A weekend in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is an amazing weekend escape if you like a bit of everything in moderation. It has hikes but nothing too intense. It has beaches but they aren’t packed. It has upscale restaurants and fine dining but you’re not going to completely break the bank. It has breweries and wineries but no vineyards. It has shopping but not filled with designer stores.
The city is about as mild as the climate - and I mean that in a great way. Santa Barbara is a perfect place to relax.
We stopped here for about five days on our way up the Pacific Coast Highway and loved every minute of it. So we hope that if you find yourself in this California oasis you’ll enjoy some of our favorite activities and foods while in town.
Our favorite things to do in Santa Barbara
Head to the Funk Zone
If you’re looking for nightlife in Santa Barbara then your best best is going to be to head to the Funk Zone. It’s a 3-4 block area near south State Street and it’s in the Funk Zone that you’ll find breweries, wineries, restaurants, and shopping in a reformed warehouse district. Our favorite combination while in town was to grab some opening drinks at the tiki-inspired bar, Test Pilot, then walk over for a full dinner at The Lark.
Here is a list that we found of all the watering-holes and shopping in the Funk Zone.
State Street
State Street is the first place you should head when arriving in Santa Barbara. It’s the main street of the downtown area, stretching over a 3 mile span, and has a ton of cute restaurants and shopping to discover right off of it. It’s on State Street where you will find the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Funk Zone, and in Lower State Street you’ll run right into the Stearns Wharf pier and East/West beaches.
Stearns Wharf
A cute pier area at the end of State Street. You’ll find fresh seafood, shopping, and great views of the ocean. It’s not a long stop so if you’re in town for a weekend and enjoy the ocean air we recommend making an hour or two to walk out and take in the views.
Salt Cave
Is a spa in the heart of the State Street area with really cool, one-of-a-kind salt rooms for you to relax or take a yoga class in. Prices are extremely reasonable for a spa and even more reasonable for a spa in the heart of coastal California. Classes start at $20 for a single session.
Los Padres National Forest
The northern wooded area of Santa Barbara is pretty much entirely the Los Padres National Forest, a lovely stretch of canyons and overlooks that are easily accessible from the road and a must for any outdoorsman or outdoorswoman visiting the region. Some of our favorite trails are:
Rattlesnake Canyon (4.4 miles)
Inspiration Point (3.5 miles)
Tangerine Falls (2.2 miles)
Red Rock to Gibraltar Trail (6.5 miles)
Romero Canyon Trail (5.5 miles)
Hot Springs
Canyon Trail (3.7 miles)
A must do in our opinion! One of the best hikes in the Los Padres National Forest area.
This hike is not too strenuous with a moderate incline on a wide trail - a perfect afternoon stroll and could even be done after a few mimosas. Bring some water and bring your swimsuit + towels. The hike up shouldn’t take longer than 90 minutes or so and the hike down should be about an hour. It’s a bit hidden at the end as you’re walking straight the whole time then suddenly need to cross the small stream and wrap around the canyon. At the very end (literally less than 5mins from the springs) we found ourselves questioning if we missed it or if they were dried up because it was summer and considered heading back. Thank goodness we didn’t!
The hottest springs are at the top and progressively cool at the bottom. The top is about 120 and the lowest is closer to 100 degrees.
The trailhead is a bit secluded in the sense that it’s in the middle of a neighborhood so it kind of sneaks up on you.
Best Santa Barbara Beaches
More Mesa Beach was my favorite beach and is probably the furthest outside of downtown Santa Barbara. It’s about 15-20 minutes west of downtown and is an absolutely gorgeous piece of coastline. This super secluded park area is surrounded by neighborhoods so getting in is a bit confusing but there is street parking in little pockets throughout. What makes this beach/park area so unique, aside from the views, are the running trails, which will knock your socks off. We actually had an AirBnB about two miles from More Mesa so I was able to jog the mile long coastline and back every morning. There were only a handful of other joggers so I took my time to stop to meditate or stretch to enjoy the ocean air and sounds in solitude. Getting down to the beach can be a bit daunting at points as you may need to walk a razors edge trail along the cliff-side, depending on where you try to get down (see the photo on the right - in the middle you’ll see people traversing up the cliff). Bonus fact, the beach area is a nude beach, so gentlemen let the fellas hang and ladies let the girls loose… if that’s your thing.
Leadbetter Beach, West Beach and East Beach are the easiest to access from Downtown. They are pretty much the same beaches just on either side of the Stearns Wharf Pier area. They’re nice enough beaches but nothing too exciting. The main appeal is the proximity to downtown and The Funk Zone.
Miramar Beach and Butterfly Beach are where the fancy folks go and are located further east/south from downtown Santa Barbara right near the Ritz Carlton. Parking isn’t typically an issue and its even walking distance to downtown if you really wanted to go for the stroll.
The best places to eat in Santa Barbara
The Lark is our pick for the best dinner in Santa Barbara. It’s not a novel opinion as you’ll probably read about it on other blog posts in addition to ours. The food and drinks were both excellent - seriously, the drinks were DELICIOUS. Below you’ll see the lamb, salmon, Brussels sprouts, and the tres leches cake. For a fine dinning establishment in a California town the prices were not as high as we expected, that being said it wasn’t exactly eating on a budget. But we both agree, money well spent.
Cold Spring Tavern has some of the best barbecue you’ll find on the west coast! This super unique establishment looks like its straight out of a fairy tale, has roots dating back to 1868, and is located about 25-30 minutes outside of Santa Barbara proper. The drive out is super scenic and its worth making this a combo trip with any hikes in the north Los Padres Forest region.
Test Pilot is a great tiki-themed venue to get a drink in the heart of the Funk Zone.
Jeannine’s Restaurant and Bakery is our pick for best breakfast in town.
Milk and Honey is a really cool/trendy spot located right off State Street. We enjoyed their unique tapas style menu and they had some of the best custom cocktails we’ve had in a long time (try the Heat of Passion cocktail - it was AMAZING).
Barbareno is our third pick for a great dinner in Santa Barbara. It has unique takes on modern fare and healthy options with a pretty large wine selection.
Norton’s Deli is where you’ve gotta head for a quick sandwich to go. They are the self-proclaimed best pastrami and corned beef in town. It’s a great New York styled deli serving all your favorites.
Los Agaves had really good authentic Mexican food that won’t break the bank.
McConnells Ice Cream is your quintessential family-owned ice cream joint. It’s been around for nearly 70 years and is still serving simple flavors that are beloved by locals and tourists alike.
Tips from a local
This installment of Tips from a local is from our AirBnB hosts who provided a pretty extensive list for us to explore Santa Barbara during our visit. So here is their list of things to do while in town…
Stop by the Botanic Gardens for 78 acres of native plants and amazing views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse was built in 1926 and features a beautiful Spanish colonial revival building right in the heart of downtown.
Cold Spring Trail is a pretty 3.7 miles trail to a scenic overlook and a scenic drive to get there. It’s also pet friendly so bring your pup if you’ve got her/him during your trip!
To learn about the history of Santa Barbara drive over to the Santa Barbara Mission for a window into one of the most cultural and historical landmarks in the area.
Mountain Drive is a great way to explore some of the more luxurious parts of Santa Barbara. This town is home to the likes of Oprah and Steve Spielberg so if you have the opportunity to stroll through the hills and see the homes you should.
The Museum of Natural History is tucked away in one of the residential neighborhoods of the foothills and is an afternoon well-spent, especially if you’re traveling with children.
Alice Keck Memorial Garden/Turtle Park is a public park area with beautiful plants and a ton of turtles!
Arroyo Beach/Hendry’s Beach is a public beach with grills and other amenities for a day with friends.
Lookout Park is a wonderful place for a picnic but be sure to get out in time as they will lock you in if you stay past closing time.
If you’re looking for another beach away from the crowds you’ll want to check out the Thousand Steps Beach on the other side of Shoreline Park.
Food options
Backyard Bowls
Gianz Bowl
Best Ocean Views: Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach
Bree’Osh
Cajun Kitchen
The Shop Cafe
C’est Cheese
Super Cucas
Lucky Penny
Hana Kitchen
Mesa Verde
Green Table is their pick for vegan-friendly options
Mony’s Mexican Food
The Natural Cafe
Santa Barbara Public Market
State & Fig
Yellow Bellow
Enjoy Cupcakes
Renaud’s Patisserie
Coffee
Dune is their favorite coffee place
Handlebar Coffee
Crushcakes Cafe
Lucky Llama Coffee
Hook and Press