobile mountain and wine country tours. For hoofers, a plethora of dedicated hiking trails kick off five minutes from the city, including the San Ysidro Trail, Romero Canyon Trail, Tunnel Trail and the popular Rattlesnake Trail. A visit to Nojoqui Park near the town of Solvang is another great option. Take the dirt trail through the live oaks to a 100-ft waterfall; it takes about 10 minutes to reach at a leisurely pace.

Back in town, morning speed-hikers will enjoy the fragrant Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which offers five miles of trails through 65 acres of native California flora. A caffeinated jet through redwoods, poppy fields and Channel Island scrub takes 45 minutes. Another great hike is the Santa Barbara Shores Trail, where you can muse with the monarch butterflies. Grasslands, vernal pools and some of the nation's best monarch butterfly groves are lined by footpaths with stunning views of Ellwood Beach (November - March), the Channel Islands and Santa Ynez Mountains. The 3.5-mile loop offers cut outs and longer loops for hard-core day-trippers.

WHEELING ADVENTURES Santa Barbara is also one of the top mountain biking regions in California. Trails are easily accessible within ten minutes of the city, allowing bikers to peak out at 3,985 feet via La Cumbre Peak. Los Padres National Forest offers a variety of single-track trails to tax even the most agile biker. Technical skills are a must here or you'll end up over the cliff. Fire trails wrap around the mountains with expansive views of the rugged coastline (for intermediate riders). Pedal into the backcountry or stick to the front-side trails. A spin through Santa Barbara's wine country, boasting 60+ premium wineries and plenty of scenic backdrops, is another tasty option.

For the leisure biker, Santa Barbara has miles of dedicated marked trails linking the city to the sea. Grab a local biking map at the Visitors Center and set off past historic Mission Santa Barbara. Follow the high trail along Mountain Road and wind down to the celebrity-stocked city of Montecito for lunch. Along Cabrillo Boulevard, a three-mile paved bike path spans the waterfront, from Leadbetter Beach to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge. The Goleta Bikeway leads all the way out to University of California Santa Barbara.

More strenuous view-rich hills and rural enclaves can be found on the Hope Ranch loop, home to multi-million dollar estates and towering palm trees. For the burn, enthusiasts should try the quad-killing Gibraltar and Old San Marcos Pass roads. Bicycles, from single-speed cruisers to deluxe 21-speed mountain bikes, and family surreys (bicycles for six) can be rented along lower State Street.

Street surfers will enjoy Skater's Point, a12,000 sq. ft. custom-crafted, sculpted mass of concrete the city dedicated as a playground for skateboarders and in-line skaters. The park sits smack on the ocean along Cabrillo Boulevard just south of Stearns Wharf.

SADDLE UP SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE Arabian horse ranches, miniature horse farms and dedicated riding facilities are also on tap in Santa Barbara. Rancho Oso Riding Stableson Paradise Road offers daily trail rides, cabins, camping or an overnight stay in a covered wagon. In nearby Goleta, Circle Bar B Guest Ranch dudes up visitors with rustic accommodations, daily trail rides and traditional Santa Maria Barbecue followed by lively theater productions in the evening. The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Solvang is steeped in Western culture with 73 guest cottages and suites set on a 10,000-acre private playground. The resort sports an equestrian center with 100 quarter horses available for guest use, children's petting zoo, golf, tennis and 100-acre spring fed lake complete with fly-fishing lessons.

Equestrian lovers can also tap into an exciting wild horse walking adventure at the American Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc. This living museum is a habitat for a diverse variety of horses living in their natural herd groups on a 310-acre ranch. Visitors can walk with guest herbalists and land conservationists to explore this unique habitat. Added pluses are the Horse Museum & Educational Center. Nearby, the Quicksilver Miniature Horse Farm sports miniature horses for sale and for viewing.

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Media Contact: Koleen Hamblin (805) 899-4193 link2koli@aol.com