Day one | day two | day three | day four
Santa Barbara
W hite stucco walls and the red-tile roofs of Spanish colonial-style architecture cut against a faultless blue sky. Sparkling waters lap at golden sands while tall palms and the rugged ridges of the Santa Ynez Mountains shape the horizon. It takes just a glance to see that Santa Barbara is one of the country’s most picturesque coastal destinations. But to grasp how much more there is to it, you’ll need a bit more time.
So, book a stay (tip: right now, nearly 20 hotels are offering a third night free) and get ready for the full Santa Barbara experience. Taste farm-to-table cuisine and local wines. Soak in the California sunshine with seaside strolls and standup paddleboard adventures. From art fairs to open-air concerts; beachfront yoga to soothing spa treatments—multi-talented Santa Barbara has more than enough to fill a most satisfying four days. Read on for an idea of what that might look like on your trip.
Make the most of the coast in 4 days
in collaboration with:
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Ganna Walska Lotusland | credit: Blake Bronstad
Day 1
A classic Santa Barbara start
Day 2
Art & wine enjoyment
Day 3
Goleta coast whale watching & unwind time
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden | credit: Lela Brodie
Plan your trip
Horseback riding on Summerland Beach
Butterfly Beach | credit: Blake Bronstad
Granada Theatre | credit: Blake Bronstad
Deep Sea Tasting Room | credit: Blake Bronstad
Kayaking in the Santa Barbara Harbor | credit: Blake Bronstad
Spiny lobster at the fish market
Marisella | credit: Lela Brodie
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Ease into an elegant evening
After washing off the salt- and sun-filled day, prepare for an evening of relaxation and culinary joy. Oceanview restaurant Marisella serves authentic Italian cuisine, California seafood, handmade pastas and a curated selection of wines in a romantic, Mediterranean-inspired space. You won't want to skip dessert, with tantalizing options like olive oil-infused chocolate mousse and tiramisu with hand-whipped mascarpone.
Coastal adventure in Goleta
In Goleta, just a short drive west of Santa Barbara, you'll find a laid-back coastal community and quiet beachfront, ideal for launching a kayak or setting off on a marine life-spotting adventure. Head out to Haskell's Beach early on the third morning of your getaway, when the water is at its calmest, for a guided kayak tour with Santa Barbara Adventure Company. As you glide over the bay waters, look down to spot vital kelp forests below the surface, pelicans above and the Channel Islands on the horizon. This is also a prime spot for sea lion, harbor seal and dolphin sightings.
Another option for your third morning: a whale watching cruise in the Santa Barbara Channel, one of only two designated Whale Heritage Areas in the United States. Spring is one of the best times to spot humpback and blue whales as they make the journey between breeding grounds in Baja and feeding waters in Alaska. Celebration Cruises, Condor Express and Channel Islands Expeditions are among the local tour operators.
Savor a memorable meal
As evening sets in, move from one sensory experience to another—namely, a leisurely dinner at one of Santa Barbara's celebrated restaurants. The Lark, located in the buzzy Funk Zone, is set inside a historic fish market that's been reimagined with modern-industrial interiors and a leafy courtyard for alfresco dining. The menu includes fresh-from-the-farm salads, handmade pastas and oysters caught just off the coast—plus a not-to-be-missed brown butter rosemary cornbread appetizer.
Or try something completely different with the Spanish omakase-inspired social dinners at Loquita, available Thursday evenings (reservations required). If your visit falls any other day, the restaurant's inventive tapas, decadent paellas and appetite-piquing bocaditos are well worth experiencing any day.
Awaken to art & beauty
After an ambitious beginning, head into your second day in Santa Barbara at an easy pace. A visit to Ganna Walska Lotusland in the Montecito hillside—with its 37 acres of lush gardens and brilliant landscape architecture—sets the right tone for a restorative spring morning. The garden was originally intended as a spiritual center for Tibetan monks, which helps explain the zen-inducing energy of its tree-shrouded paths, lily-topped pools, maze-like cactus garden and abundant orchards. Reservations are required. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, meanwhile, has 78 acres to wander, divided into 11 areas—arid desert, lush meadow, redwood forest and a pollinator garden for starters. Kids adore the backcountry garden, where fallen trees, rocks and fort-ready sticks serve as natural playground equipment.
Or start the morning amid the art of Rodin, Dali, O'Keeffe and Kandinsky—just a few of the artists whose works grace the permanent collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
Catch a show to cap the day
Once you've checked into your hotel to unpack and refresh for the evening, head out into the excitement of Santa Barbara's thriving art and culture scene. You'll find all the ingredients for an enchanting night out in the Santa Barbara ARTS District. (ARTS is an acronym for Art, Restaurants, Theater and Shopping, all of which you'll find in spades here.) Standout performing arts venues Granada Theatre, Arlington Theatre, Lobero Theatre and the New Vic Theatre host shows ranging from modern Broadway musicals to chamber orchestra concerts to opera. It's best to buy tickets in advance. Plan to spend extra time in the ARTS District pre- or post-show for wine tastings, cocktails and fantastic dining, all within walking distance of the theaters.
Alternatively, book a concert at the iconic Santa Barbara Bowl, an outdoor concert venue that's been a regional fixture since 1936. Big names on the upcoming schedule include The Black Keys (June 13), Bob Dylan (June 17) and comedian Trevor Noah (Aug. 2).
Return to the harbor—keeping a lookout for sea birds and the playful sea lions who often lounge here. Then, continue your fresh-air adventure with a sailing tour. Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers dolphin cruises, sailing lessons and charters, for example, and SunSwept Sailing offers whale watching, sightseeing sails and even wellness-focused soundbath sailings.
In keeping with the day's aquatic theme, refuel with lunch at the Santa Barbara Fish Market, Goleta. The restaurant menu showcases the bounty of the local waters; its raw bar items include cooked Santa Barbara rock crab claws, live sea urchins and steamed, sake-infused abalone. It's got a wide selection of hot plates as well, from lobster rolls to Mexican shrimp tacos. Be sure to time your visit right; the kitchen is open from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekends.
Lunch on the local catch
Sate your afternoon hunger with a casual lunch at Middle Eastern restaurant, Tamar. Plates of falafel or chicken shawarma come piled high with flavorful cabbage salad, house-made hummus, sumac-spiced onions, pickled veggies and olive oil-infused zhoug. Or pop into Mony's Mexican Food —a stop on the Santa Barbara Taco Trail—for a delicous and budget-friendly burrito, bowl or crispy quesadilla.
Afterward, take a self-guided tasting tour along Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail—a set of 20 wineries dotted across four neighborhoods. In the Funk Zone, for example, explore nine tasting rooms peppered among art galleries, boutique shops, restaurants and mural-bedecked warehouses—the ocean-view Deep Sea Tasting Room on Stearns Wharf among them. Or watch the wine-making process live at Carr Vineyards & Winery or Jaffurs Wine Cellars in Midtown, where lofted ceilings and stacked oak barrels add to the authentic ambiance.
Food and wine in the afternoon
Santa Barbara's dining scene is celebrated for its chef-driven menus, focusing on farm- and ocean-to-table ingredients. After a sea-inspired morning, the fresh catch at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. makes a fitting lunch. Dishes like cioppino showcase locally caught crab claws, shrimp, scallops and mussels, and the restaurant's setting on the historic Stearns Wharf pier adds to the nautical ambiance. Italian restaurant Convivo's menu features a rainbow of salads starring fresh seasonal produce: chioggia beets with burrata, butternut squash, cauliflower, apple and edible nasturtium flowers, for example—and they have a great happy hour menu weekdays from 2-5 p.m. Gracie is the choice for all things brunch; they serve scrumptious omelettes, sourdough avocado toasts and waffles until 2 p.m. daily.
Locally sourced lunch & sightseeing
Stearns Wharf | credit: Chris Bell
credit: Blake Bronstad
Day 4
Montecito & Summerland wellness and shopping
Horseback riding on Summerland Beach | credit: Blake Bronstad
Enjoy a grand finish
On your last evening in town, choose your grand finale: a picnic on the beach, or a splashy meal at a Michelin-star restaurant. Adding to the difficulty of the choice, both come with ocean and sunset views.
If you prefer a casual, toes-in-the-sand experience, opt for an outing to Montecito's Butterfly Beach. Pick up a stellar meal to-go at one of Coast Village Road's many eateries—Montecito Gourmet, for example, which offers hearty sandwiches and charcuterie boards. Lay out a blanket, then nosh and lounge as the sun sinks below behind the trees, casting a golden glow over the water and the sand.
If you're after an evening that lives up to Montecitos' star-powered reputation, reserve a table at oceanfront Caruso's inside the Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel. Per the Michelin Guide, "the Italian-leaning prix-fixe takes center stage," even amid the restaurant's sumptuous leather- and linen-studded decor. Savor each course, along with expertly paired wines, while toasting to a getaway incredibly
well-spent.
Caruso's | credit: Blake Bronstad
Summerland is well known for its wide-ranging antique shops, which is good news if you're seeking a one-of-a-kind find to take home. Try Summerland Antique Collective and Carousel Collective, which have a ton of variety. You'll also find modern-chic home furnishings at nature-inspired Botanik and design-forward Field+Fort, to name just a few.
Come lunch time, take a quick drive to the tony, celebrity-studded neighborhood of Montecito for Italian fare on Coast Village Road. At Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Bettina, the mozzarella is hand-pulled daily and the organic flour is fermented on-site, resulting in remarkable pies. Tre Lune has an old-world Italian ambiance and specializes in rustic dishes like pasta e fagioli and penne alla norma. After your meal, explore eclectic boutiques at shopping centers like Montecito Country Mart and The Post.
Afternoon antiquing and shopping
The Post | credit: Lela Brodie
A meditative morning
in Summerland
The small seaside town of Summerland lends itself easily to slow-paced exploration, and that's exactly what we recommend for the final morning of your getaway. Breathe in the fresh ocean air with a walk at Lookout Park, savoring sweeping views of the Pacific from its privileged bluff-top vantage point. Or, for a quintessential California coast experience, book a horseback ride with Los Padres Outfitters. Their 90-minute beach rides trace a path from the Summerland hills down to the beach.
Browse the shops of Lillie Avenue, Summerland's charming main street, located just off the beach. Godmothers, for example, is a three-story independent bookstore and cafe. Find your next read amid its reported 10,000 titles, then sit down with a coffee and a pastry. Stroll to the east side of Lillie Avenue for a restorative visit to The Sacred Space. The Eastern-inspired gift shop and gardens doubles as a meditation center. Their events calendar features sound bath sessions, breathwork and tarot readings.
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photos courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara County Courthouse | credit: Blake Bronstad
Waterfront wander & sailing tour
On your first day in town, experience some of Santa Barbara's classic highlights to get a feel for the chic, vista-blessed and culture-rich destination.
A stroll along the coastline near the Santa Barbara Harbor sets the tone for a getaway full of relaxation and natural beauty. Pick up a coffee on your way over (try Handlebar Coffee Roasters, a cyclist-forward cafe; or CAJE Coffee Roasters for an artisinal java creation) or right by the waterfront (Dart Coffee). Then, set out across Leadbetter Beach to bluff-top Shoreline Park, where a 1-mile out-and-back path offers unobstructed ocean views. Wooden benches provide places to rest and contemplate the waves. At the heart of the park, there's a wooden staircase leading down the cliff to a rocky beach.
Santa Barbara coastline | credit: Blake Bronstad
Sailing off the coast of Santa Barbara
Old Mission Santa Barbara | credit: Blake Bronstad
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Duly refueled, take advantage of downtown Santa Barbara's fantastic walkability with a sightseeing tour. There's a self-guided option that takes you to 17 historic sites, including the iconic Santa Barbara County Courthouse with its elegant clock tower. From there, it's a 5-minute car ride (or a 27-minute walk) to Old Mission Santa Barbara. The stunning stone structure was founded by Spanish Franciscans in 1786 and is still home to Franciscan Friars, who have continuously operated and maintained it for well over two centuries.
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Santa Barbara Museum of Art | credit: Blake Bronstad
Godmothers (left); Sacred Space sound bath (right)
credits: Sarah Chorey (left); Blake Bronstad (right)
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Gracie | credit: Carly Otness
Convivo | credit: Santa Barbara Inn
Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. | credit: Blake Bronstad
Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. | credit: Blake Bronstad
Loquita (left); The Lark (right)
credits: Haley Garces (left); Blake Bronstad (right)
Breaching whale in Santa Barbara Channel | credit: Adam Ernster/Condor Express
Field+Fort | credit: Sarah Chorey
Bettina | credit: Sarah Chorey
credit: Blake Bronstad
CAJE Coffee Roasters | credit: Blake Bronstad
Sama Sama Kitchen | credit: Blake Bronstad
Arlington Theatre | credit: Lela Brodie
Corazon Cocina | credit: Blake Bronstad
East Beach Tacos | credit: Sarah Chorey
Haskells Beach | credit: SB Adventure Company
Breaching whale | credit: Adam Ernster/Condor Express
Butterfly Beach | credit: Blake Bronstad
Mony's Mexican Food| credit: Sarah Chorey
