15 Best Things to See in Santa Barbara (CA)

It’s no surprise that stunning Santa Barbara is frequently referred to as America’s Riviera given its nearly perfect year-round climate, spectacular expanses of mountain-dotted coastline, and some of the most prestigious zip codes in the nation. About 100,000 people live in the seaside community, which is 140 kilometers northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Although its upscale hotels, resorts, eateries, and shopping destinations are typically the sole domain of the fantastically stylish and wealthy, it is a well-liked day-trip destination for people looking to live it up before returning to their budget accommodations in nearby cities. 15 activities in and around Santa Barbara, California, are listed below.

Ganna Walska Lotusland

Though Polish opera icons, opulent California homes, and expansive lotus gardens aren’t typically associated with one another, they’re all key elements in one of Santa Barbara’s most unique attractions. The Polish opera diva Ganna Walska resided on a 40-acre estate in Santa Barbara in the middle of the 20th century. She made it into one of the most impressive natural wonderlands in the area before she passed away in 1984. Thousands of lotus plants from around the world are scattered throughout the home’s expansive grounds, and when they are in bloom, the scene is nothing short of spectacular. The house and gardens are located near Montecito, about eight kilometers east of Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum on Harbor Way is the ideal destination to spend a few hours for those who enjoy the history of the sea. The museum houses one of the most spectacular collections of local history artifacts in the area, including tools, weaponry, maps, works of art, and interactive exhibitions that appeal to visitors of all ages. Visitors can explore on their own or join up for one of the knowledgeable-led tours, which typically take an hour. The museum’s staff also provides a number of unique educational programs all year long, so take a look at their website’s events calendar before making travel arrangements.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, like many of Santa Barbara’s top attractions, has a history that dates back to the early 20th century, when the region was much more rural than it is today. Just beyond the aforementioned Spanish Mission, the museum is situated in a beautiful canyon. Its grounds cover more than a dozen acres and include outbuildings with distinctive architectural features and tranquil natural surroundings. The city’s oldest museum includes a number of impressive exhibits focusing on the area’s maritime history, abundant wildlife, and interesting history. Mission Creek has a nature trail that follows it, and it’s common to view a variety of wildlife there.

The Old Mission

Spanish missionaries created multiple missions in California for more than a century in an utterly futile effort to convert the local Native Americans to Roman Catholicism. The Old Mission in Santa Barbara, which was founded in the 1780s, is still an active site of worship today. The mission also has a museum that is jam-packed with intriguing antiques and archaeological relics, including religious objects, old photographs, and first-person tales of the missionaries who lived and worked there. It’s only open seasonally and only a few minutes from the downtown area, so check their website or give them a call before going.

Santa Barbara Orchid Estate

According to one of the most well-known orchid estates in the nation, Santa Barbara’s mild climate along the Pacific coast is ideal for growing a range of orchid varieties. The Santa Barbara Orchid Estate was established in 1957 and specializes in cultivating a wide range of hybrid orchids that don’t require the regulated environments found in greenhouses. The building is conveniently situated on Orchid Drive in Santa Barbara and frequently offers guided tours, guest speakers, and botany displays. The estate, which spans about 5 acres, welcomes tourists all year long.

Santa Barbara Certified Farmers’ Market

Spending some time at a neighborhood farmers’ market is truly the best way to get to know residents and learn about the place when you’re traveling somewhere new. The Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market, one of the numerous linked markets conducted in neighboring towns on various days of the week, has been operating since 1983. The majority of the vendors are small-town farmers and business owners that provide a variety of goods, including organic olive oil, California almonds, jewelry, and prepared foods like honey and salsa. The Anacapa Street location of the Santa Barbara market is open seasonally on one weekday and one weekend day.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, located off Mission Canyon Road on over 80 acres, is home to thousands of regional plant, flower, and tree species. The garden, which has existed for almost a century, even boasts a stand of magnificent California Redwoods that rise hundreds of feet into the sky above. Additionally, Mission Creek is crossed by a historic Native American dam, constructed in the early nineteenth century. Each different area is connected by a large number of reasonably flat trails that are sprinkled with educational plaques that describe the surrounding natural and man-made objects.

State Street

State Street is frequently referred to as Santa Barbara’s heart because of the activity, stores, galleries, restaurants, and theaters that are located there. It was created to imitate a market found outside in Europe. It is simple to get there via one of the shuttle buses that run from several downtown areas for people staying close who would rather not walk. Late afternoon and early evening are prime times for the area to come alive as tired tourists and locals unwind with small plates and refreshing beverages. There are frequent live performances during the summer, along with exhibitions in museums and galleries.

Stearns Wharf

With a history dating back to the early 1870s, Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara is the Golden State’s oldest wooden wharf and has been in continuous use since it was constructed. Though its heyday as a freight port is largely a thing of the past, the area on State Street has recently been converted into a hip dining and shopping attraction that includes more than a dozen individual businesses. The wharf is also home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the region, a thriving fish market, and a nautical museum. It’s a great location for a stroll in the afternoon or happy hour with friends, and water taxi cruises are also offered there.

El Presidio

A Spanish fort built more than 200 years ago is located in Santa Barbara, California, along with its mission. Though it was once a front line of defense for Spain’s military, commercial, and religious enterprises in the area, El Presidio now sits within a six-acre state park with more than a dozen renovated buildings set around a central fortified plaza. In addition to culture and world history, visitors will learn about the Native Americans who called the area home for generations before the arrival of the foreign colonialists in the mid-18th century. The park is conveniently located only a few blocks from Santa Barbara’s central business district.

Los Agaves

Los Agaves is the ideal lunch or supper spot for weary travelers wishing to fill their empty tanks without paying an arm and a leg. It is situated on North Milpas Street in Santa Barbara. Seafood burritos, chicken enchiladas, and crispy beef tacos are perennial menu favorites. They are all served with a tantalizing array of homemade salsas and sauces that range from deep, dark, and spicy to sweet, light, and acidic. Additionally, the restaurant offers a number of combination platters that come with sides like rice and beans. These are excellent choices for folks who would prefer not to take on a substantial entrée by themselves.

Shoreline Park

Although Santa Barbara’s natural wonders frequently receive more attention, the city’s cityscape is also quite striking. In the waning hours of the afternoon, Shoreline Park offers the nicest views. Nearly 15 acres of coastal bluffs make up Shoreline Park in the Santa Ynez Mountains, from where it is easy to see the Pacific Ocean and the city below. On clear days, previous visitors have even witnessed frolicking whales. There are a number of clearly marked pathways, a playground, and picnic and shaded resting places throughout the park. Dogs are welcome. However, they must always be on a leash outside of the authorized locations.

Take a Whale Watching Tour

Though whales are more often associated with cold water climes like those found in the Arctic Ocean and Antarctica, the relatively warm waters of the Santa Barbara coast are popular whale-watching areas for much of the year. The whale-watching season generally lasts from the spring through the early fall, when a variety of whale species make their migrations through the nutrient-rich waters en route to their annual calving grounds. Humpback, blue, and fin whales, as well as other dolphin species, are frequently seen. There are several tour companies in the area, and tours typically run between a couple of hours and a half day.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art was established more than 70 years ago and is situated on State Street in the heart of town. It presently has a noteworthy collection of more than 25,000 distinct works of art. The museum’s exhibit space spans tens of thousands of square feet, and it includes works by American, European, and Asian artists. The facility has a gift store, a café, a library, and an auditorium for special events, including concerts, seminars, and guest lecturers. Guided tours are excellent choices for people who want to get the most out of their trip by making use of knowledgeable and fascinating local docents’ observations.

Lobero Theater

The Santa Barbara region is home to many of the state’s earliest historical sites because it served as a landing spot for Spanish explorers long before the United States was formally constituted. In the 1870s, the Lobero Theater was first constructed. The oldest theater of its sort in California, despite significant renovations throughout the years, has been in continuous operation since its foundation. The theater provides a variety of performances all year long, including both professional and amateur productions of ballet, traditional dance, chamber orchestra, and modern music like jazz. The theater is located on East Canon Perdido Street in Santa Barbara’s central business district.