Santa Barbara is calling! Discover its beaches, wineries, food, and more.
Santa Barbara is famous for its expensive hotels, large mansions and trendy boutiques, but it also has beautiful beaches and many museums and festivals dedicated to celebrating the city’s past.
Be sure to visit Santa Barbara’s picture-perfect beaches. Lie on the soft sand and read a book, or grab a board and hit the surf. Conditions are great for beginners, but on the right day there are some good breaks for those of all skill levels.
Marvel at the Franciscan–Spanish architecture of the old Santa Barbara Mission. You’ll find artifacts and documents from old missionaries, a still-operating chapel, and the mission’s impressive and well-kept grounds. For more old architecture, visit the adobe Rafael Gonzalez house or the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. Head up the bell tower for great views of the surrounding area. History buffs will also want to check out the Presidio of Santa Barbara, a Spanish fortress from the 1780s.
Learn how modern-day Santa Barbara came about as you wander through the exhibits at the city’s Historical Museum. For a look at the evolution of plant and wildlife in the area and beyond, spend some time at the Museum of Natural History.
Art lovers will enjoy the city’s excellent institutions. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has an extensive collection of European, American and Asian art, and plays host to some world-class exhibitions. For a look at more recent works, wander over to the Contemporary Arts Forum. This gallery is artist-run and funded, and is dedicated to exhibiting the highest-quality work in the region.
To enjoy other local products, organize a tour of the region’s wineries.
Santa Barbara enjoys the sophisticated charm of a much larger city but maintains a quaint, friendly atmosphere. Throw in a fascinating history, loads of cultural activities and excellent beaches, and it’s not hard to see why it attracts visitors from around the world.
East Beach is known for its stunning beaches, and with sights like Santa Barbara Zoo and Chase Palm Park, you won't get bored spending a day wandering around this part of Santa Barbara.
The Funk Zone is popular for its beaches, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Santa Barbara Art Foundry or MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.
Mission Canyon is noteworthy for its gardens, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Santa Barbara Botanical Garden and Los Padres National Forest.
Situated in Santa Ynez, this spa resort is within 2 mi (3 km) of Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Janeway-Parks Carriage House, Gainey Vineyard, and Kalyra ...…Situated in Santa Ynez, this spa resort is within 2 mi (3 km) of Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Janeway-Parks Carriage House, Gainey Vineyard, and Kalyra ...WWW…
4.5/5Wonderful! (1,313 reviews)
"Everything about the hotel was great.. very clean, modern, and great staff! The casino itself is just so so.. and the hotel room price was ridiculously high. I don't know if it's because they've got a monopoly on nice places to stay in the area.. but $499 for one night.. sorry.. but not worth that ..."…""Everything about the hotel was great.. very clean, modern, and great staff! The casino itself is just so so.. and the hotel room price was ridiculously high. I don't know if it's because they've got a monopoly on nice places to stay in the area.. but $499 for one night.. sorry.. but not worth that ..."WWW…"
Situated in Solvang, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum and Solvang Festival Theater. Hans Christian Andersen Museum and ...…Situated in Solvang, this hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum and Solvang Festival Theater. Hans Christian Andersen Museum and ...WWW…
4.6/5Exceptional! (2,822 reviews)
"The architecture was very interesting The picture of the property led me to decide to stay there"…""The architecture was very interesting The picture of the property led me to decide to stay there"WWW…"
Located in East Beach, this beach hotel is 0.5 mi (0.9 km) from Santa Barbara Zoo and within 3 mi (5 km) of Presidio Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County Courthouse. ...…Located in East Beach, this beach hotel is 0.5 mi (0.9 km) from Santa Barbara Zoo and within 3 mi (5 km) of Presidio Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County Courthouse. ...WWW…
4/5Very Good! (1,996 reviews)
"How convenient everything was. Since we had some early tours planned, we took advantage of the quick breakfast items in the lobby. Enjoyed the wine tasting room with the free wine coupons and also the free bottled water every day. The hotel is beautiful with ocean views."…""How convenient everything was. Since we had some early tours planned, we took advantage of the quick breakfast items in the lobby. Enjoyed the wine tasting room with the free wine coupons and also the free bottled water every day. The hotel is beautiful with ocean views."WWW…"
Learn more about the local history when you visit Mission Santa Barbara, a well-known historical site in Santa Barbara. Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Why not visit the native and exotic animals at Santa Barbara Zoo and see why this is a favorite attraction in Santa Barbara? Wander the beautiful beaches and seaside in the area.
Tastings at 400+ West Coast Wineries (Priority Wine Pass)
$40
We are a winetasting pass that is partnered with 400 wineries on the West Coast and is good for 365 days from date of purchase THE WINERIES we work with: 400+ winery partners in California, Washington, & Oregon. Regions include Napa Valley, Sonoma &
Join us for a beautiful guided paddle along the Santa Barbara waterfront. Our 2 hour journey begins with paddle instruction, then takes us through the harbor, along beautiful beaches, past sea lions and kelp forests and around the historic pier.
Downtown Santa Barbara Historical Food Walking Tour
$85
This culinary experience offers an intimate food walking tour of the mid-State Street area of downtown Santa Barbara and gives guests an up close and personal look into the local food scene.
