Santa Barbara Attractions

Whether you're rolling in to town to explore, shop, or kick back, there's a lot of ground to cover during a Santa Barbara respite. Hungry travelers have their pick of exceptional epicurean offerings downtown, where you'll find everything from hole-in-the-wall spots frequented by onetime local Julia Childs, to boutique dining and creative cafes. Sip local vintages along the urban wine trail, and grab cool cocktails mixed with farmers market fresh fruits. The Santa Barbara Art Museum and Museum of Natural History are known for engaging exhibitions, and notable sites such as the Old Mission and the El Presidio Santa Barbara Historic State Park represent the city's storied past. Theater venues erected during the development of the town—which have been refurbished to their glory days—host renowned dance companies, world famous musicians, the city's annual film festival, and more. For outdoorsy folk, Santa Barbara's locale between Pacific shores and the Santa Ynez Mountain Range makes dips in the sea, surfing, kayaking, and beach walks as accessible as day hikes, mountain biking, climbing, and remote backpacking adventures. And with an enclave of artists that call the Central Coast home, galleries line the streets, and the first Thursday of every month is the evening to peruse art openings and sip wine. Whether you want to meander through shops, imbibe in local fare, take in arts and entertainment, explore the natural world, or peak back into the area's historical happenings, Santa Barbara has a little something for everyone.

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