Santa Barbara California
Vacation Guide

Santa Barbara California, with its abundance of palm trees and lovely weather year round, has a Spanish-Mediterranean ambience. The Santa Ynez Mountains rise majestically behind, while the Pacific Ocean curves around the front of the area.

If you're planning a beach vacation to this beautiful coastal area, read on to find information on the local attractions and beaches and other things to do. Also you can learn about where you can stay, from hotels to bed and breakfast inns to campgrounds.

The Beaches

East Beach and West Beach are near Stearns Wharf. Leadbetter Beach is on the north side of the Harbor. Mesa Lane Stairs and One Thousand Steps are further north, in a residential district. There's also Arroyo Burro County Park, Chase Palm Park and Shoreline Park.

The main beaches around the wharf have very small waves compared to most Southern California beaches. A coastal bike path runs along the back of the beaches along Cabrillo Boulevard.

Along The Waterfront

Stearns Wharf (the main pier) contains restaurants, shops, fishing access, and the Ty Warner Sea Center, a fun and educational place to bring the kids. Afterward, you can treat them (and yourself) to ice cream on the pier if you wish.

Santa Barbara Harbor has its own attractions. You can ride a water taxi, get some sushi, eat marvelous seafood with a view, or visit the Maritime Museum. You can also catch Santa Barbara whale watching trips out of here.

Bike and surrey rentals are available near the end of State Street across from Stearns Wharf. You can ride along the beach bike path over to the harbor or to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in the other direction.

Beach volleyball is very popular here. There are several volleyball courts at East Beach.

A skateboard park at East Beach provides nonstop action.

Art lovers can view work by local artists displayed on Sundays at Chase Palm Park across from the beach.

If your kids love swimming in the ocean, you might consider signing them up for one of the Santa Barbara surf camps.

Around Town

State Street goes through the heart of town, with easy access to galleries, shopping, museums and historical buildings. Santa Barbara travel is made easier with a shuttle bus that travels around town, the waterfront and up to the mission.

If you love the local architecture or are interested in Santa Barbara history, the Red Brick Walking Tour is a great way to explore. You can do it as a free self guided tour by printing out this map of the Red Tile Walking Tour. The walk takes you on a maze of streets and alleys around historic adobes, the county courthouse, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Post Office, the Library, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum and more.

Mission Santa Barbara founded in 1786, is a popular place to visit and tour. It sits up on a hill overlooking large, grassy Mission Historical Park and a rose garden.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is a nice, doable size, with animals in beautiful, natural habitats. Just strolling around the lush grounds and breathing the sea air feels like a vacation.

The Santa Barbara Botanical Garden has 5.5 miles of trails winding through native plants.

Another popular activity is visiting the Santa Barbara wineries. There are tasting rooms right in town as well as the Santa Ynez Valley wine country to explore.

Here is a little video tour of downtown Santa Barbara California that I found on Youtube:

Where To Stay

There is a wide range of Santa Barbara accommodations , from moderately sized hotels, to exclusive resorts, to charming bed and breakfasts. You have the choice of staying downtown, or on the pricier waterfront.

Popular hotel choices include the Four Seasons Resort Biltmore Santa Barbara, the Inn of The Spanish Garden, Castillo Inn At The Beach, Brisas Del Mar Inn At The Beach and Pacifica Suites Santa Barbara.
Some of the more popular Santa Barbara Bed And Breakfast Inns include James House, Cheshire Cat Inn, Simpson House Inn, Bath Street Inn and Harbor House Inn.
To find a vacation rental, you can search online at TripAdvisor or click on Santa Barbara vacation rentals to find a list of local services that will help you find one.

If you want to camp near Santa Barbara California, there are these choices:

• El Capitan State Beach,


• El Capitan Canyon,


• Gaviota State Park and


• Refugio State Beach to the north, and just 15 minutes south on the 101 is the mellow coastal community of


• Carpinteria California which also has a beachfront campground.

Getting To Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara California is about 1 ½ to 2 hours north of Los Angeles off the 101, depending on traffic. There is a small airport that offers service to many U.S. cities. Amtrak also has service right into town.

Annual Festivals and Events In Santa Barbara California

APRIL
Santa Barbara Fair & Expo

MAY
Santa Barbara Fair & Expo
Annual Wheels & Waves Car Show Celebration
Annual Santa Barbara Sea Festival

JUNE
Zoo Brew Beer Festival
Summer Solstice Celebration

JULY
California Wine Festival: Beachside Wine Festival
Santa Barbara Greek Festival

AUGUST
Old Spanish Days Fiesta

SEPTEMBER
Taste Of The Town Santa Barbara

OCTOBER
Annual Santa Barbara Seafood Festival

DECEMBER
Annual Parade of Lights

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