Santa Barbara Travel Guide

Often known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is a popular summer vacation destination, with its white sandy beaches and vibrant atmosphere. After sunbathing and swimming in the sea, this Californian city still has plenty to offer visitors of all ages. There are mountain trails, a zoo, historic buildings, wine tasting rooms and even art galleries. Of course, shopaholics will also have a great time in Santa Barbara, with State Street and Stearns Wharf offering everything from luxury shopping to delicious and award-winning food. Santa Barbara is a city that offers everything for an unforgettable vacation.

Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Top things to do include visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. This is a historic 18th-century mission that welcomes visitors throughout the year. Santa Barbara County Courthouse is also open to visitors, with its Spanish architecture and the El Mirador clock tower showing off views of the city. Santa Barbara Zoo offers the opportunity to see animals such as elephants, lions and giraffes up close. For an adventure, hiking up to Inspiration Point is popular, with stunning views over the coastline of Santa Barbara. Meanwhile, vacationers love to relax at East Beach, with white sand and blue sea, while Leadbetter Beach offers water sports, such as surfing. For visitors who want to sample California wine, there is the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trial, which explores wineries in the local area.

Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a popular vacation destination during summer. For cheaper accommodation and warm weather, visitors should choose spring or fall months for their vacation.

A Local's Guide to Santa Barbara

Visitors to the Californian coast should certainly devote some time to see what Santa Barbara has to offer. Find the perfect vacation rental in Santa Barbara for family and friends in this picturesque city. Visitors are spoilt for choice on the “American Riviera”, as the Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs contrast against the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The resort is a blend of city culture with a relaxed, beach town vibe and is perfect for couples, friends and families.

Nature in Santa Barbara

Get back to nature by taking a trip to the Santa Barbera Botanic Garden. This stunning natural preserve has some interesting landmarks like the Blaksley Boulder which sits at the center of the garden.

A great place to visit with children is Santa Barbara Zoo which has 500 animals across 30 acres. There are plenty of things to do at the zoo including behind-the-scenes experiences, giraffe feeding, and the animal kitchen that allows youngsters to get up close to the animals. There’s also live stage shows, explorer fundays and a climbing wall.

See & Do

Down at Santa Barbara Waterfront visitors can check out California’s operating pier -- Stearns Wharf. The two beaches, East Beach and West Beach, sit either side of the wharf which is an iconic landmark in the area.

Rental bikes are available and tourists can take a ride down the Cabrillo Trail or stop at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center to learn about the sea life of the area. At the sea center, there is a live shark touch pool, a 1,500-gallon tidepool and encounters with aquatic animals.

For some culture and history, check out the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and go inside the Spanish Colonial Santa Barbara Courthouse. Guests can also climb the clock tower for a spectacular 360-degree view of the city, mountains, and ocean.

Sunshine-lovers can spend a day at Leadbetter Beach which is a mecca for surfers and has a nearby café for snacks and drinks. For hiking, take a walk out to Inspiration Point. There is an easy 3.5-mile round-trip which has beautiful ocean views. In the evenings, there are movies playing at one of the areas old-style movie theaters.

When & Where to Stay

Santa Barbara vacation rentals are perfect for a family reunion, couples getaway or just a solo vacation. There are many vacation homes to choose from in the area and all are just a short walk from a beach, shopping and entertainment areas. The best time to book rentals in Santa Barbara is between March and May or September to November. Temperatures stay warm year-round but visiting in spring or fall is the quieter season, and areas will be less crowded with prices falling to off-season levels.

Cabins in Santa Barbara

A vacation in Santa Barbara has it all, beautiful buildings, great summers, a huge range of bars and restaurants, vacation rentals to suit all budgets, and much more. Golden hills roll into the sea, and days in the Santa Barbara area are made for exploring the outdoors. Biking, hiking, surfing, sea kayaking, beachcombing, and rock climbing are all very popular activities. Many people also enjoy a trip to the nearby Channel Islands National Park for stunning ocean views.

Wander the streets of both uptown and downtown Santa Barbara where you'll be greeted with locally-owned cafes, boutique shops, and classy restaurants at every corner. Also take a stroll through one of California’s oldest arcades, the Paseo de la Guerra, or get lost in history in one of the many museums. The town is full of vacation homes and Santa Barbara cabin rentals, only minutes from all the action.