Things To Do
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Built in 1786, this is one of the oldest missions in California. The Mission consists of a church, museum, cemetery, gift shop, and acres of beautifully tended gardens with cacti and more indigenous plants. Take a self-guided tour to experience the old way of living at the Mission.
Superior Court Of California County Of Santa Barbara
Our ceremony spot! The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a testament to the Spanish colonial architecture that the architects tried to emulate after the earthquake. This is widely considered as one of the most beautiful courthouses in the US. Its exterior, the outdoor gardens, the interiors with paintings depicting Santa Barbara's history, and stunning architectural details are all impressive. The most popular spot in the courthouse is the clock tower. Climb the clock tower for an amazing view of the red roof tiles of Santa Barbara. This courthouse is fully functional, so on weekdays, you might see court in session!
State Street
The most popular area in Santa Barbara is State Street. State Street is a stretch of boutique stores, art galleries, restaurants, and wine bars in the downtown of Santa Barbara. With Spanish colonial-style buildings, outdoor patios, bars, and boutiques, State Street reminds me of the European street markets. PLUS, they host the farmers market here on Tuesdays! (Pre Covid, so things might have changed). Some of my favorite stops along the street: -Melville Winery (One of the best Santa Barbara wineries with a tasting room in downtown) -Santo Mezcal (Stop for a cocktail and stay for dinner or lunch)
McConnell's Fine Ice Creams
The finest ice cream made from scratch right here in Santa Barbara. Need we say more?
Stearns Wharf
Stearn’s Wharf is one of the oldest piers in California. It is a fun place to people-watch, walk around, watch the sunset and enjoy great seafood.
Santa Barbara Botanical Garden
Explore the beauty of California’s native landscapes, from the quiet Redwood Forest to deserts to the Channel Islands - all in one place. Discover history and beauty on easy hiking trails past the authentic Japanese Teahouse, the historic 1807 Mission Dam, and naturalistic gardens entirely of native plants. Be Inspired by a stroll through the Water Wise Home Garden with drought-tolerant native plants perfect for your yard. Learn on guided tours that reveal nature’s secrets, from which plants make soap to how bees use sound waves to pollinate flowers.
Santa Barbara Surf School
Learn to surf!
Sunset Cruise
What better way to end an evening than a sunset cruise. Some of the top cruising companies in Santa Barbara include: -Celebration Cruises -Sunset Kidd Sailing Cruises -Double Dolphin Cruises
Day trip to Solvang
Solvang is a cute little Danish village in the Santa Ynez valley. The village is known for Danish architecture, boutiques, Danish bakeries, and restaurants.
Wine tasting in Los Olivos and Santa Ynez
Santa Barbara has a unique microclimate that is ideal for growing grapes for wine. One of the reasons why Santa Barbara County produces such flavourful wines is that the Santa Ynez Valley runs east-west instead of the typical north-south. This means that vineyards and crops have more hours of daylight and produce more flavorful fruits and vegetables. Most wineries are focused on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah. Pick a few wineries along the wine trail in Los Olivos and Santa Ynez Valley, or take a wine tasting tour with one of the companies that offer them from Santa Barbara. httpw://winetours-santabarbara.com/
Visit Channel Islands National Park
Take the ferry from Santa Barbara Harbor and spend the day at one of the islands in Channel Islands National Park.