Things to do in Santa Barbara, CA

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Get Your Bearings in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Expert

By Geneva Ives
Santa Barbara Expert

See & Do
Stay
Eat
Party
Shop

Things to See

Culture lovers will be impressed with the wide variety of museums found in downtown Santa Barbara. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the area's many natural attractions, like white sand beaches and mountain trails. A warm Mediterranean climate ensures that most of these are accessible no matter when you visit. And, there's always Santa Barbara's excellent wine country reputation. Walk the Santa Barbara urban wine trail or take a day trip to Los Olivos' best wineries. Napa who?

Take It or Leave It: Santa Barbara loves a good parade. Check upcoming parade dates when planning your trip.

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Where to Stay

Hotels in Santa Barbara run the gamut. You can reserve almost any type of overnight lodging, from convenient motels and intimate bed and breakfasts to lavish resorts and even camp sites! Weather here is typically mild, so an oceanfront hotel is a safe choice year round. If you're looking to stay near the hustle and bustle of downtown, keep in mind that while people often refer to State Street as "downtown," it's actually a very long street and only part of it is easily walkable. Addresses above 1400 start becoming more residential.

Avoid: Booking at the last minute - especially during the summer.

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What to Eat

Santa Barbara's food philosophy has always been fresh and local, and the dining options in town have evolved to match. Many of the best restaurants let you know exactly where the produce, meat and seafood on the menu comes from, often crediting the farmers and fisherman. You'll find delicious places to eat downtown, in the Funk Zone, in Montecito and in Goleta. Santa Barbara eateries tend to be on the small side, so if you need to book a dinner for a large gathering, start looking early and make reservations well in advance.

Hot Tips: There aren't many late night eateries in town. Finding food after 10 p.m. can be tough!

Be Sure to Sample: The urchin! Santa Barbara provides much of the most sought after uni (urchin roe) in the world.

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Places to Party

Santa Barbara nightlife is a mixed bag. A very delicious, very chill beer and wine scene--much of it locally produced--has sprung up to complement the relaxed beach lifestyle of the locals. You'll find wine bars and taprooms sharing space with wine tasting rooms and breweries, mostly in the downtown and Funk Zone neighborhoods. There's also an emerging cocktail culture. Keep in mind, there are a lot of college students in town too. Student and clubbing nightlife starts late, around 11 p.m., and is largely contained to two downtown blocks.

Hot Tips: User Uber, Lyft or your legs to get around. There's no excuse to drink and drive in Santa Barbara.

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Where to Shop

Santa Barbara is a shopper's paradise. The downtown shopping area is packed with brand name stores, mid-size chains and specialty boutiques. There are two outdoor malls, Paseo Nuevo in downtown and La Cumbre on upper State Street. You can also get your retail fix in other neighborhoods. Ritzy Montecito is the place to go for designer fashions and home goods, whereas laid back Carpinteria is your stop for all things surf-related.

Caution: Park in one of the many inexpensive city lots downtown to avoid a parking ticket. Parking enforcement is fierce!

Best Local Souvenir: Head over to the Funk Zone to pick up a local bottle of wine.

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Santa Barbara Neighborhoods

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Santa Barbara is known for...

Five of Santa Barbara's most unique features and characteristics.

1. Celebrities:

What do Oprah, John Cleese, Drew Barrymore, and Justin Bieber have in common? They all have (not so humble) homes in sunny Santa Barbara. The rich and famous have long escaped the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles by driving up the coast to visit - or stay - in this more relaxed beach town. For one thing, it’s beautiful. For another, the locals don’t bat an eyelash when a star appears among them... unless that star cuts in front of us in line at La Super-rica!

2. Beaches:

Santa Barbara has earned a reputation as the “American Riveria” because of its Mediterranean climate and stretches of sandy shores. Publicly accessible white sand beaches run along the inviting coast, perfectly suited to almost every imaginable recreational activity - from bicycling to kiteboarding. Locals take full advantage of Santa Barbara’s most famous natural asset by using the shoreline to stage weddings, craft fairs, music festivals, and more. Each beach has its own personality; spend a lazy Sunday with the beautiful people at Butterfly Beach or try to catch some surf at Rincon.

3. Wine:

Our unique combination of ocean breezes, rolling foothills, and shallow valleys creates a haven of microclimates, responsible for one of the most diverse grape producing regions in the country. Famous for our (legendarily fickle) pinots, Santa Barbara is also home to many Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. For a Dionysian sampling, schedule a daytrip to Santa Ynez to visit the vineyards and tasting rooms. Rather stay within city limits? Let our Urban Wine Trail take you to wineries within easy walking, biking, or - let’s be honest - inexpensive cab fare distance of most downtown locations.

4. Red Tiles:

The ubiquitous red tile roofs of Santa Barbara are practically inescapable. After a devastating earthquake in 1925, the majority of the city was rebuilt, taking inspiration from the Spanish style of the California Missions. Spanish red tiles cover the roofs of most downtown buildings, creating a scenic vista from higher vantage points, like the legendary 360-degree view from the clock tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Start at the Courthouse to begin the easy, twelve block Red Tile Walking Tour developed by the city’s Chamber of Commerce.

5. Gardens:

Santa Barbara’s coastal location and temperate climate make it a natural home for lush foliage and gorgeous blooms. Pack a picnic and spend a lovely afternoon in the legendary sunken gardens of the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to take a tour of the native floriculture and learn about sustainable agricultural practices. Or schedule a trip to Lotusland to admire the extraordinarily curated gardens of deceased opera singer Madame Ganna Walska - a place where giant cacti rise and tumble toward earth, water lilies bloom in placid pools, and blue leafed plants crowd together in a fantastic monochromatic display.