Zach & Melanie
Things To Do
Stearns Wharf
Just a couple miles west of Cabrillo Pavilion, Stearns Wharf is an excellent place for shopping, dining, getting ice cream, and even exploring the ocean on a water taxi. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center, an interactive marine education facility, is also located here.
The Funk Zone
The Funk Zone is a fun area with a ton of wine tasting rooms, breweries, restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops. A few popular spots include Loquita (Spanish tapas and cocktails), Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Topa Topa (one of our favorite breweries also located in Ventura), Lucky Penny (pizza!), Helena Avenue Bakery, and more.
State Street
State Street is Santa Barbara’s most famous Avenue, and has a variety of retail, food, drink, and entertainment options. The main thoroughfare is pedestrian friendly and spans several blocks! The link below includes a comprehensive list of businesses you can check out while you’re here.
Beaches!
The California coast has some of the best beaches around, and Santa Barbara has plenty! Our venue is located at East Beach, which has volleyball courts, playground areas, a bike path, restaurants, and of course plenty of space to enjoy the ocean and the sun. The link below includes a few more excellent beach recommendations throughout Santa Barbara.
Hiking
Southern California has amazing hiking trails, and Santa Barbara is no exception! The link below showcases a few popular hikes in and around Santa Barbara.
Wine
There are SO many wine tasting rooms around Santa Barbara. Popular spots include Au Bon Climat, Margerum, Pali Wine Co., Jamie Slone Wines, and more! The link below includes a long list of wine tasting spots throughout the City and beyond.
Santa Barbara Zoo
Who doesn't love the zoo?! Here you'll find all sorts of animals, interactive encounters, walking tours, family-oriented activities, and plenty of learning opportunities. Melanie loved going here as a kid with her family!
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Zach's good friend Libby introduced us to this tranquil spot and we couldn't stop thinking about it! The serene views of poppies with a mountainous backdrop is enough to make you want to sit there and stare for hours. There are several mini hikes located throughout the gardens, a plethora of native California plant species, and even some kid- (and let's be real, adult-) friendly obstacle courses. It gets crowded on the weekend, so be sure to make a reservation!
The Arlington Theatre
This is such a cool and cozy venue. We saw Jacob Collier here and absolutely loved the theater with its simulated starry sky and feel of being right in the middle of a neighborhood. We highly recommend a show here if you have the time!
Santa Barbara Bowl
This is a much larger music venue with some pretty big names coming through from time to time!
Island Packers Cruises & Ventura Harbor
It’s whale watching season! Melanie loved going to the Channel Islands in high school to volunteer for the ice-plant removal program, and also to see all the dolphins and whales on the boat rides over. Anacapa is the closest island with a beautiful "Inspiration Point" (about a 1 hr boat ride); Santa Cruz is a bit farther (about a 1.5-2 hour boat ride), but much larger with plenty of hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling; and Santa Rosa is even farther (about a 3-4 hour boat ride) but amazing for a day trip with more remote hiking. You'll likely be treated to several sightings of the endemic island fox while on any of the islands! Ventura Harbor, where Island Packers is located, is about 35 min south of Santa Barbara and also has a variety of restaurants and shops.
Solvang
Solvang is a super cute Danish-inspired town about 45 min north of Santa Barbara. We love walking around the shops, checking out wine tasting rooms, and of course eating all the delicious pastries! And no Solvang trip is complete, of course, without trying the famous Aebleskivers from Solvang Restaurant. Oh, and Paula's Pancakes is an amazing breakfast spot, too (but you'll want to get there early)!
Santa Ynez Valley
We enjoy a wine trip every year, and one of our favorite areas includes the Santa Ynez Valley. Just an hour north of Santa Barbara, there is a wide selection of wineries spanning from Santa Ynez up to Los Olivos and beyond. A few of our favorites so far have been Folded Hills, Sunstone, and Roblar. The link below has a long list of great wineries to try out!