Things to Do in Santa Barbara California? Here are the Best Attractions to Visit!

Santa Barbara - Photo by Morgan Traut from Google Maps

Santa Barbara is a coastal city in the U.S. state of California with amazing beach scenery.

It is widely known for its strong sense of community, prime agricultural land, award winning wineries, and attractive cultural and tourism opportunities.

The city offers some of the best attractions and places such as Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Zoo.

Its culture can be seen through many aspects such as performing arts, museum, Spanish Colonial architecture, red tile roofs, the colorful murals, and more.

For fun sightseeing opportunities, places like Shoreline Park and Goleta Beach Park are ready to bring the best experiences for you.

The city is also home to many landmarks and historic places. Old Mission Santa Barbara, MOXI, and Santa Barbara Museum Of Art are some of the popular ones.

Take a closer look at this page and know more what else is there to do in Santa Barbara.

ONE DAY TRIP IDEA

To be able to accomplish a successful One Day Trip Idea, good time management and good plans will always be helpful. Santa Barbara is definitely the kind of city needs to be visited once in your life. The city is home to many attractive and fun tourist attractions.

To start your trip, there is nothing better than visiting one of the most popular attractions in the city. Stearns Wharf is that place for you. This historic pier is located at the cross section of the end of State Street and Cabrillo. It was completed in 1872 and became the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The pier is home to entertainment such as restaurants, varied shops, a small aquarium, and stunning water views.

Among the city's popular attractions is this zoo called Santa Barbara Zoo. Even though it isn't too big as many zoos you have visited, this zoo become top attraction because of its various offers. It has been ranked many times as one of the nation's best small zoos with more than 500 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and California condors. The zoo is famously known for having had a giraffe with a crooked neck. A miniature train ride and picnic spots are added as its fun attractions.

Stearns Wharf

This historic pier is located at the cross section of the end of State Street and Cabrillo.

It was completed in 1872 and became the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The pier is home to entertainment such as restaurants, varied shops, a small aquarium, and stunning water views.

Address : 217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

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Santa Barbara Zoo

Small zoo with hundreds of animals in natural habitats, a miniature train ride & picnic spots.

Fun place for families to enjoy a day of animal watching.

Address : 500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA

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SIGHTSEEING

To continue your best things to do in Santa Barbara California, you can plan a trip to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. This 78-acre botanical garden features 5.5 miles of paths, authentic Japanese tea garden, redwood grove, and over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants. Its beautiful surrounding allows you to get closer to Santa Barbara's nature.

Things to do in Santa Barbara California become more fun if you pay a visit to Shoreline Park. As one of the most popular places in the city, this park offers all you need for your holiday. From the gorgeous sea and water vibes, a playground, grassy areas, calming walking paths, beach access, to the dancing trees.

This is all you need for your vacation this holiday season. Take your time and make it the best this time. And if you need more recommendations, Goleta Beach Park and Arroyo Burro Beach County Park are also worth visiting.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Enchanting garden featuring 5.5 miles of paths, authentic Japanese tea garden, redwood grove & more.

If you like nature or just want to get outside this is one of the best places to do it.

Address : 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA

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Shoreline Park

Popular park overlooking the water offers a playground, grassy areas, walking paths & beach access.

A constant light breeze makes the sunny days that much more enjoyable.

Address : Shoreline Dr & Santa Rosa Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, USA

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Goleta Beach Park

Public beach featuring paved bicycle trails, picnic areas & a 1,500-ft pier for walking & fishing.

Great relaxing area to rest and enjoy the beauty of everything the ocean.

Address : 5986 Sandspit Rd, Goleta, CA 93117, USA

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Arroyo Burro Beach County Park

This oceanfront beach with seasonal lifeguards & a grassy area for picnicking allows off-leash dogs.

Stunning California coastline made it enjoyable for out of state visitors and locals alike.

Address : 2981 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, USA

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CULTURE

Santa Barbara's culture can be seen and enjoyed through many aspects such as performing arts, tourist attractions, museum, Spanish Colonial architecture, red tile roofs, the colorful murals, galleries, and theaters. Its diversity is definitely worth knowing.

As a city, Santa Barbara, and often branded as the American Rivera, itself is widely known for its strong sense of community, prime agricultural land, award winning wineries, and attractive cultural and tourism opportunities.

Because of the city's diversity, there are many well known language spoken in Santa Barbara. From Arabic, American Sign Language, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Korean, to Italian.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

To enjoy many fun things to do in Santa Barbara, you can visit the city from March to May or from September to November. These periods are known for having fairly mild year-round temperatures. Early spring and fall are also great seasons to visit. This is when you you see less crowds and room rates are inexpensive.

LANDMARKS

One of the best things to do in Santa Barbara California is having memorable moments at Old Mission Santa Barbara. This beautiful mission has been existed since 1786 by Padre Fermín Lasuén. It is so popular that the area is quite full of tourist attractions. From the stunning period art, artifacts, gorgeous gardens, beautiful ocean views, to a gift shop.

Among the top historic places in Santa Barbara city are MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, and Santa Barbara Museum Of Art. There are the places that'll get you closer to Santa Barbara's interesting history.

Old Mission Santa Barbara

Landmark 1786 Spanish mission with period art & artifacts, gardens with ocean views & a gift shop.

They have a guided tour or you can foot it on your own too.

Address : 2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA

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MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation

Contemporary museum devoted to science, technology & the arts.

Full of interactive exhibits inviting exploration and creativity.

Address : 125 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

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BEST HOTELS AND RESORTS

To complete your fun things to do in Santa Barbara California, hotels are ready to accommodate your visit in the city. Many are available. From the 3-star Hotel Santa Barbara to the 4-star and popular Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

These hotels are ready to bring comfort to your living experience during your travel. They come with good locations, sophisticated room setting, elegant and comfortable beddings, full equipment, exotic pools, restaurants and bars, parking and breakfast, gift shops, fitness rooms, and more.

Hotel Santa Barbara

Storied downtown hotel near the beach & wharf, with gift & coffee shop, plus available parking.

Address : 533 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA

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Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

Upscale seafront lodging offering polished rooms, grill-style dining & 3 tennis courts, plus a spa.

Address : 633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, USA

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BEST RESTAURANTS

Visiting restaurants and places to eat is surely one of the most fun things to do in Santa Barbara California. The city is home to some of the most popular restaurants. Brophy Bros. is one of them. This seafood restaurant is where you can enjoy many local food and drink. While seafood and Bloody Marys are its signature menus, its beautiful location right at the harborside makes it more special. From food presentation, taste, to the beautiful room setting, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

To further your culinary trip in the city, make Santa Barbara Shellfish Company as your next stop. Located at one of the city's most popular attractions, Stearns Wharf, this seafood restaurant comes with casual setting space offering seasonal seafood, ocean views, outdoor patio, and fire pit.

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

Casual waterfront restaurant serving seasonal seafood with ocean views, outdoor patio & fire pit.

The clam chowder is one of the specialties for this restaurant.

Address : 230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, USA

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Brophy Bros. Santa Barbara

This seafood restaurant is where you can enjoy many local food and drink.

While seafood and Bloody Marys are its signature menus, its beautiful location right at the harborside makes it more special.

From food presentation, taste, to the beautiful room setting, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit.

Address : 119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, USA

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BEST SOUVENIR SHOPS

Don't leave the city before making a stop for souvenir shopping. Thanks to its tourism world, Santa Barbara is also a good city for shopping.

Paradise Found and Old Wharf Trading Co are some of the best recommendations for your fun things to do in Santa Barbara California. These gift shops are where you can find anything local. From clothing, hats, cute home decorations, cool glasses, crystals, incense, arts, and so many other souvenir items. And the best of all, the prices are reasonably good.