Things To Do
Butterfly Beach
Located in Montecito, Butterfly Beach is a favorite among Santa Barbara locals. The beach’s pristine shoreline is ideal for swimming, surfing and sunbathing, and its unique east-west orientation makes for some truly spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Coast Village Road is also a five-minute walk from the beach and has many food, drink and retail options.
Santa Barbara Harbor
Located along the bustling Santa Barbara Waterfront, this historic working harbor is an excellent launch pad for a variety of adventures including sailing, sea kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, whale watching and much more. Several of the harbor’s businesses offer boat charters, cruises, equipment rentals and lessons, so it’s easy to find everything you need to explore the coast.
Stearns Wharf
The pier (home to California’s oldest working wharf) offers wine tasting, an aquarium for kids and lots of shopping and dining options. Head there in the early morning hours to see the local fishing boats unload their catch. We do want to note that it tends to become quite busy after mid-morning, but nonetheless a great Santa Barbara staple to see!
Funk Zone
Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone has become a favorite in recent years. Over the past few decades, this district, which spans the area between the ocean and Highway 101, has enjoyed an upswell of boutique tasting rooms, cafes, galleries, and shops that cater to Santa Barbara’s contemporary side.
Sandpiper Golf Club
Sandpiper is a beautiful course with ocean views on the back nine.
State Street
State Street runs through the heart of downtown Santa Barbara and is home to a ton of shops, bars, and restaurants!
Santa Barbara Courthouse Gardens
This historic 1929 Spanish-Moorish structure is a beautiful spot for a picnic or to people-watch for a bit. Its meticulously maintained gardens and spacious lawns have become a popular site for special events and you can walk to the top for a great view of downtown Santa Barbara. There is also great leather goods at Parker Clay across the street!
Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Since 1967, the Santa Barbara Sailing Center has been introducing people to the lifestyle and sport of sailing by providing unique on-the-water experiences. Boating is easily accessible through professional sailing instruction, skippered sailing charters, bareboat charters, club member activities, kayak & stand up paddle board excursions, and daily cruises along the pristine Santa Barbara coastline. You can also choose from a wide variety of public cruises, including sunset cruises and whale watching cruises, and see oceans of marine life and spectacular coastline views.
Santa Barbara Zoo
Known as one of the world’s most beautiful zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres of lush botanic gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Andree Clark Bird Refuge, and Santa Ynez Mountains.
Inspiration Point
A beautiful hike to an outlook overlooking Santa Barbara’s coastline and the Channel Islands in the distance. There are two ways to get to Inspiration Point - the shorter option starts at Tunnel Trail, and will make for about a 3.5-mile hike roundtrip. It starts on an easy paved road for about a mile but then makes its way to a trail that is steep in parts. The other option is starting at Jesusita Trail, which is also steep in parts and stretches about 7 miles.
Wine Tours
No trip to Santa Barbara is complete without visiting the Santa Barbara Wine Country. Santa Barbara County has become recognized as one of the top wine growing regions in the world. Santa Barbara Wine Tours offers both vineyard and urban wine tours to fit any schedule. There is also the downtown Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail Tour. This is a great way to sample several wineries/breweries while walking the town.
Solvang, California
If you are up for a day trip, “The Danish Capital of America” is nestled just 40 minutes outside of downtown Santa Barbara! The historic village of Solvang offers the best of the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara wine country in a relaxed and peaceful European setting. Grab some authentic Danish pastries at world-famous bakeries or enjoy one of the 120 wineries and vineyards located nearby!
Brunch / Lunch
Carlitos Cafe y Cantina (Downtown): Great Mexican food! Crushcakes Cafe (Downtown): Hearty breakfasts, sandwiches and paninis (and cupcakes!) Finch & Fork (Downtown): Casual, stylish American restaurant Honor Bar (Montecito): Amazing lunch spot! Jane (Downtown): Californian fare in the the Theater Art District Jeannine's Restaurant and Bakery (Montecito): One of our favorites! Grab a sandwich and head to Butterfly Beach! Los Agaves (De La Vina Location): Another awesome authentic Mexican option! Olio Pizzeria (Downtown): Authentic Sicilian fare and wine Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro (Downtown & Montecito): Great French bakery! South Coast Deli (Downtown): Great California deli
Dinner
Arigato (Downtown): Fantastic sushi spot! Boathouse @ Hendry's Beach (Santa Barbara): Seafood and American right on the beach Brophy Bros (Downtown): More waterfront seafood! Ca Dario (Downtown): A great Italian option La Super Rica Taqueria (Downtown): This is the famous Julia Child authentic taco spot! Please note it is cash only. The Lark (Downtown): Super popular spot Loquita Santa Barbara (Downtown): A favorite for Spanish bites Lucky's (Montecito): Great for a steak dinner (or lunch!) Lucky Penny (Downtown): Pizza! Olio E Limone (Downtown): More Italian! Tre Lune (Montecito): One of the best places in all of Santa Barbara. Also a great brunch spot! Via Vai (Montecito): A local pizzeria and trattoria with a great variety of food, with stand outs being the thin crust pizza and homemade bread.