Your Day-Guide to Santa Barbara
Living in Los Angeles has it's perks, but the city life can catch up to me. Naturally, I needed a change of scenery. Best idea ever... Santa Barbara!
My friend Kendra decided to join me and first thing's first-- we wanted to beat the crowds to get some photos with the Spanish-inspired architecture before it got too busy.
Paso Nuevo
651 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
This was my first time visiting Santa Barbara and we had the BEST weather. Not a cloud in the sky, savoring our last bit of summer. We took a short drive down to the Courthouse to see what all the hoopla was about. And boy did it not disappoint!
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1100 Anacapa St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Make sure you take time to explore as there's three essential places to see-- the Mural Room, Clock Gallery, and the breathtaking view from the Top Tower.
When driving to our next destination, we stumbled upon a Farmer's Market! A Day Tripper's DREAM. We were perusing this adorable market and I snagged some goodies along the way. I love supporting local business and was really impressed by the reasonable prices and high quality of the products.
Santa Barbara Farmers Market
Open Saturdays 8:30am-1:00pm
211 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
This honey is the best! I'm a huge fan of the Sage Blossom but also LOVE the Santa Barbara Wildflower.
By this time, it was the afternoon and we were ready for lunch. We heard all about the Funk Zone and decided to check out the area. We were pleased to come across the cutest restaurant repurposed from a shipping container and adjacent to a dog-friendly brewery!
The Nook
116 Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
I highly recommend the Grilled Salmon Salad! Cooked to perfection...
And of course, Kendra can't say no to a Ruben Sandwich!
After lunch, we wanted a chance to burn off some calories so we decided to rent bikes and ride along the shore.
We found a rental shop a short walk from Stearn's Wharf that was a great price. We rented beach cruisers for an hour for $10.95. If you ride to the Pier, there is a designated bike path going both left and right.
Wheel Fun Rentals
24 E Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
You guessed it... it's Wine-o'Clock! We headed back to return the bikes and found a charming winery back in the Funk Zone.
Margerum Wine Company
Wine Tasting Flight Options either $15 and $20
19 E Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
I really enjoyed their wines and regret not buying a couple bottles!
We decided that the party's not over so we walked back to the pier and found Deep Sea Tasting Room. The ambiance was adorable, right on the water, beautifully decorated and welcoming. The owners served us our flight and shared fun backstories of the inspiration behind their wines.
Deep Sea Tasting Room
Wine Tasting Flight $18
217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
By this time, it was sunset so we walked along the sand and enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was truly a beautiful day and highly recommend visiting this quaint town. There's so much architecture and story behind it all and I wish I was able to stay longer. I would've loved to hike, paddle-board in the water, and go thrift shopping.
To prepare us for our car ride home, we stopped for a little pick-me-up.
Santa Barbara Roasting Company
321 Motor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
This coffee shop was quiet and filled with scattered people reading books and working on laptops. I wish I could bring all my chaotic Los Angeles work up here!
In conclusion, I left a piece of my heart in Santa Barbara and I can't wait to be back! Please share your experiences and suggestions in preparation for my next trip!
Download my printable itinerary below!
