2026 Santa Barbara County Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in January)

Unearth the hidden jewel of Santa Ynez Valley – a land renowned for its wineries and exquisite wine tastings. Nestled in the embrace of @santaynezinn, this valley boasts a selection of over 120 wineries. Explore a Tasting Passport, a gift to guests, offering two wine tastings at a myriad of wineries. Venture further to Solvang, a Danish-style haven, or journey to Santa Barbara's charm. Savor an evening reprieve at @TheVictor_SY after your explorations. Every corner of this realm exudes a captivating allure; have you heard of this California gem before? 🍇🍷

We visited the bell tower and from there we can enjoy 360 degree view of Santa Barbara with white walls and red brick buildings against the background of blue sky, green mountains and tall palm trees. The bell tower is part of city's Spanish Revival Santa Barbara County Courthouse. #2023travelwish

This place is absolutely gorgeous💕 If you go to Santa Barbara, be sure to stop by the Santa Barbara Courthouse. It's free to enter, and after going through security, take the elevator to the rooftop for a spectacular view. A 360-degree view of the city of Santa Barbara The Santa Barbara Courthouse, built in Spanish architectural style From the exterior to the interior, it's a beautiful building that's hard to believe is a courthouse, so it's fun to look around. At first, I wondered why I took the courthouse tour but I really regretted not going. It's close to downtown Santa Barbara, so I recommend adding it to your schedule and seeing it :) Open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. without holidays

Place: Blenders - Best Smoothie Ever Address: 3973 State St. Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Blenders is a great place to go to get a smoothie or milkshake. They offer healthy and quality smoothies from a whole array of flavors. Place: Craft Ramen Address: 436 State St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Local ramen spot in downtown Santa Barbara working to serve your tonkotsu ramen and other appetizers. Flavor was very rich and their appetizers were good. However their takoyaki barely had any tako. Loved their halloween decorations here. #spooktaculartrip #beachlife #fallingforfall #foodie #smoothie #ramen

This fascinating museum is located inside a historic Southern Pacific Depot that has been expertly-restored to look just as it did back in the 1950s. Inside the museum, you’ll see artefacts, memorabilia, a mini representation of Simi Valley and many other items related to the history of the city and the railroads. #summervacation#beachvacation#hikingtrails#hotelstay#urbanexplorer

Santa Barbara is a coastal city in California with a Spanish style, and the surrounding buildings are very Spanish in style. The local court is one of the must-see attractions in the area. The top floor of the court overlooks the entire town. Recommended 👍🏻 #bucketlist#tbt

Day 3️⃣: Solvang Danish Village - Santa Barbara Town - Camarillo Premium Outlets - Los Angeles (LA) Both towns on this day were quite nice. Before coming, I thought Santa Barbara was more famous, but I preferred the fairy tale town of Solvang. Solvang Danish Village A Nordic fairy tale kingdom, the buildings in the town are very beautiful and colorful. Landmark: Solvang Windmill 📍At the intersection of Alisal Road and Copenhagen Dr, also featuring the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and Danish-style architecture. Besides taking photos and checking in, you can also enjoy desserts. Danish butter cookies and pancakes are very famous here, then stroll through the shops. 1️⃣ Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery: Butter Cookies 2️⃣ Mortensen’s Danish Bakery: Pistachio Squares and Butter Ring 3️⃣ Paula's Pancake House: Danish Pancake 4️⃣ Solvang Restaurant: Danish Pancake Balls Santa Barbara Town Mediterranean-style romance, shopping and wine tasting, experiencing luxury and nature. If you have time, you can take a leisurely stroll and check in at the pink church, Old Mission Santa Barbara. Camarillo Premium Outlets One of the more well-known outlets in Southern California, a must-visit on the West Coast. About an hour’s drive from Santa Barbara, conveniently on the way back to Los Angeles. Los Angeles 🏨 Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn LAX-EI Segundo 📍 Address: 2100 East Mariposa Avenue 🅿️ Parking is $25 per night; we returned the car that same night. After dropping off our luggage, we returned the car and took a taxi back to the hotel. I will write a detailed guide about the overall Pacific Coast Highway itinerary and driving tips, a must-read! ㊗️ Have a great trip! Welcome to visit often, there are many more trips and stories to share!

📅 Itinerary Day1： Day2: Day3: 🏨 Accommodation 🍴 Food Recommendations 📌 Tips

The laid back and relaxed Californian beach town experience. Sounds like heaven. But that dream can very much be a reality. Welcome to Santa Barbara. Located in Central California, this town has it all. And it’s a pleasure to walk around and explore what it has to offer. The streets are stunning, with a variety of architecture on display. The restaurants are to die for - just try Joe’s Cafe. It’s a typical American diner experience. It’s at the beach where the real action is. The golden sands are so inviting, and you can admire some of the animals who call this place home like the pelicans and seals who bask on the jetty’s. There’s a boardwalk here too, where you can spend many an hour and get lost in the fun of the seaside. It’s a place well worth visiting! #santabarbara #california #usa #cali #travel #holiday #vacation

① Entering the U.S. at Los Angeles Airport ② The pizza is absolutely huge 🍕 ③ Cycling all the way to the Pacific Ocean ④ This is the Pacific Ocean!! ⑤ Universal Studios is nearby Located about a 2-hour drive from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a sophisticated luxury resort town frequented by wealthy Americans for vacation or as a getaway destination 🌴. The area boasts excellent safety, and it's common to see people strolling through the streets or along the beach with their dogs. Santa Barbara is a pleasant seaside town where you can escape the noise and truly relax. The locals are incredibly friendly, often striking up casual conversations on buses or in supermarkets 🎶.

Los Angeles is located in southwestern California and is the second largest city in the United States, as well as the largest city in the western United States. It is often called the "City of Angels." Los Angeles is one of the most important industrial, commercial, international trade, scientific, educational, entertainment, and sports centers in the United States. It is home to Hollywood, the world's film center, and is also one of the main bases for the US petrochemical, marine, aerospace, and electronics industries. Los Angeles hosted the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and will soon host the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Figures 1–6: Hollywood Walk of Fame Figures 7–9: Downtown Los Angeles Figure 10: Walt Disney Concert Hall The proposal for the concert hall came from Lilian Disney, the widow of Walt Disney, who announced a donation of USD 50 million to build a concert hall named after Walt Disney. Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Frank Gehry, the main hall can accommodate 2,265 seats. Figures 11 and 12: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the only stadium in the world to serve as the main venue for two Olympic Games (1932 and 1984). The 2028 Olympics will continue to be held here, making it the first stadium in the world to host the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games three times. Figure 13: California Science Center Figure 14: Los Angeles City Hall Figures 15–20: Santa Barbara Santa Barbara not only has the modernity and fashion of the Southern California coast, but also has the largest and most concentrated "red tile and white wall" Mediterranean-style buildings, gardens, landscapes, and squares on the west coast of the United States. The city was historically ruled by the Spanish, so it retains a strong Spanish-style town atmosphere.

🚗 Travel reference: About 1 hour 50 minutes from Los Angeles, making it an easy day trip by car! 🏰 Santa Barbara is one of California's most romantic coastal towns, where red-tiled roofs and white-walled buildings create a beautiful contrast with the azure sea, making you feel like you're strolling through Europe. ✨ Recommended spots: 🕊️ Old Mission Santa Barbara This 18th-century mission is the town's most iconic historical building, with both the structure and courtyard offering perfect photo opportunities. 🌉 Stearns Wharf This pier extends into the ocean, offering the best vantage point for coastal views and sunset photos, plus panoramic views of the entire town with mountains in the background. 📸 The streets are lined with vintage cafes and boutiques—if you're not in a hurry, a leisurely stroll will be quite rewarding!

🏖️Ambiance/Facilities:🕰️Business Hours:#100WaysOfTravel #mytravelhacks #songkran2024 #temples ##santabarbara ##california

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CAJÉ Coffee Roasters, a stylish cafe I wanted to visit in Santa Barbara, USA☕️ Despite being a popular restaurant, it is only open in the morning, so it is bound to be crowded👀✨ The exterior is a white building, but the central part is an atrium, and the trees and fountains create a very nice atmosphere🥹🫶 I had to wait a little while after ordering, but the latte and salad were very delicious🥗 1316 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 USA 7:00-13:00 #USAtrip #cafe #cafelover

The Amtrak station in Santa Barbara, which connects various parts of the United States by rail. 🚉 The station building has an incredibly atmospheric vibe that took me by surprise 😳✨ In front of the station, there's a railway track that stretches straight as far as the eye can see 🛤️ It's such an impressive sight, it feels like something out of a movie 🕊️ It doesn't run as frequently as the trains in the city, but I was lucky enough to catch the arrival of a train 🥹🙌🏻 The two-story train had a retro feel to it, and I couldn't contain my excitement 🥺🫶

If you want to enjoy fashionable shopping in Santa Barbara, World Market is the place to go🛍️ They have a wide selection of furniture and miscellaneous goods that you can take home in your suitcase, as well as food that is perfect as souvenirs and Santa Barbara's specialty wines👀 Once you enter the store, it's so much fun looking at the various products that time flies by😀 610 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 United States Monday-Saturday 10:00-20:00 Sunday 11:00-18:00 #USATravel #SantaBarbara #USA

Santa Barbara's specialty, sea urchin, as well as salmon and poke, can be purchased at the fish market, and you can take a stroll to the harbor walk 🐾 It was just during the magic hour, and the seafood eaten while watching the sky dyed pink, orange, and purple, and listening to the sound of the waves as background music was just too exquisite 🥹🫶 The fish market is frequented not only by tourists but also by locals who come to buy ingredients for cooking. The sea urchin was about $20 for a tray with 4 pieces × 2 👀✨ 117 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 United States 9:00-18:30

I had my eye on dunecoffee, which is a popular spot bustling with customers from morning 😆 The exterior wall features an iconic tiger painting, and there's a pleasant terrace seating area, as well as table and counter seats inside 🫧 I ordered a vanilla latte and a blueberry scone 🫐 I was shocked that it cost about 2,000 yen including a tip (the weak yen is tough 🫨), but it was such a lovely cafe that I would want to visit every day 🕊️🍃 Especially the blueberry scone was surprisingly delicious with just one bite❕🫢

#freehotelstay

Unlock the visual treasures of Santa Barbara through 20 Instagram-worthy locations. Capture the essence of this picturesque city with vibrant hues, historic landmarks, and breathtaking landscapes that make for stunning memories and photographs. 📸🌆 #SantaBarbaraBeauty #InstagrammableCity

⛪️About 100 miles north of the City of Angels, hills melt into the Pacific, and a relaxed beach vibe spills over into the city of Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara is known as the American Riviera for its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, heritage, cuisine and wine, natural beauty, and perfect weather. 🗓When to go? On average, there are 300 days of sunshine each year, with a mild climate and cool nighttime temperatures. 🏝Beach ▪️Santa Barbara is nestled between mountains and the ocean, a natural paradise with palm trees shading the streets. Next to Stearns Wharf is West Beach, a popular spot for volleyball players and a launch point for sailing and kayaking. ▪️Butterfly Beach in Montecito is a sheltered beach away from the crowds of the city center. ▪️Leadbetter Beach is another popular spot for kayaking, longboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding (the nearby Shoreline Park is also nice). ▪️The most family-friendly beach in Santa Barbara is Arroyo Burro Beach Park (or the locally famous Hendry's Beach). It has gentle waves, seasonal lifeguards, plenty of picnic benches, and a great restaurant on the beach. 🌅Watch the sunset from Stearns Wharf. Stearns Wharf is one of the most iconic landmarks in Santa Barbara. For us, it's a great place for a sunset stroll. There are several restaurants and cafes that seem to attract tourists, but the view might be worth it. They mainly serve seafood. It's a must-see attraction in Santa Barbara. 🏄Immerse yourself in the surfing life of California. Here you can find the best surfing in California, suitable for everyone from beginners to professionals. Gaviota and Jalama are places experienced surfers go, but if you're just starting out, Refugio State Beach is a good choice. 🐳Wildlife During the migration season (November to April), thousands of Pacific gray whales pass through the Santa Barbara Channel; from late spring to early autumn, humpback whales appear, and occasionally blue whales can be seen. There are many whale watching tours on the water, or you can hike along the cliffs to observe them from above. 🌊Natural wonder Strolling along the coastline of Santa Barbara and its surrounding areas, you may occasionally come across mini marine environments - tidal pools. When the tide recedes, organisms are trapped in the rock pools and other natural formations until the water rushes back in, creating these small ecosystems. 🏞National Park Outside the coast is the National Park of the Channel Islands, known as the "Galapagos Islands of North America". The park can only be accessed by charter boats and planes approved by the park or private boats. Island activities include hiking, camping, bird watching, photography, and more. 🗿Archaeological site Archaeological excavations are still ongoing at the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park in the city center. Two original buildings have been restored and other buildings have been reconstructed, depicting the original Santa Barbara Presidio established in April 1782. 🏺Cultural experience With Spanish heritage, it celebrates this heritage every August with its old Spanish Day Carnival. During the festival, locals and tourists learn about the history, customs, and traditions of American Indians, Spaniards, Mexicans, and early American settlers through music, dance, parades, and food. 🍷Winery Driving north from the city center for 45 minutes, you will see many vineyards; there are more than 220 wineries in the county. The golden weather and soil mean that all grape varieties in the county grow well, and there are six official American grape growing regions here.

Santa Barbara is a city on the Pacific coast of Santa Barbara County, California, United States, and the county seat of Santa Barbara County. According to the United States Census Bureau in 2010, the population was 88,410, making it the second largest city in the county after Santa Maria, with 75.1% white, 38.0% Latino, 3.5% Asian, 1.6% African American, and 1.0% Indian. Santa Barbara is also the home of the University of California, Santa Barbara, which is adjacent to the west of the city. Human history in the Santa Barbara area dates back 13,000 years, with Stone Age human remains such as the Arlington Springs Man found here. However, the history with detailed records can only be traced back to the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo's voyage to the area. He arrived in what is now the Santa Barbara Channel in 1542 and briefly docked here. In 1602, Juan Crespi officially named the waterway "Santa Barbara". The earliest European residents here were Spanish missionaries and soldiers under Felipe de Verde. They used this place as a fortress to resist the expansion of the English and Russian territories, and also preached to the local indigenous people. Because these Spaniards brought their families with them, they eventually settled here. On December 4, 1786, the Santa Barbara Mission was built, which was one of the earliest missions in California. Although the immigrants did not carry out large-scale massacres of the local indigenous people, the indigenous people still died of smallpox. [10] During the Spanish rule, Santa Barbara experienced an earthquake of about magnitude 7 on the Richter scale. This earthquake and the subsequent tsunami destroyed the entire town, including the church. In 1822, the Mexican War of Independence broke out. The area became independent in the war and became part of Mexico, thus ending its colonial rule. On December 27, 1846, during the Mexican-American War, Santa Barbara was occupied by American soldiers. With the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, Santa Barbara became part of the United States. After the United States acquired the land, the local population grew rapidly. In the decade between 1850 and 1860, Santa Barbara's population doubled. [13] After the gold rush, the area was infested with bandits and gamblers, and public security was extremely poor. In the early 1850s, it was occupied by the bandit Jack Powers. At the same time, with the increase in British immigrants, Spanish gradually lost its importance, and English became the official language in 1870. [14] The first local newspaper, the Santa Barbara Gazette, began publication in 1855. The American Civil War had little impact on Santa Barbara. The more important event in the area was the severe drought in 1863, which killed many livestock and displaced people. In 1871, entrepreneur Mortimer Cook arrived here and opened Santa Barbara's first bank. Cook later became the mayor of the city. [16] The construction of Stern's Wharf in 1872 further promoted the local economy. In the 1870s, writer Charles Nordhoff described the city as a resort, which attracted a large number of tourists. In the late 19th century, trains from Los Angeles to San Francisco made transportation in Santa Barbara more convenient. [17] Architect Peter J. Barber designed many Victorian buildings for Santa Barbara and was elected mayor twice in 1880 and 1890.

Santa Barbara is recognized as the most European-style city in the United States. In the heyday of the 20th century, it was the original "Hollywood" and many celebrities settled here. Santa Barbara Courthouse, known as the most beautiful government building in the United States, was built by Spanish immigrants 160 years ago and has been used for government offices ever since. The entire courthouse building is open to visitors without any security or management personnel in sight, showing remarkable openness and confidence. Santa Barbara beach is very peaceful, and the small restaurants by the pier are doing well.

Getting There - car/train/bus Food & Restaurants - so many restaurants around #santabarbara

St. Barbara is small beautiful country and we can go around the city just by walking. The architectures are stunning and we can find beautiful well maintained building as well as some artistic statues in every corner of the city. It also has several museum and particularly the KARPELES manuscript museum has tons of original music score from famous classical musicians like Handel, Mozart and others. #2023travelwish #2023travelwish