How can you not love California’s beaches where the weather is temperate, and the vibe is laidback? That’s what it’s like in Santa Barbara, one of my favorite beach towns in Southern California.
Find things to do and where to stay in Santa Barbara, here.
Santa Barbara has always been a gem with its Spanish-style architecture, the Queen of Missions, and, of course, the long stretch of white sand beach that you can view in all its glory at the end of the historic Stearns Wharf pier.
The funky part
The Funk Zone is a short walk from the Amtrak train station and the beach. It’s a vibrant and colorful artists’ community with wine tasting rooms and art galleries.
Converted warehouses and workspaces that run for several blocks are decorated with imaginative murals and art pieces on the walls of, galleries, cafes, and small shops.
Follow the Urban Wine Trail to sip Santa Barbara County’s superb wine varietals in over 20 tasting rooms that are tucked into nooks and alleyways within the area.
I had lunch at the Brass Bear Brewery on their lovely outdoor patio that was decorated for Halloween.
Helena Avenue Bakery sells rustic organic bread, homemade pastries made from scratch, sandwiches, picnic fare, and salads.
I ordered the most amazing Avocado toast with coffee for breakfast there and ate it on their outdoor patio. It was pure foodie bliss.
The beach
Stearns Wharf is a short walk away with a glorious view of the sea and sand.
The old pier was constructed in 1872, by lumberman John P. Stearns. It is the oldest working wharf in California and the longest between San Pedro and San Francisco. There are several seafood restaurants at the end of it as well as shops selling souvenirs, ice cream, and candy.
The Santa Barbara Natural History Sea Center sits at an adjacent part of the wharf. Families can pick up sea creatures from the Santa Barbara Channel in touch tanks and learn about them at interactive aquarium exhibits. I took my kids there when they were young and they adored it. The venue is also used as an event center for receptions, weddings, meetings, parties, etc.
Santa Barbara nightlife
If you are a sucker for food halls like me, make your way to The Public Market downtown.
I tried some inventive street-style tacos there at Corazón Cocina which were divine as well as colorful.
The food court is family-friendly with several ethnic food vendors. It has free public parking underneath.
If you walk downtown near Victoria Court you will pass by The New Old Vic Theatre and the old Granada theatre. The nightlife in Santa Barbara’s downtown is alive with indoor and outdoor dining, shopping, and live music.
Off State Street, you’ll find wonderful shops, restaurants, the Santa Barbara Art Museum, the Lobero Theatre, and much more. The town is easy to navigate, and parking is affordable. It’s also a friendly and culturally rich community.
Painted pianos have been set on street corners for anyone to play. The homeless situation exists in Santa Barbara, like most cities in California, but compared to Los Angeles, there were very few. I saw several talented homeless people playing the pianos and they were enjoying themselves.
I had lunch at the Olio Bottega on their outside patio. It’s part of a trio of Italian eateries owned by an Italian couple. They sell authentic Italian food ingredients to take home. The Olio Pizzeria is a pizza/wine bar, and Olio e Limone is their full-scale restaurant. If you love authentic Sicilian cuisine, you can’t go wrong with either of these 3 establishments. I ordered a fabulous slice of lasagne with a glass of Italian wine and took home packages of Sicilian pasta and risotto.
The courthouse
The historic Santa Barbara Courthouse was constructed in 1929 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and is a sought-after location for wedding photos as well as a popular filming location. The interior is quite extraordinary but was closed when I was there because of the pandemic.
Both the courthouse and the Santa Barbara Mission are must-sees when you are visiting Santa Barbara. I’ve been to the mission several times and it is one of the most beautiful missions in California and the largest in California. You don’t want to miss it.
Read about Mission San Juan Capistrano here and the Sonoma Mission here.
The Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens
I’ve always been a fan of gardens and live near Descanso Gardens and The Huntington near Pasadena. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is located in the hills above Mission Santa Barbara. It is 78 acres and features over 1,000 California native plants.
There are over 5 miles of walking paths and it is a serene place to soak up nature. The garden is also dog-friendly with poop bags readily available. You can walk downhill through Redwoods and bathe in the forest amongst the ancient trees and woodlands.
Walking through the garden is a great workout and will leave you feeling renewed and purified.
On your way out, stop at the gift shop. Native plants are also available outside for sale.
Visit Santa Barbara
There are so many fun things to do in the Santa Barbara area that it is hard to leave. The wonderful thing about this beach town is that you don’t have to do anything to enjoy it. It’s delightful just hanging out and gazing at the sea.
Nearby side trips include the Danish Village of Solvang, Ojai, Lake Casitas, The Channel Islands, and Winetasting in Los Olivos.
You may also run into Prince Harry, Meghan, or Oprah in Montecito just down the road. Keep your eyes open!
Now I want to go! Lovely post.
Thanks, so much, Pennie. I appreciate the feedback.
Never been but would love to go! Two nights must be wonderful.
Oh yes Laurie, if you can make it out to California, you should definitely go!
I’ve been to California, but never Santa Barbara. It’s on my list, and looks like you just gave me a great visit map on where to go and what to do.
I’m so glad you found it valuable, Karen. I hope you can come someday.
This made me feel like I was there! Not sure I can identify a fave beach town, but I do have to give Clearwater Beach (in Fla.) a vote.
I love the beaches in Florida too, Paula. I spent a weekend at St. Pete’s Beach.
Beautiful! ? Santa Barbara reminds me of San Diego, where my parents lived for 40 years. Thanks for this delightful taste of southern California. I miss it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post Debbie. Yes, it’s similar to San Diego in many ways. I love both and will be going to San Diego at the end of the month for a visit.