Things to do in Santa Barbara
Looking for things to do in Santa Barbara? You’ve come to the right place! Santa Barbara is an incredibly beautiful city on California’s central coast. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains, this place has something for everyone.
Just a two-hour drive from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara was the perfect place to spend Labor Day weekend. And, thanks to points and miles, we were able to stay at a beachfront hotel for free.
Things to do
Visit Stearns Wharf, the oldest working wooden wharf in California. If you’re an early riser, you can see fishing boats bringing in their catch. If you prefer to sleep in, it’s still worth a walk down the wharf for the ocean views, restaurants, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
The Old Mission Santa Barbara was established in 1768 and is still home to a community of Franciscan Friars. It was the 10th of 21 California missions founded by the Spanish Franciscans. Visiting the grounds of the mission is free, but tours start at $15 for adults.
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is one of the most beautiful courthouses we’ve ever seen. Home to the clocktower and grounds with gardens, it’s open for self-guided tours. If you take the stairs up to the top of the clocktower, you can see sweeping views of the whole city.
If you’re visiting the Funk Zone, stroll over to the The Blue Door, a three-floor vintage store with something for everyone. While there, we saw mid-century modern furniture as well as Lisa Frank gear!
On your way to the beach, make sure you stop at Chromatic Gate, an art installation on Cabrillo Boulevard.
Where to eat
While not technically in Santa Barbara, Bettina in neighboring Montecito is a must-visit. Known for their wood-fired pizzas, a reservation is highly recommended. We tried their Wood Fired bread with Straus cultured butter, the Cacio e Pepe Arancini, and the Pepperoni Pizza with wildflower honey, all of which were amazing.
La Super-Rica Taqueria gained attention when Julia Child named it one of her favorite taco spots. It’s cash only so be prepared, but very reasonably priced. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, especially when you can see them hand-pressing tortillas!
Jeannine’s is right on the beach and the perfect stop for brunch. Enjoy the beautiful weather while sitting on the patio. The line does get pretty long on the weekends, so plan your meals accordingly.
So we didn’t grab a picture, but Helena Avenue Bakery is also worth a mention. This scratch bakery starts serving baked goods at 7am and then additional breakfast options at 8am. Sit on their patio or grab and go for a full day of seeing the city.
Looking for a sweet treat? McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams has two locations in Santa Barbara with an abundance of flavors to choose.
Have you been to Santa Barbara? What would you add to the list?
2 Comments