Discover Santa Barbara
Every day in Santa Barbara, California is a perfect day. Nestled between the mountains and the ocean, and blessed with idyllic weather year-round, this is a place that invites you to explore and rejoice. At the Santa Barbara Inn, you are minutes from extraordinary area attractions, including sailing, deep sea fishing and whaling expeditions; one hundred miles of hiking trails; wine country tours; art and antique galleries; boutique shopping; and so much more!
Please inquire at our Front Desk for more details about these attractions; we are happy to assist you.
Attractions
Santa Barbara, California is an area rich with history. For centuries, the Chumash Indians thrived in our area. The Chumash Painted Cave offers a fascinating glimpse of Native American history. In the late 1700s, the Spanish settled here and established the Santa Barbara Mission. Much of Santa Barbara’s picturesque Mediterranean-style architecture was inspired by the city’s Spanish history.
The Santa Barbara Inn is three minutes away from Stearn’s Wharf, which offers shopping, wine tasting, a seafood market, and several restaurants.
Santa Barbara County is a also world-class wine touring and tasting destination; the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys boast more than 50 wineries. Acclaimed for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varietals, the area also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Rhone varietals such as Syrah. For more information, contact the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association at 805-688-0881.
One of the best ways to experience the city’s history is on the Red Tile Walking Tour, where you will visit many of the city’s most fascinating landmarks including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara County Courthouse and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
Arts & Entertainment
Cultural enrichment abounds in Santa Barbara with year-round classical and popular music, theatre, opera, dance, crafts, and art exhibitions. In March, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, considered one of the 10 most important film festivals in the world, features a first-rate schedule of independent films.
In addition, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is replete with notable collections of classical sculpture, Asian art, American and European art, and photography. For an eclectic look at art along the beach, venture along Cabrillo Boulevard every weekend, where local artists display paintings, sculptures, and crafts. Our Front Desk personnel would be happy to assist you in making arrangements for any of these events.
Shopping
Santa Barbara is a shopper’s delight, with a wide selection of quaint shopping courtyards, chic boutiques, antique galleries, shopping malls and factory outlets. Santa Barbara’s largest shopping mall is La Cumbre Plaza with several department stores and over 60 shops and restaurants. Other shopping destinations include Paseo Nuevo, Victoria Court, La Arcada Court and El Paseo. Each Sunday, talented local artists display their creations at the beach along Cabrillo Boulevard. In addition, visit Brinkerhoff Avenue, a charming one-block street designated as a special historic district and the host of antique stores and specialty gift shops.
Just For Kids
Santa Barbara, California is a great place for kids, with plenty of sunshine, beaches, bike paths, flower fields, exotic animals, swimming pools, parades, carnivals and countless other delights. With so many choices, you might want to sit with your children and plan the "perfect day" before your arrival! Here are just some of the many activities children of all ages will love:
- Visit the planetarium at the Museum of Natural History
- Commune with over 500 animals at the Zoological Gardens
- See natural tar oozing out of bluffs and creeping down cliffs to the beach at the Carpinteria Tarpits
- Explore a sunny meadow dotted with wildflowers at the Botanical Garden
- Watch seals and porpoises playing off the Yacht Harbor
- Take a trolley ride around town
- Hike the trails winding through the Santa Ynez Mountains
- Bike on beach paths and through eucalyptus groves
- Go deep-sea fishing for barracuda, halibut and albacore
- Cruise out to sea and watch whales
- Hang glide, scuba dive, kayak or surf
- Challenge your friends to a game of pool or bowling
- Fly kites at the Shoreline Park
- Windsurf along the coast
- Play tennis and volleyball
Outdoor Activities
With near-perfect weather year round, Santa Barbara, California is an ideal place for sports enthusiasts. Bike or skate along miles of beachfront pathways. At the Yacht Harbor, charter a wide selection of boats for fishing, diving, sightseeing, and whale watching. Or, venture into the foothill trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains for a day hike.
Just minutes from the Santa Barbara Inn you’ll find the Sandpiper Golf Course, recognized as one of the top 25 public courses in the nation, offering an inspiring combination of challenge and beauty with championship greens directly on the Pacific Ocean. Other excellent courses are within a short drive.
Exploring
Both north and south of Santa Barbara, California you’ll find several wonderful locations to explore for day trips or weekend getaways.
Solvang, only 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara is the self-proclaimed Danish Capital of America. There, you’ll find Danish-style architecture, including windmills; specialty and gift shops; art galleries; and antique stores.
Continuing north, Morro Bay and Cambria are two beautiful little villages with picturesque seaside vistas. In Cambria, visit Randolph Hearst’s lavish castle on the hill, now one of the most popular tourist attractions in California.
Just 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara is Ojai, a lush valley surrounded by vast groves of orange trees, the majestic Topa Topa Mountains and millions of acres of Los Padres National Forest lands. Visit a local winery, and shop for quality artwork and antiques.
Santa Barbara County boasts over 10,000 acres planted with wine grapes. More than 50 wineries are open to visitors, who can enjoy tasting a wide variety of award-winning wines. Santa Barbara Winery specializes in premium Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir. For a special treat, visit them in late summer and early fall to experience the sights and smells of the grape crush.
If you are planning a stay in Carmel, please consider staying at the Pine Inn. Built in 1889, the Pine Inn was the first inn in Carmel-By-The-Sea. Tastefully updated over the years, the Pine Inn holds traditional memories for guests who have visited the area for generations.
