Things To Do
Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
A beautiful park located in downtown Santa Barbara, with large koi and turtle ponds, and well-tended gardens. There are a few parks in the area, beautiful churches, and stunning neighborhoods. Beautiful to walk around or drive through!
Douglas Family Preserve
This is our favorite park in the city. We come here usually once a week with Andor as it's an off leash dog park! The property is covered in trails that take you through old growth oak and eucalyptus trees. You can park on the neighborhood streets nearby and walk in at a variety of entrances. All along one side of the park is a cliff that overlooks the ocean, with a pinnacle stop at a fallen tree being the perfect place to watch the sunset. It's a very easy walk, but wear close toed shoes as it can get dusty.
Haskell's Beach
Santa Barbara is first and foremost an oceanside city, which means there are tons of beaches to explore up and down the coast. One of our favorites is Haskell's Beach, located at the far western point beside the Bacara Resort, 15 minutes from downtown or just ten minutes from our house. (The highway makes it easy!) It's easiest to get to if you have a car but you can get rides out there. It is a relatively flat access point to the beach through a botanical garden, and a large sandy beach to walk down with incredible ocean views and views of the Bacara.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
The Courthouse has been called the most beautiful government building in America. Designed in the Spanish-Colonial style and completed in 1929, the fully operational Courthouse is an iconic Santa Barbara landmark with its distinctive four-faced clock tower, red tile roofs, elegant arches and verdant sunken garden and grounds. Through the self-guided tours, visitors can get a visual history lesson from the elaborate hand-painted murals, marvel at ornate wrought-iron chandeliers and climb to the top of the clock tower for an incredible panoramic view of Santa Barbara and beyond.
Santa Barbara Museum Of Art
This museum, founded in 1941, houses a prestigious and varied collection of modern and ancient art plus a special gallery for children. There are some truly beautiful pieces here, and it only takes a couple hours to see the exhibits. The gift shop carries some unique Santa Barbara crafts and art.
Old Mission Santa Barbara
One of 21 Franciscan missions in California, the Mission offers beautiful architecture and great views of the city. Built in 1786, the sprawling grounds are incredible to explore inside and outside of the Mission, where in front you can find a rose garden in the large field that overlooks the city all the way to the harbor. There are also ruins from old structures back from the period when the Mission was built, and if you drive or walk a little up the street you'll also find the city's oldest reservoir. You can book a tour of the Mission on their website.
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation
Santa Barbara’s one-of-a-kind destination for hands-on scientific and creative experiences. Located in the flourishing Funk Zone neighborhood, MOXI invites kids, families and curious minds of all ages to explore more than 17,000 square feet of immersive activities. From the Giant Guitar where you can study your favorite riffs to the Wind Column Workshop where you can conduct test flights, MOXI’s interactive approach to science, technology and the arts inspires experimentation and discovery.
Stearns Wharf
A top attraction, filled with shops, restaurants, and a great vibe. Named for builder John P. Stearns and located at the end of State Street, it is California’s oldest working wharf and the perfect spot to soak up the sun, salty breezes and stunning views of the impossibly blue Pacific. The Wharf was completed in 1872 and served the passengers and freight shipping needs of California’s south coast for more than 25 years. Today it’s one of Santa Barbara’s most visited attractions and a mainstay of the Waterfront district.
The Funk Zone
Over the past few decades, this district, which spans the area between the ocean and Highway 101 and is adjacent to the Amtrak station, has enjoyed an upswell of boutique tasting rooms, cafes, galleries, and shops that cater to Santa Barbara’s contemporary side. Converted warehouses and buildings decorated with graffiti murals and contemporary art pieces set the tone for this hopping section of town. Surfboard shapers, winemakers and up-and-coming chefs all practice their crafts here. Visit art galleries; shop vintage and modern home goods, taste wine alfresco, and enjoy 5-star meals.
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is home to 146 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. More than 500 animals are exhibited in open, naturalistic habitats.
Beaches of Santa Barbara
Click the link to view many beaches in Santa Barbara! There's too many to list, and if you're super into pretending it's summer in May, this is the trip for you!
Best Hikes in Santa Barbara
When it comes to combining the mountains and the sea, it’s tough to think of a better place in the country for hiking than Santa Barbara. Nicknamed The American Riviera, Santa Barbara exudes a Mediterranean feel with its coastline, vegetation and architecture. Tucked between the Pacific and the Santa Ynez Mountains, which run east to west through the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Barbara creates a postcard-perfect backdrop for your next hiking adventure. Hiking trails in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas feature some amazing vistas for hikers to explore. You’ll find everything from easy, flat paths through manicured gardens to difficult climbs that reach towering heights over the Pacific. Scenic views are everywhere, and at the end of the day, you can enjoy some of the best dining and finest wines in the country. Please check the link to view 11 incredibly popular hiking trails, many of which we have enjoyed!
Santa Barbara Roasting Company
These guys roast beans on site, right beside the service desk. All their coffee is ALWAYS roasted in house. When Sara used to drink coffee this is where she would buy it from. They also have incredible breakfast sandwiches, and there's a Backyard Bowls two doors down if you need that smoothie with the coffee. Their pastries aren't the best in town, but the coffee is definitely worth a stop over.
Handlebar Coffee Roasters
Coffee in Santa Barbara is treated like a delicacy, and you will find cafes with fresh roasted beans (and other beverages) all over downtown. Handlebar is a popular coffee lovers destination with two locations (128 E. Canon Perdido St and 2720 De La Vina St), and there is always a line out the door. They also have delicious treats, bagged coffee you can take home, and a great atmosphere to hang out in.
Chad’s Cafe
Chad's has always been our top breakfast spot. You've got the beachside seating, amazing food, free mini muffins to start, gigantic bloody mary's and mimosas, and there's always dogs on the patio. Chad's is a very popular local's favorite and has a lot of history here.
Oku
This is a new sushi spot and we absolutely love it. Located close to Stearns Warf, if you make a reservation be sure to ask for a spot on the patio with a view!
Brophy Bros.
With a double-sided bar looking out over the harbor, and the spirited atmosphere of good times and great people, Brophy Bros. Santa Barbara doesn’t disappoint. This is one of the best seafood restaurants in the city, with the best view. It is usually busy but always, always worth the wait. They do not accept reservations and usually can't seat groups larger than 6 due to how busy they get.
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
Literally, you will not find fresher or better seafood in Santa Barbara. A must stop if you are into it! The Santa Barbara Channel is one of the west coast’s richest sources of marine life thanks to Mother Nature’s handiwork and the community’s longtime dedication to environmental protection. The diversity of wild-caught regional delicacies runs the gamut from seasonal Santa Barbara spot prawns, white sea bass and ridgeback shrimp to year-round hauls of halibut, swordfish and rock crab.