Santa Barbara & Montecito Activities
125 State St, Santa Barbara, CA
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, is a hands-on activity for all ages. Set in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone near the waterfront, this interactive science museum is a must-visit attraction with more than 17,000 square feet of exhibits and experiences about science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA
When it comes to the natural beauty of Santa Barbara and Montecito, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a serene destination. With 78 acres of stunning landscapes and gardens, visitors can walk miles of trails and marvel at the beauty of California's native plants in their many forms. From shady redwood groves to open meadows adorned with wildflowers, the garden is a peaceful escape with educational opportunities, including guided tours, classes, and workshops.
119 E Cota St, Santa Barbara, CA
You can find fresh produce and a fun shopping experience at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. With multiple locations in Santa Barbara and Montecito throughout the week, this outdoor market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, artisanal cheeses, fresh flowers, and more. You pick up delicious ingredients for a farm-to-table meal, meet local farmers and vendors, and learn about sustainable farming practices in the area.
1260 Channel Drive, Montecito, CA
Located in Montecito, Butterfly Beach is a lovely setting with views of the Channel Islands in the distance. Several amenities, including public restrooms, showers, bike paths, and picnic tables, make it the perfect place to spend a day.
2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Old Mission Santa Barbara is a Spanish mission founded in 1786 by the Franciscan order. It is the tenth of the 21 California missions and is located in the city of Santa Barbara, California. The mission is known for its beautiful architecture, including its twin bell towers and its ornately carved altar.
2559 Puesta Del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum located in Santa Barbara, California. It was founded in 1916 and has a collection of more than 3.5 million specimens. The museum's exhibits focus on the natural history of California, the Channel Islands, and the Pacific Ocean.
Tunnel Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Inspiration Point is a scenic overlook located in Santa Barbara, California. It offers stunning views of the city, the Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. A popular spot for hiking, picnicking, and sightseeing. It is also a great place to watch the sunrise and sunset.
500 Ninos Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Santa Barbara Zoo is a 30-acre zoo located in Santa Barbara, California. It opened in 1963 and is home to over 500 animals from around the world. The zoo's mission is to "inspire, educate, and connect people with animals and the natural world."
1122 N Milpas St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Carved into a hillside in 1936, the Santa Barbara Bowl is the county's largest outdoor amphitheater, seating roughly 4,562 people. From April through October, the venue hosts around 30 concerts a season across a wide range of genres, all set against panoramic views of the city, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Known for its excellent sight lines and acoustics, it offers an intimate way to catch live music under the stars.
EXPLORE
The gorgeous velvety sand of East Beach and West Beach stretches for nearly two miles along Santa Barbara's celebrated Pacific coastline, running from Clark Mansion to the Santa Barbara Harbor. Framed by towering palm trees, both beaches are hives of recreational activity, including kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, and volleyball, and they rank among the best places to watch the city's legendary sunsets.
For the truly adventurous, a journey south across the Santa Barbara Channel takes you to the Channel Islands National Park, a chain of five islands totaling almost 250,000 acres. A breathtaking sanctuary of marine, land, and airborne wildlife, visitors can experience the park by hiking via daylong excursion, sailing or scuba diving the waters around the islands, or camping overnight at one of the islands' campgrounds.
132-A Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Santa Barbara Harbor boasts stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. It was instrumental in establishing its namesake city as a prominent California port of call as far back as the 1930s. Another of Santa Barbara's sought-after dining destinations, the harbor's 1,143-slip marina is also a primary origination point for scuba diving and deep-sea fishing excursions.
217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Constructed in 1872, Stearns Wharf is California's oldest wood-built wharf. Once a destination for boats carrying passengers and cargo, the wharf today is Santa Barbara's most popular attraction, and the de facto border between East and West Beach, with dining, shopping, live music, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History's Sea Center.
113 Harbor Way STE 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
A fixture of the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum dives deep into the city's historic seafaring past. One of the most engaging activities in the area for all ages, the maritime museum boasts numerous interactive exhibits that explore over 13,000 years of human history on the Santa Barbara Channel.
