Things To Do
Santa Barbara Zoo
We love the SB Zoo! It's right by the Santa Barbara Inn and Mar Monte hotels. This is an awesome spot if you are traveling with kiddos or just want to stroll around for a an hour or two. You get a lot of bang for your buck and we highly recommend.
Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Hop on board the Double Dolphin for some whale watching or just a relaxing cruise. We have never had a bad time on board and the 2 hours trips are well worth it!
Condor Express Whale Watching
Another whale watching group. The Condor Express fits more people and will typically go farther out than the Double Dolphin. You'll have even more chance of seeing whales or large pods of dolphins!
Santa Barbara Harbor
The Santa Barbara Harbor is great for a morning coffee, breakfast, or an afternoon bite. We are big fans of "On the Alley" for breakfast burritos and Sushi Go Go for poke bowls. There are also some little shops (Wade's go to dive shop is Blue Water Hunter) that have some nice beachy/local items.
Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf is a central location on the main beach strip Cabrillo Blvd. It's an iconic part of the Santa Barbara coast and has shops and food options. We really like walking out to the end and grabbing and ice cream or something from the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. Also, there's a cute wine spot called Deep Sea that is a fun spot to bring some snacks and have a glass/do some tasting!
Old Mission Santa Barbara
There are few better ways to spend an afternoon than to picnic at the Santa Barbara Mission lawn and rose garden. Also, the mission offers tours (both self guided and docent guided). The mission is situated about 2.5 miles from the water and boasts amazing views. We have had many picnic and bocce ball dates here, not to mention it's one of our favorite spots to bring dogs when we pet sit.
The Funk Zone
The Funk Zone is an area nestled in lower Santa Barbara. Once a manufacturing hub and industrial area where artists, surfboard shapers and pioneering urban winemakers originally set up shop, the walkable 13-block area is now home to some of the city’s best restaurants, wine tasting rooms, breweries, and boutiques. This is a go-to sunny day location. Despite being so popular, it rarely feels overly crowded anywhere and there's pretty much something for anyone.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a large 78 acre garden dedicated to showcasing native plants and habitats. It is a great place for walking some trails and getting to know more about the local ecosystems.
Elings Park
Walking trails, mountain biking, disc golf... this place has a lot going for it, not to mention some awesome views of Santa Barbara, the mountains, and the ocean! Along with the Douglas Preserve, this is one of our favorite walking spots in town.
Paseo Nuevo
Settled in the center of downtown Santa Barbara, the Paseo Nuevo shopping center is a cute outdoor mall with some small shops, dining options, and a movie theater. It sits right on State Street which is the main downtown stretch. State Street also offers shopping, both local and name brand. Give the street a walk up and walk down and enjoy the promenade!