Location: Santa Barbara
Top Things to do in Santa Barbara
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Top 10 Sights & Landmarks in Santa Barbara, California (CA)
Nestled between the shrub-covered slopes of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the clear blue shores of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is California at its best. Mission Santa Barbara is an example of 18th-century religious architecture, boasting beautiful grounds and a wonderfully detailed interior. Work up an appetite with a walk through Shoreline Park, then dine above the water on Stearns Wharf. Fig trees, parks, waterfalls, and botanical gardens round out Santa Barbara’s natural beauty.
Restaurants in Santa Barbara
1. Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
2. Chaucer's Bookstore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By gaylem113 - Chicago, United States
Best thing for me was the extensive collection of cook books...crowded, cozy independent book store with something for everyone.
3. Historic Walking Tour of Santa Barbara
4. De La Guerra Plaza
5. Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,969 reviews
Visit the Santa Barbara Courthouse to enjoy a free Self-Guided Exterior Tour and a virtual tour of the Mural Room interior. Use your cell phone or tablet to explore Santa Barbara’s iconic Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse. The web-based tours can be found at sbcourthouse.org. The Courthouse is closed to visitors during Covid.
Reviewed By cresapsd - San Diego, United States
Coincidentally our stay in Santa Barbara was during the annual Fiesta Days and we enjoyed free concerts in the courthouse sunken garden as well as a docent led tour. The tour was very interesting and entertaining. The courthouse is not to be missed and don’t forget to check out the breathtaking view from the courthouse clock tower
6. Old Mission Santa Barbara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,679 reviews
Visitors can tour this historic Franciscan mission that features twin bell towers and lovely gardens.
Reviewed By PetriHat - Los Angeles, United States
The historic mission is both working monestary and historic landmark. Take a self guided tour for $9 and experience the inner gardens, cemetery, and church before entering the museum to see the history of the missions and how they interacted with and impacted the native Chumash culture.
7. Casa del Herrero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 177 reviews
Tours are by reservation only on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those 10 years & older. Admission for the 90-minute, Docent-led tours is $25 per person. All tours are booked online via our website: http://casadelherrero.com/events/. Designated in 2009 as Santa Barbara's 4th National Historic Landmark, Casa del Herrero, built in 1925, stands today as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The creative manifestation of St. Louis industrialist George Fox Steedman, Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith) reflects the visionary passions of its 'dream team' of designers: reknowned architect, George Washington Smith, landscape architects Lockwood de Forest and Francis T. Underhill, and antiquarians Arthur Byne and Mildred Stapley, who also helped outfit the well-known Hearst Castle.
Reviewed By V4820YRnancya
Classic Spanish Revival House and Garden that were planned with each other in mind in 1925. The house has all of its original contents and the house and garden that have been cared for continually for 95 years. Wonderful docent gave us a fact filled tour full of anecdotes and personal tidbits. He and we were having such a good time we agreed to go over the regular hour and a half.
8. State Street Underpass
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,386 reviews
Seven straight miles of shops.
Reviewed By christinam22018 - San Diego, United States
Visiting Santa Barbara is always fun. The city has great shopping, dining and the beach! We walked from one end of State Street all the way for the Wharf. We went into the antique shops and record shops. It’s a nice stroll so bring comfy shoes and your credit card! We stopped into a store; I can’t remember the name; but she sells slightly used high end items. I found a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta silk scarf for $100. It was a good find! There are numerous local businesses up and down the street. There is also a ‘mall’ with all the typical stores. It’s was very enjoyable.
9. Santa Barbara Scenic Drive
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 327 reviews
Reviewed By robw114
We took the SB Trolley Tour and went through downtown, and the countryside admiring all the wonderful homes, their architecture from Montecito where all the multi-million dolar homes are to the zoo
10. Santa Barbara Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By 651dennyw - Santa Barbara, United States
The Santa Barbara Cemetery is located on a cliff looking over the Pacific Ocean. A peaceful place to remember both the meaning and beauty of life.
