The Pacific Coast Highway highlights many beautiful areas of California we’ve enjoyed visiting many times. Santa Barbara however has become a highlight for us. A-list celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey, J Lo and Steven Spielberg to mention only a few have made Santa Barbara home and with good reason. Santa Barbara’s beautiful white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs provide a European feel while basking in California sunshine. Centrally located, this county in California has even more to offer than meets the eye for the entire family.
Before the Pandemic we had the opportunity to visit and truly explore this area with locals as our guide. Yes, we knew Ronald Reagan had called it home as well as Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch but, celebrity interest in this area just confirmed what we were discovering. The majestic Santa Ynez mountains provide views along curvy roads with rural ranches all within a short distance to white sand and beachfront relaxation. Panoramic views from the beach include watching leisure and fishing boats travel across the ocean harbor. Sunset vistas pan the Channel Islands on the horizon. Combine these landscapes anytime for something truly magical everyone will love. Here’s what we found that we think you’ll love as well in Santa Barbara.
Where To Stay
Airbnb and VRBO have strict policies for their owners who’ve worked hard to meet government standards to provide a clean and healthy space for your family’s visit. Rentals downtown are within walking distance to the iconic State Street and Stearn’s Wharf for a unique vantage point of this captivating city. The resorts that reside beachfront have the added allure of landscaped pools and upscale spa and dining amenities. We would be remiss if we didn’t specifically mention the Four Season’s Resort- The Biltmore. This beachfront location is not the kind of luxury we all can enjoy but take a browse through the gallery on their website at this dream wedding venue and romantic weekend getaway. For the more family friendly budget option we recommend renting through Airbnb or VRBO for a practical purpose. Having a kitchen and laundry facilities let alone multiple bedrooms and TV’s is always a relaxed way for everyone in the family to enjoy some downtime. There are so many fantastic options to choose from but hopefully these links will give you a great head start on your planning.
Pro Travel tip: If you have accrued reward points with Hilton Honors Program or are thinking about starting one then you might want to also consider the beachfront Hilton resort for a downtown beachfront option.
Pro Travel Tip: Bring your own cleaning wipes for a quick wipe down of the surfaces in your hotel or rental for even more Covid-19 peace of mind.
How to Get There
One of my all time bucket list travel ideas is not only driving the magnificent Pacific Coastal Highway but to take the Amtrak rail line that runs specifically from Santa Barbara to San Diego. The Pacific Surfliner takes in epic views of the coast on a train ride that ultimately beats hedging the traffic getting through L.A. and can only be described as an unparalleled travel experience.
Pro Travel Tip: Check out the link I provided for all up to date Covid reminders and schedule information for the Pacific Surfliner.
Driving a car provides you with even more options. You can include in your travels the views going north of Santa Barbara to be able to pull off at and enjoy. Being centrally located Santa Barbara offers the perfect location to travel the coast. Only 2 1/2 hours north is the San Simeon elephant seal viewing station as well as Hearst Castle. A car offers you the ultimate road trip experience to travel even further along the coast into Big Sur and Monterey. Not only will you enjoy the iconic road trip but it absolutely must be seen in person. Film and photography make it look amazing but that’s only because it’s so much more amazing in person!
What To Do In Santa Barbara
Stearns Wharf: Family memories of streaming Psych aside this wharf makes for an enjoyable walk along Santa Barbara’s coast line. The fishing boats and views of the city against a mountain range backdrop will mesmerize . There’s some shopping for souvenir’s and places to sit with a coffee or a meal on the pier. Boat rentals for sunset cruises and dolphin watches are available here as well! A day of fun for the whole family should always include an ocean adventure wouldn’t you agree? Where Stearns Wharf ends State Street begins. Hence, our next pick of things a visitor will not want to miss in Santa Barbara.
State Street: Due to the Pandemic State Street is mostly closed to cars and provides a wonderful way to enjoy the California sunshine with multiple restaurant choices. Outdoor seating is plentiful as restaurants became outdoor cafes and honestly who wouldn’t prefer that while visiting southern California?
State Street provides a walkers paradise to take in all that historic Spanish – Colonial Revival architecture. If you can, veer off the State Street avenue to check out the Santa Barbara courthouse and garden area. It’s a beautiful space to walk through and admire the well kept gardens and Spanish tiled archways. There are many other historic gardens and estates inspired by the Spanish-Colonial Revival architecture the city is famous for. Hence our next pick of things to do while in downtown Santa Barbara.
Pro Travel Tip: Downtown Santa Barbara offers many parking lot options and the first 75 minutes is always free!
The Old Mission: Built in 1820 your visit to the Old Mission is a site of Santa Barbara history as you view the church and on-site museum as well as gardens. You’ll see 17th-century art, artifacts and re-creations of the Mission’s living quarters and kitchen, complete with an original adobe wall. Outdoors, you can admire the graceful architecture, explore the colorful gardens, and take in expansive views of the city and the Pacific Ocean. With its grand double bell towers, lush gardens and the majestic Santa Ynez mountains as a backdrop, the Mission is one of the city’s most delightful views.
The Mission is open daily for self-guided tours from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Admission is $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors, $13.00 for active military, $10.00 for youth 5-17 and free for children 0-4, and includes access to the museum, church, Sacred Garden and cemetery. Hour-long docent-guided tours are available Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m., Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Click on the link for more information on Covid related closures.
La Arcada Plaza: Enter off of State Street and into a hidden sector of Santa Barbara beautifully designed and built in 1926. Artist galleries and restaurants are along tile lined walkways, fountains, sidewalk cafes and beautiful sculptures that decorate this unique and charming plaza. Originally the site of a Catholic Church from the early 1800’s that was demolished in an earthquake in 1925. This beautiful plaza was built the next year and later refurbished and returned to this beautiful downtown oasis in 1972. A walk thru this area is a must for all to enjoy the interactive art displays and the magnificent turtle fountain kids and adults alike will marvel at.
The Channel Islands: If you absolutely want to include this national park in your plans it is a completely viable option! Ventura California provides public access to this national treasure. While the mainland visitor center in Ventura is readily accessible by car or public transportation, the islands are only accessible by park concessionaire boats and planes or private boat. Advanced planning is highly recommended. The park is free admission and open 24 hours a day everyday. It is the boat options to get there that range between $56 to $160 a person that is pricey. Ventura is only about a half hour away from downtown Santa Barbara if you’d choose to explore these beautiful islands.
Santa Barbara Wine Country
I have to admit wine was a particularly exciting discovery for me during our stay in Santa Barbara. Why is Santa Barbara an up and coming wine destination you may ask? A lot of their northern neighbors (Hello Napa Valley!) get rated as the premium California wine experience. Let me tell you it was with great pleasure and even more enjoyable research to find this mid coastal area of California has wine I now truly admire and enjoy! The Santa Barbara wine region encompasses north of the city, the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley. As one gentleman from L.A. told us “THIS is Los Angeles’ Napa Valley” Anyone from L.A. he said who wants a weekend in wine country comes to Santa Barbara’s beautiful vineyards. The region include spectacular western views of spacious cattle ranches and tiny western towns you will absolutely want to add to your itinerary right now. Solvang, Los Olivos and Buellton are to name my top 3 recommendations if you decide to do a wine tasting venture. Check out this charming little restaurant we enjoyed in Los Olivos at Sides Hardware and Shoes! The building was actually a hardware and shoe store as late as 1901! This quaint little western settlement was originally a stage coach stop from San Francisco that blossomed to the charming little tourist town it is today. When you’re there you can still feel the remnants of a bygone era. Cowboys and stage coaches that visited in the past now house boutique restaurants, shops and wine tasting rooms.
Wine grown in this region thanks to those beautiful Santa Ynez mountains and the fertile valley soil are a perfect recipe for superb wine. The best of the wine grape varieties can flourish here! Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Rhone grapes such as Syrah and Grenache, Bordeaux heavyweights such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Toss in some local varieties and the possibilities here are endless! Downtown Santa Barbara is full of tasting room options and even fully working wineries! But if you choose to explore, it’s only a 45 minute drive out of the city and over the mountains to the quintessential wine country experience with world class wine, cuisine and hospitality.
California holds several wine festivals throughout the year but this would certainly be my choice location in Santa Barbara to enjoy such an event. A truly decadent treat of gourmet food, wine and sea all in one place. Regional craft brews and live music peppered in provide a feast for the senses. What a treat it would be to incorporate your arrival or departure to such an event on the Pacific Surfliner as a relaxed bonus to a responsible and restful day in Santa Barbara.
Yes I think you’ll agree Santa Barbara provides a unique vantage of the coastal California lifestyle that’s well worth a visit to explore. Check out our video below to view a few of the above mentioned highlights we guarantee you will want to consider for your families next vacation to the Pacific Coast.
