We spent our babymoon in Santa Barbara and it was paradise. Beautiful views, vast sandy beaches, outstanding restaurants, and an escape from the crowds and traffic of Los Angeles. The pace in Santa Barbara is slower. There are so many things to do and we had a full itinerary. But we actually ended up skipping a handful of our plans because it was too tempting to just stroll along the ocean, drive to the surrounding towns, and relax. This was a pre-kids trip, but all 10 activities are kid-friendly. And all are worth prioritizing on any Santa Barbara itinerary.
1. Go to the beach.
Santa Barbara is surrounded by a great selection of beaches. And each beach has something unique that makes it stand out. Here are my five favorite beaches in the Santa Barbara area. Hopefully one will match the experience you are hoping to find.
Arroyo Burro Beach
Arroyo Burro Beach is my favorite beach in the area. It’s far more natural and windswept than the other beaches. Surrounded by steep cliffs, the long stretch of sand is perfect for a walk. If it seems crowded by the parking lot, continue walking. You will find a private pocket of sand further down the beach to set up for the day. The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach is a great place to eat for a break from the sun. They have to-go food and drinks as well that you can take out to the beach. You will find bathrooms at the parking lot and the restaurant.
Leadbetter Beach Park
Leadbetter Beach Park is a great choice if you are hoping to swim or surf. The waves are very gentle here, so it is ideal for beginners. There is also a grassy lawn, outdoor barbecues, and a large sandy beach.
East Beach
Located right next to downtown, this is the classic California beach. It can get busy, but East Beach is huge so you will always be able to find a vacant patch of sand. If you want to do more than swim or relax on the sand, you can also play sand volleyball, rent kayaks, or stand up paddle-board at this beach.
Butterfly Beach
Butterfly Beach is a very thin strip of sand just south of Santa Barbara in Montecito. The east-west orientation makes it the perfect spot for a sunset or sunrise walk. Be aware that at high tide, the sand completely disappears. On our recent visit we went in the morning and had to walk along the sidewalk above the beach because the beach was underwater.
Carpinteria State Beach
This was my favorite beach in the area. The soft sand and gentle waves make it a perfect spot for body surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, or relaxing with a book. Parking is easy, with a beach parking lot right next to the sand. There are also lots of food options within a few blocks of the beach, making it simple to pick up lunch or snacks.
2. Shop on State Street.
There are two things I didn’t know about State Street before our visit.
- The start of the shopping area of State Street is a 5-10 minute walk from the beach. You have to walk through a tunnel and up a hill to really arrive.
- State Street is really really long.
Plan to spend more time than you think you need exploring State Street. There are so many fun shops and things to do in the area. And it takes a while to walk up and down the street. On State Street, be sure to stop by Viva Oliva to sample olive oil, hop on the trolley shuttle if it is running, or get dessert from McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, a local favorite that you may have seen in your local Whole Foods freezer section.
3. Shop at the Old Town Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market.
The Old Town Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market is one of six locations of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmer’s Market. The market on Lower State Street was something we stumbled upon when we were walking down State Street. It’s the largest farmer’s market I’ve ever seen and took over the 500 and 600 blocks.
There are hundreds of vendors selling freshly caught seafood, beautiful locally grown produce, t-shirts, artisan wears, olive oils, and pastries. The market focuses more on ingredients than already prepared foods and food trucks. If you are staying in a rental with a kitchen or live locally, you will have more options. You can catch the market on Tuesdays from 3pm-7pm.
4. Visit Stearns Wharf.
Find time to stroll down the historic three-block Stearns Wharf. Wander through the souvenir shops, grab clam chowder or fried seafood from one of the restaurants, and enjoy the view of the mountains, city, and harbor. If you are visiting in the evening, stop for a cocktail on one of the restaurant’s decks to enjoy the sunset. You can walk to Stearns Wharf from Cabrillo Blvd at the base of State Street, or you can drive and park on the pier. Just be aware that parking can be tricky on weekends and high season.
5. Join a whale watching cruise.
There are so many cruise companies to choose from so you should be able to find one that fits your itinerary or interests. Some of the cruises take a whole day and some are just over an hour.
We chose a shorter sunset cruise before dinner with Celebration Cruises so we had more time during the day for other outings. It was absolutely beautiful and we loved seeing the Santa Barbara coastline from the water. We both ended up getting seasick because the waves were choppy during our cruise, but we still enjoyed getting out on the water and taking in the views.
Be aware that your cruise time may be changed due to weather. Our boat ride was rescheduled, which then caused us to miss a restaurant reservation we were excited about. It all worked out fine, but sometimes boat trips require flexibility!
6. Get your morning coffee from Handlebar Coffee Roasters.
We found Handlebar Coffee Roasters the first day of our trip and went back each day. We even brought some beans home as a souvenir. Handlebar makes really great coffee. Possibly the best we’ve had anywhere. You can also get Handlebar Coffee Roasters coffee at other shops and restaurants in town, including Savoy Cafe & Deli, my favorite breakfast spot.
7. Have dinner with a view at the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach.
I would recommend combining an afternoon at Arroyo Burro Beach with an early dinner at the Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach so you can catch the sunset.
The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach has a fantastic location right on the beach. You park in the beach parking lot next to the restaurant (there’s no fee for parking).
We’ve eaten lunch, dinner, and happy hour at the Boathouse. Each meal was wonderful and I’ve heard breakfast is outstanding as well. My go-to order is the mussels and the Boathouse Pasta.
Happy hour is from 3-6pm and the happy hour menu is only served in one small area of the restaurant by the bar at high top tables. Happy Hour is a great deal, but I prefer the full menu of options and the views from the restaurant rather than the bar area. Especially if you are only visiting once on your trip.
The restaurant can get crowded for dinner. Put your name in and then take a walk down the beach until you get the text that your table is ready. They also have a to-go counter so you can get a drink while you wait.
8. Cruise the Cabrillo Bike Path.
The two-lane, 3-mile paved Cabrillo Bike Path runs along the beach and is a great place to ride a cruiser bike or take a walk. The flat path runs by the Santa Barbara Zoo, harbor, Santa Barbara Sailing Center, Andree Clark Bird Refuge, and some great restaurants, so you might want to plan some stops along the way. Many hotels have cruiser bikes available for guests, so check with your hotel before renting a bike elsewhere. We loved the view of the ocean from the path and thought this was an ideal way to see the city.
9. Explore the Andree Clark Bird Refuge.
Take a break from the city and spend an hour wandering through the 42-acre Andree Clark Bird Refuge. The park is a relaxing place to bike, hike, and bird watch. In addition to over 200 types of birds, the park is also known for its turtles (our favorite part). There are multiple walking and biking paths to choose from depending on how much time you want to spend in the park. My favorite path had terrific views of the 29-acre lake.
10. Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is conveniently located right on State Street. The museum is home to a variety of ancient and modern Asian, American, and European works. We enjoyed the both the permanent and temporary exhibits. Adult tickets are $10 and the museum provided a much-needed break from the shops and crowds of State Street. I really love visiting smaller museums while traveling that don’t take up too much time, and this was one of my favorites. Beautiful art, fun gift shop, and an interesting way to learn more about Santa Barbara.
What is your favorite thing to do in Santa Barbara? Share in comments!
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