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The best things to do on a weekend getaway to the Santa Barbara coast.
By
Ulysses Salcido
Welcome toTwo Days Away, our series featuring weekend-long itineraries within a five-hour drive of your city—because sometimes we all just need a little adventure fix.
Take the best parts of LA—its beaches, mountains, beautiful weather, food, and culture—and remove the freeways, long commutes, and overpopulation, and you get Santa Barbara. This organic, small-scale replica of its sister city has achieved the delicate balance of having all the conveniences of a metropolis whilst maintaining serene natural beauty and a small town charm. It’s where delicate sea conservation areas meet rugged mountains, and contemporary art museums are minutes away from Chumash pictographs.
Once lined with tall multi-story homes, hotels, theaters, and shops, the booming town of Santa Barbara gained fame after the 1925 earthquake that demolished the city. But in the wake of travesty, Santa Barbara had a rebirth. Inspiration was taken from the Old Mission that overlooks the town, building in a Spanish colonial revival style. The city hosts paseos, promenades, and arcadas stocked with restaurants, shops, and galleries.
The natural and urban settings of the city make for an active leisure culture usually found in the Spanish Riviera but emulated here, giving the city its character. Now in its golden age, Santa Barbara attracts Hollywood celebrities, nature enthusiasts, artists, students, and chefs. Approximately 95 miles from LA, with over 300 days of sunshine, visit between late spring to summer for the best beach experience. Whether your vacation love language is food, adventure, history, or relaxation, there is something for everyone.
Travel time:
2 hours from Los Angeles
4 hours from San Diego
5 hours from San Francisco
If you don’t do anything else: Get up close and personal with the natural beauty of Santa Barbara
Start your day with three miles of palm tree lined beach fronts with clear views of the nearby Santa Ynez mountains while delving into the wharf on the south and harbor to the north (if you have to delay this to later in the day, have no fear: the spot also makes for dreamy sunsets over the still waters). The wharf has quintessential small shops, restaurants, and beach front to browse around, but it is best experienced for sun tanning, practicing your yoga sun salutations, or utilizing the well-maintained beach volleyball courts.
The harborside hosts city tours, boat rentals, and kayaking, the latter of which you can opt for a solo or guided adventure. Regardless you are bound to encounter sea lions barking from the buoys as fish swim right under you and seabirds fill the sky. For some time on land, bring your own bike or rent one right off the wharf at Wheel Fun Rentals; they have the largest bike rental selection in California. Go for a leisurely ride down the boardwalk for a stunning view of the shore. The city has also recently established Santa Barbara BCycle, an electric bike share program that makes it easy to get around town.
Head for the hills on Cold Spring Loop, a moderate, two hour hike which rewards you with natural waterfalls and breathtaking panoramic views of the city. For a less strenuous experience, book a reserved walk at The Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. Organized in eleven unique sections, this space is dedicated to wild plants from across California. If you have some extra time, explore the 230-acre Ellwood Mesa Sperling Preserve which is a 20 minute drive from the city, attracting hikers, horseback riders, and 100,000 Monarch butterflies every fall. Make sure to see the often missed 78-acre eucalyptus grove on the north side of the preserve. For a trip back in time, visit the Chumash Painted Cave Historic State Park to admire the conservation of 400 year old rock art and to learn more about the local area's past Native American civilizations.
Fill your days:
Arts and culture in Santa Barbara
For over 30 years, the Architecture Foundation of Santa Barbara has led walking tours filled with rich history and culture. Join a Sabado or Domingo two hour architecture tour that will show off hidden arcadas, tranquil fountains, and ornate courtyards. Reopening after a six year renovation, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art features over 25,000 works of art in their permanent collection ranging from antiquity to contemporary. There are exhibits dedicated to photography, bronze sculpture, and Southeast Asian art, with rotating seasonal exhibits. Celebrating its 100th year anniversary, the Lobero Theatre is a city landmark which hosts the best entertainment in the city from comedy and ballet to symphonies and concerts in an intimate and historic venue. As an active parish, the Santa Barbara Mission of 1768 is a living artifact with a museum, church, garden and more, giving respect and deep history to the Chumash Native American land that gave way to a Spanish colony. The front of this historic setting features a park and rose garden perfect for picnics.
Wellness in Santa Barbara
While you can spend an entire day window shopping for designer brands and thrift shops found within ten city blocks, we recommend taking some time off your feet. Visit Palma Colectiva, a wellness studio that hosts various events, including mantra meditation, sound healing, breathwork workshops, and plant meditation. Those looking for a more luxurious healing session—with a price tag to match—might want to consider booking a facial or massage on The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s rooftop. You can get a “Hollywood Facial” or a full-body deep-tissue rub down while overlooking the pool and enjoying the cool sea breeze. Lap swimming is also available at the spa pool with limited hours.
Eat, drink, and sleep:
Restaurants and bars in Santa Barbara
Handlebar Coffee is perfect for a quick but unforgettably smooth espresso; order a shot in a cappuccino, oat milk latte, or on its own. The owners are former professional cyclists, so they know the importance of a delicious morning coffee to jolt you awake. For a more laid-back experience with an easygoing but quietly glamourous atmosphere, take some time at Cajé Coffee on State Street. Order Jupiter’s Forest, an iced oat milk latte with sage syrup, topped with an edible gold flower and dehydrated grapefruit. Sip your coffee on their lush patio, which feels more like a vacation home than a cafe’s backyard.
Luckily in Santa Barbara, organic, fresh, and farm to table is the norm. The Daisy hosts a menu of seasonal California produce with the flavors of the Levant. Order the olives and hummus, bánh mi, and chicken salad for an unforgettable brunch under the sun. Located near the beach, Helena Avenue Bakery has a packed and flavorful breakfast taco as big as your plate, but make sure to try their soft fresh bread in either avocado toast or a breakfast sandwich. There is seating inside and out, and to go service for those looking to eat by the shore with their feet in the sand.
The Lark has an encyclopedia of wine to choose from including the contemporary orange wine to classic aged reds from Bordeaux. This restaurant is a favorite amongst the casual and culinary elite including the James Beard Foundation, who recently held a private event after the restaurant celebrated its ten year anniversary. Don’t miss the famous cornbread, seasonal apps, rib-eye, and salads. Need bottles of wine to go? Satellite offers many varieties of wine to supplement your sommelier ambitions. Find classics and obscure small batch producers from California and beyond.
Where to stay in Santa Barbara
End your nights with casual beach vibes inside a historic landmark or near the Old Mission. The Santa Barbara Innhas a large resort feel with intimate areas just steps from the beach. When you don’t want to be in the middle of the action but still in proximity, the newly renovated 108 year old Hotel Virginia is nestled between the city and beach, only a few minutes walk from anything you need. El Encanto is an exceptional, private hotel experience with views of the city and ocean from the Santa Ynez foothills for the ultimate celebrity experience.
Ulysses Salcido is a contributor to Thrillist.
