State Street is the living core of Santa Barbara, the main commercial hub. It has everything from galleries and boutiques to outdoor cafes and great nightlife. This fascinating street captivates everyone who comes here, and many return to make new discoveries every time. There are all kinds of people here, from shoppers to beach bums and bar hoppers. State Street is also home to the Paseo's - winding alleyways lined with shops, cafes, and galleries - Santa Barbara's Spanish-styled shopping malls.
The Paseo Nuevo Mall stretches for two blocks with over fifty shops, a performing arts center, a movie theater, and restaurants. The historic El Paseo Mall, built in the 1920's, is the first of its kind in California. It is always full of people and is a pleasurable experience. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is also here. Everything considered, it is never a boring place and is great for people watching.
2. Stearns Wharf
Stearn's Wharf
Who would think of a wharf as a romantic and enjoyable place? Well, that is exactly what Stearns Wharf is. Built in 1872, its purpose was to load lumber and passengers onto ships. Now, it provides for a romantic and enjoyable walk about half a mile into the Pacific Ocean. It has restaurants (offering fresh and delicious sea food), aquariums, and gift shops. You can even buy Santa Barbara wines here. It also offers parasailing and cruising opportunities. However, it is the atmosphere and the excellent views of the ocean and the city that makes it such a favorite with everyone. An evening stroll along the wooden pier in the company of the ever-present seagulls is a great experience and a great photo opportunity.
3. East Beach
East Beach
Santa Barbara is blessed with miles of white sand beaches, but East Beach is a big favorite. It is a beautiful beach with palm trees and clean sand and is ideal for a romantic stroll. The beach caters to a variety of tastes, with volleyball games being a major attraction and crowd puller. You will always see a number of surfers at the beach and the bike path is ideal for joggers and cyclists. There are also picnic areas, skateboarders, and playgrounds here.
The largest crowd comes on Sundays, when there is a free arts-and-crafts fair. Long lines of local vendors display their wares along the Cabrillo Boulevard. It is great fun, but if you do not like crowds, it is better to stay away. Even though the beaches of Santa Barbara face south, you still get brilliant and colorful sunsets.
4. Restaurants and Vineyards
Local Vineyard
There are a great many restaurants in Santa Barbara offering a variety of sumptuous dishes, especially seafood. Santa Barbara has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Outdoor cafes and restaurants thrive in Santa Barbara, and with the confluence of cultures, the cuisine is diverse. Celebrity chef Julia Child had a residence here and obviously, it was not just the natural beauty of the place that attracted her.
Santa Barbara is also wine country and is fast becoming famous for its wines too. There are about 40 wineries in Santa Barbara and the people here are very passionate about wines. There are dozens of wine tasting rooms throughout the place. Everyone dreams of creating great wines and is eager and articulate when the talk turns to wine. Santa Ynez valley has over the past few decades emerged as a top wine making region and has nearly 12,000 acres of vineyards. Be sure to take a trip to the wineries, it usually is a very pleasurable experience!
5. Arts and culture
Museum of Art
Santa Barbara is a great place for art and entertainment with over one hundred museums and galleries. Every art finds an audience and encouragement here, be it symphony, opera, film, or literature. Santa Barbara has a place for live theater, writing and storytelling conferences, and film festivals. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art offers you a glimpse of the French impressionists, and the Arlington Center for the Performing Arts, a Moorish style movie palace built in 1931, offers symphony concerts and film shows. The free art-and-crafts show on Sundays at East Beach brings forth many local artists. What is more, Santa Barbara itself is a great work of art.
6. Tour the Historic buildings
Santa Barbara Mission
1. Mission Santa Barbara - This beautiful twin-towered building, called the "Queen of the Missions," sits majestically atop a hillside. Many consider it as the soul of the city. It is the 10th of the original twenty-one missions founded by the Franciscans and is still in use.
2. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse - Another beautiful example of the Spanish and Moorish style of architecture. It is hard to believe that this museum-like building is a fully functioning government building. It is magnificent, with arches, vaulted ceilings, painted tiles, murals, and ironwork - a must visit for every tourist. From the top of the 85-foot high clock tower, there is a panoramic view of the town and the Pacific Ocean.
3. The Presidio - Presidio gives you another look into California's historic past. This fortress, built in 1782, is the last Spanish military outpost in California.
