Santa Barbara, California Travel Guide
By: Anna Pata
Tags: Tourism, Travel Guide, Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California

Gibraltar Road. Photo credit: https://everydayrunaway.com/travel/the-best-hikes-in-santa-barbara/

1. Drive up Gibraltar Road.

One of my all-time favorite activities is to drive about 30–45 minutes up the steep roads on the mountains just east of Santa Barbara. The drive up is beautiful with constant ocean and mountainous views. By the time you reach the top, you can catch a full view of the Channel Islands (as partially seen in the photo above). My biggest recommendation: grab some food from a local Mexican restaurant and have a picnic either on top of your car or on the rocks when you reach the top. It’s also probably the best location in the entire town to be to watch a sunrise or sunset.

Santa Barbara Mission. Photo credit: https://missionscalifornia.com/santa-barbara-mission

2. Have a picnic in front of the Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara’s mission has to be one of the prettiest places in the city. It’s chock full of Spanish history and offers one of the best views of the mountains. The large green lawn is perfect for eating lunch and oftentimes you’ll see small groups of college students scattered about having picnics. There are also rose gardens on the property which is the perfect activity for after exploring the mission and having a quick meal.

Santa Barbara Courthouse. Photo credit: https://www.winecountry.com/businesses/42723/santa-barbara-county-courthouse

3. Visit Santa Barbara’s courthouse.

Located in downtown Santa Barbara, this is another one of my favorite spots to visit. If you’re interested in the area’s history, this is the perfect place to learn more. You can even go inside some of the building (though not everywhere because it’s still an active courthouse). I’ve been up to the clock tower (pictured above) multiple times and it provides you the best look out of the city, with full mountainous and ocean views. Again, it’s the perfect place to bring a blanket, some food, and some friends for a nice afternoon picnic.

Riding bikes along East Beach. Photo credit: http://www.davidhcollier.com/santa-barbara-lifestyle

4. Biking along the Cabrillo Bike Path.

If you’re a nature person, this is one of the best activities you can do in Santa Barbara. There are miles and miles of bike paths that stretch all across the coast with the ocean on one side and the palm trees and mountains on the other. The Cabrillo Bike Path is a perfect place for casual biking, running, and walking with multiple small grass parks along the way to rest whenever you want. You’ll see so much of Santa Barbara this way and have the option to jump into the ocean for a quick swim just about whenever you want. If you’re just visiting the area, there are multiple bike rental shops that allow you to choose from single, tandem, or even 4-person bikes (which you’ll see all over in the summer).

5. Walk along Stearn’s Wharf.

Looking for a place to stop along your bike ride? Stearn’s wharf is the local pier that goes overall several hundred feet of ocean. On the wharf, you’ll be able to fish or whale watch. There are some restaurants that serve great food and even a local aquarium, which is the perfect spot (especially for kids) to learn more about the aquatic wildlife. Aside from Gibraltar Road, this is my second favorite spot to watch the sun set behind the Channel Islands.

6. Visit Shoreline Park.

Shoreline Park is one of my favorite parks in Santa Barbara because it is super close to downtown and has multiple beaches (with great surf spots) right beneath it. It has a large grass lawn with multiple pathways for bikers and runners to cut through. It’s another great place to have a picnic or sunbathe. You can walk to multiple beaches within just a few minutes and you’ll love watching the sunset reflect off the ocean.