Santa Barbara Travel Guide: Smart Money Tips

Santa Barbara encapsulates a lot of California’s finest vacationer choices. It’s bought idyllic climate year-round, a seashore city vibe and loads of outside adventures. Whether or not you’re into mountain climbing, horseback using or buying and wineries, Santa Barbara will be the right trip spot.

Discover out why Santa Barbara is so standard in FinanceGrabber’s Santa Barbara journey information, which incorporates tips about the place to remain, use your lodge factors and actions that gained’t break your finances.

The perfect issues to do in Santa Barbara

Whenever you journey to Santa Barbara, you’ll discover a traditional seashore city with browsing, a motorcycle path operating parallel to the shore and a well-known boardwalk. However that’s not all. Adventurers would possibly head inland for outside actions like mountain climbing, horseback using and climbing, whereas people seeking to calm down would possibly go to working wineries.

Right here’s a listing of actions, together with many free issues to do in Santa Barbara:

Santa Barbara seashores: East Seashore and Leadbetter Seashore are among the many hottest Santa Barbara seashore decisions. When you intend to swim, deliver a wetsuit (or thick pores and skin), because the water temperature in Santa Barbara averages within the 50s in winter, 60s in the summertime and sometimes rises to the 70s within the fall.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse: The attractive Santa Barbara Courthouse is designed in a Spanish-Colonial model with a tower, crimson tile roofs and gardens. Excursions — each self-guided and guided — are free. Head up the tower for views of town, shoreline and mountains.

It’s a spot for particular occasions, like free outside film nights, and it’s doubtless you’ll encounter a Santa Barbara courthouse marriage ceremony (or a number of).

State Road: State Road is Santa Barbara’s predominant thoroughfare, beginning on the coast and reducing into town’s coronary heart. 10 blocks are particularly pedestrian-friendly, with elements minimize off to automobiles, permitting for outside eating and avenue markets. Get misplaced within the midcentury trendy Urban Flea Market, and take a look at genuine Argentinian empanadas at Buena Onda.

The Funk Zone: Positioned off State Road, the Funk Zone is a former manufacturing hub turned arts district. Now, the colourful, walkable neighborhood is understood for its eclectic artwork scene, wine tasting rooms, brewerie and stylish eating places.

Stearns Wharf: It’s free to walk down the Santa Barbara pier, however you would possibly purchase a scoop of handmade ice cream, ebook a ship tour or pop into the Santa Barbara Museum of Pure Historical past Sea Heart, the place grownup tickets begin at $14. Stearns Wharf is hard to overlook given its central location between East Seashore and West Seashore.

Santa Barbara Harbor: A couple of half mile up the coast from Stearns Wharf is Santa Barbara Harbor, which exudes maritime appeal. Strive the seafood from any waterfront restaurant, and stroll it off with a stroll to Level Castillo. One of the crucial enjoyable spots is the Outside Santa Barbara Customer Heart, that includes a roof deck with couches overlooking the harbor.

College of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB): Whether or not you go to as a potential faculty scholar or are simply meandering the grounds, the beachside campus provides free excursions, (although registration is required).

Santa Barbara Zoo: The Santa Barbara Zoo homes about 150 species of animals and is among the many finest and most cost-effective issues to do in Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Zoo tickets begin at $15).

Santa Barbara Mission: Based in 1786, Previous Mission Santa Barbara is without doubt one of the metropolis’s most iconic landmarks. The grounds embrace gardens, a museum and a historic cemetery. You’ll want a ticket ($25 for adults) to go inside, however a lot of the outside will be explored at no cost.

Santa Barbara wine tasting: Head inland for Santa Barbara wineries. From downtown, it’s a couple of 45-minute scenic drive by rolling vineyards of the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys. Most wineries are free to go to, although you’ll often pay per tasting (wine flight charges often value between $15 and $30, relying on the vineyard). Typically charges are waived with buy.

An alternative choice is a Santa Barbara wine tour. These can value a number of hundred {dollars} per particular person, however sometimes embrace lunch, wine tastings, a information and driver.

Solvang: Additionally within the Santa Ynez Valley sits Solvang, an enthralling Danish-inspired village recognized for its distinctive thatched roofs and windmills. It’s an excellent day journey for buying (there are about 150 retail retailers, together with Elna’s Costume store, which sells Danish costumes) and eating (strive the Aebleskiver, a puffy Danish pancake).

When you’ve bought simply someday, stick round downtown (together with Stearns Wharf, the harbor, seashores and State Road).

For 2-days, discover the museums, Previous Mission Santa Barbara and the Funk Zone. And for longer journeys, add on adventures previous town middle, just like the zoo, college, wine nation or Solvang.

Santa Barbara accommodations you possibly can ebook on factors

Whereas Santa Barbara provides a variety of lodging together with trip leases, RV parks and comfy inns, you would possibly keep in a single day at no cost utilizing lodge factors, which will be acquired by frequent stays and bank card spending on branded lodge bank cards or journey bank cards.

Listed below are among the finest accommodations in Santa Barbara to ebook on factors:

The boutique-style Resort Virginia is healthier for folk eager to be within the middle of Santa Barbara’s motion, given its central location simply off Santa Barbara’s State Road Promenade. It’s a couple of 15-minute stroll in any path to the Funk Zone, Santa Barbara Amtrak station, Stearns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Facilities are fairly restricted (there’s neither a pool nor a fitness center), however there are no resort charges.

Folks in search of a resort expertise ought to choose the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Facilities together with tennis courts, pool and spa. It’s additionally one of many few actually dog-friendly accommodations in Santa Barbara, providing tennis balls, treats and devoted canine water fountains (although there’s a $75 pet price).

Hilton Honors members can redeem Hilton Honors factors at each properties. Whereas factors charges fluctuate per night time, redemptions are often extra invaluable on nights when money charges are excessive. Factors are likely to not inflate as a lot as money charges do round peak journey dates. FinanceGrabber values one Hilton level at 0.5 cent every, so run your personal calculations earlier than reserving on factors versus money if you happen to’re in search of to maximise redemptions.

There are greater than a half-dozen different Hilton accommodations in Santa Barbara County, superb for vacationers in search of budget-friendly Hilton manufacturers or who wish to keep close to the airport, Solvang or wine nation.

Hyatt runs two Santa Barbara accommodations. The Mar Monte Resort ranks among the many finest Santa Barbara accommodations on the seashore for the cash.

With regards to Santa Barbara seashore accommodations, different lodge manufacturers tout fancy facilities and sprawling resort grounds. The Mar Monte Resort is humbler —and customarily the most affordable of town’s beachfront accommodations. Inbuilt 1931, the boutique lodge nonetheless feels elegant with its Spanish Colonial structure and opulent touches together with a pool, Peloton bikes within the health middle and personal, ocean-view balconies in some rooms.

There’s additionally the Hyatt Place Santa Barbara, which isn’t walkable to a lot of something tourist-friendly, however would possibly make sense for vacationers avoiding downtown or who search facilities like free breakfast and huge rooms (every room is not less than 400 sq. toes and most have separate seating areas with sofa-sleepers).

So far as Marriott’s downtown Santa Barbara accommodations go, two are situated simply off State Road. The Waterman is a comparatively inexpensive boutique lodge underneath Marriot’s Moxy model. Rooms are tiny, most underneath 200 sq. toes, and have a twin-size Murphy mattress. The lodge itself has cozy vibes, together with a full-size communal kitchen, library and lounge.

Traditionalists would possibly want the Courtyard Santa Barbara Downtown, which opened in 2022 after present process an elegant transformation. Public areas — together with a lush pool, firepit and rooftop decks — exude retro-modern vibes.

The lodge restaurant — Saint Remy — provides among the best breakfasts in Santa Barbara. You probably have a candy tooth, don’t skip the churro pancakes.

So far as Santa Barbara luxurious accommodations, don’t ignore The Ritz-Carlton Santa Barbara, which options three swimming pools, six eating places, a 42,000-square-foot spa and tennis courts. Rooms within the 78-acre resort are perched on cliffs over the seashore, although the property is about 15 miles from downtown.

Charges simply high $1,000 on peak nights, so it would make sense to cost it to a Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card, which earns 6 factors per $1 spent at collaborating Marriott Bonvoy accommodations and in addition provides a $100 property credit score for qualifying prices at Ritz-Carlton properties on stays of two nights or extra booked immediately with Marriott.

Positive there are ritzy accommodations, however there are many charming (and low-cost) accommodations within the metropolis too.

The Greatest Western Plus Santa Barbara is good if you’d like proximity to Previous Mission Santa Barbara (it’s a couple of 20-minute stroll). Room charges begin at lower than $200 or will be paid for with Greatest Western Rewards factors.

Santa Barbara is house to the primary Motel 6, which was based in 1962 and initially supplied rooms at simply $6. Motel 6 Santa Barbara – Seashore is that unique property, and it’s additionally one of many fancier within the Motel 6 portfolio, with a retro Sixties vibe that gives ocean views from some rooms. However the elevated model additionally means it’s among the many pricier Motel 6 properties. Whereas you will discover room charges underneath $200, they will additionally exceed $400 on peak nights.

There’s additionally Motel 6 Santa Barbara – State, however that Santa Barbara lodge isn’t fairly as charming. Motel 6 doesn’t have a program that permits you to earn lodge factors, although its free-to-join loyalty program known as My6 does supply reductions.

Santa Barbara eating places

With regards to the very best eating places in Santa Barbara, there’s one thing for each finances.

The perfect spot for affordable, genuine Mexican meals is Tacos Pipeye. Taco fillings like lengua (tongue), tripa (tripe) and borrego (lamb) fluctuate by day.

Over on the Funk Zone, most eateries are expensive, however the counter-service model Fortunate Penny is one exception. Order a pizza or Frosé to devour on the patio, which is adorned with a wall tiled with greater than 150,000 actual copper pennies. Two individuals can cut up a pizza for underneath $20, and there are many alcoholic drink choices underneath $10 (although the Frosé is a little more).

Finances-conscious vacationers who admire domestically sourced meals and artistic dishes have choices at Santa Barbara Public Market. The meals corridor, situated close to State Road, is good for teams given its plentiful indoor and expanded outside seating choices.

Bluewater Grill sits on the coast, simply off of State Road. Menus change to mirror in-season seafood. Past protein, the edges are tasty too, usually together with coconut ginger rice or goat cheese grits. Ask for a desk on the second flooring for seashore views.

If it’s not raining, strive the Lebanese fare at Zaytoon. Many of the seating is underneath the celebs, and plenty of tables double as fireplace pits.

The sambosik (a fried puff pastry full of cheese or beef) is a success, as is the batata harra (spicy potatoes sauteed with garlic).

How one can get to Santa Barbara

Air vacationers will doubtless fly into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport. The Santa Barbara airport is delightfully charming however small. It’s served by simply 4 airways (Alaska Airways, American Airways, Southwest Airways and United Airways, so flight availability is proscribed.

Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) gives extra choices, although the drive from LAX to Santa Barbara is about 100 miles and might simply take greater than two hours.

The Santa Barbara Amtrak prepare can also be handy. One of many high Amtrak Santa Barbara routes in America is the Pacific Surfliner, which spans a 351-mile route by San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties, a lot of which is a scenic journey alongside Southern California’s shoreline.

When you’re driving to Santa Barbara however staying downtown, perceive that free parking is tough to search out. Most accommodations cost $30 to $40 for day by day parking, and city-owned parking tons cost round $15 per day.

You don’t want a automobile to get round Santa Barbara, particularly if you happen to’re sticking to seashores and Santa Barbara downtown. Spots that aren’t walkable, such because the botanical gardens, will be accessed through a rideshare or taxi.

The perfect time to go to Santa Barbara

Climate in Santa Barbara is idyllic virtually year-round. Common daytime temperatures vary from the mid-60s to mid-70s. Rain is unusual, particularly in spring and summer time (February is traditionally the rainiest month in Santa Barbara). The perfect months to go to Santa Barbara are any of them, given the number of actions.

Whether or not you’re passing by on a California street journey, searching for a second metropolis to go to close to Los Angeles (it’s a roughly two-hour drive from downtown Santa Barbara), or vacationing there particularly, Santa Barbara is well worth the journey.