Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
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Things to Do in Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Attractions
Things to Do in Santa Barbara
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Points of Interest & Landmarks
Historical Tours
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Historic Sites
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Santa Barbara.
Top Attractions in Santa Barbara
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Piers & Boardwalks
Military Museums • Speciality Museums
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travelers are saying
- pldj m169 contributionsFeels like sit inside of a museum, not in the court. It's beautiful place. Don't forget go to the top of building to see the Santa Barbara town. It's free to go inside walk around.Written October 3, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Viktoriya K11 contributionsBeautiful park. Its compact, but well planned. It took us about 2 hours. Food is good, but whole ordering online from the app is a disaster. Emu and kangaroo enclosure is great. Overall, great parkWritten June 26, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- dlpa2000california323 contributionsPaxton server and Rae in bar was attentive and accommodating. We did not care for venison stuffed mushrooms; the meat was rare. Paxton removed from ticket as we each only had one. Hubby liked onion rings and the tri tip platter and pecan pie. Rabbit medallions were dry and salty. The grounds housed historic stagecoach era buildings. Unfortunately it was 85 degrees and 85% humidity so very hot in dining area. Entertainment was the arriving wedding party.Written September 9, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Julia SEatontown, NJ33 contributionsI visited the Mission in Santa Barbara yesterday. It was both educational and fun - worth the time to visit the place!Written September 28, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Betty MOro Valley, AZ482 contributionsWe enjoyed the LEDBETTER park portion the best of any strolls we took along the shoreline. Lots of benches and shady areas.Written September 20, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- worldtouristsAuckland, New Zealand39 contributionsThis was a lovely morning riding along the bike path between the sea and the palms. It is a bit tricky at the busy areas as people and children walk out not realising that bikes are coming. But the bikes all had bells which negated the need for any emergency stops.Written August 18, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Christine NSaint Paul, MN26 contributionsThis beach is a little out of Santa Barbara. It has a nice sized parking area. The beach is dog friendly. It is right next to some cool cliffs. It has restrooms. There is a restaurant right there. Only downside was the seaweed on the beach.Written October 5, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Betty MOro Valley, AZ482 contributionsFree parking for a good while and lots of strolling opportunities.
A lovely harbor and a beautiful area.Written September 20, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Munir DToronto, Canada609 contributionsThis place was one of our stops in the scenic highway from Los Angeles to San Fransisco.
This is a lively place and we were fortunate to get parking for only $4 at the parking lot across the Visitors Centre. This was for 2hours. Parking is also available at the end of the pier.
We had lunch at the Longboard’s Grill located on the pier. We had a table overlooking the beautiful ocean with also a view of the marina. We ate fish and chips which included two red snapper fillets. The food was good and service very nice.
This is another nice place to take photographs because of various scenic spots.
Munir DayaWritten July 7, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Tracy1 contributionThe Mineral exhibit was gorgeous and full of fascinating information. We were lucky enough to be there for the Butterfly Exhibit, and it felt magical! The planetarium had some nice exhibits and the movie was very good.
Their dinosaur "garden" was fantastic and kids will absolutely love it.Written August 7, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - kaj20Murrieta, CA910 contributionsThis is a lovely drive around Santa Barbara. It is such a beautiful, historic city. The plants and trees are mature and pretty. All the buildings have interesting architecture.Written October 16, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Laura AMadrid, Spain16 contributionsIt's a small museum but a great place to find out about Santa Barbara, its history and its relationship with the ocean, such as the program Rigs-to-Reefs or the story of Point Conception. It offers different activities that children will enjoy too.
I also liked the paintings exhibition and the visit to the tower, and learning about the Chumash.Written August 29, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Judith BLos Angeles, CA27 contributionsA find for all book lovers. I could spend hours roaming through the stacks.. I always find wonderful books.Written May 3, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Kaitlin V-H5 contributionsI visited a few days ago, and right now (late April) the poppies are blooming. It's a lovely place, but I think calling it an arboretum would be a little more accurate than calling it a garden. It's like a little nature preserve, capturing a small redwood forest and the stream bed deep in the arroyo. Fringing this are the visitor paths and the few more curated gardens. The canyon still contains the remains of the irrigation systems built in the early 1800s. Stone-lined aqueducts and decaying wooden troughs can still be seen there. The system used to carry water all the way down the mountain to the Mission. I really liked the Manzanita grove, something that's pure Santa Barbara, and smells great. Part of the garden grounds are across the street, and lead up a hill to the conservation center, which features an amazing view, all the way to the ocean, as well as some nice places to sit down and enjoy the scenery. I took the hard path, but I noticed too late that an access road will take a golf cart straight up from the parking lot to the conservation center. A good option for handicapped guests.
Speaking of handicapped, even though the paths are well-maintained, given that it's a canyon there are some dramatic changes in elevation that might make navigating difficult if you are in a wheelchair or on crutches. Also, if you're susceptible to heat stroke (like I am) please pace yourself and be prepared. I failed to do this adequately and had to cut my visit short, because the heat was getting to me.
What I mean to say is that this is still a lovely place to visit, but this isn't just a casual, flat rose garden. It's an active, semi-wild landscape, and I would prep for it as you would a hike, rather than a walk in a city park. I'm always happy to pay the admission that a garden or zoo asks, because I know the money is going into the maintenance of the place, and I think that has value. Crowds are thinner after 2pm, but come earlier in the day if you want to beat the heat.Written April 28, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - fcrane35Troy, MI419 contributionsQuite the sight but hard to take good pictures as it is completely fenced off. You won't be disappointed.Written May 18, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Barbara
- The top attractions to visit in Santa Barbara are:
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse
- Santa Barbara Zoo
- Cold Spring Tavern
- Old Mission Santa Barbara
- Shoreline Park
- The best outdoor activities in Santa Barbara according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Cabrillo Bike Path
- Shoreline Park
- Cold Spring Tavern
- Arroyo Burro County Beach Park
- Santa Barbara Zoo
- The best day trips from Santa Barbara according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Small-Group Santa Barbara Wine Tour to Private Locations - Max 7 Guests
- Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tour
- Private All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour from Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara Small-Group Wine Tour to ONLY Private Vineyard Estates & Wineries
- Santa Barbara Vineyard to Table Taste Tour by E-Bike
- The most popular things to do in Santa Barbara with kids according to Tripadvisor travelers are:
- Santa Barbara Sportfishing Charter
- Santa Barbara Hot Rod Limo
- Condor Express Whale Watching
- Land and Sea Tours/ Land Shark
- Chaucer's Bookstore
Santa Barbara Attractions Information
| Attractions | 455 |
|---|---|
| Number of Reviews | 31,345 |
| Number of Photos | 17,328 |
| Local Time | Thursday 12:27 PM |