Santa Barbara Day Trip And Weekend Guide
Looking for a quick getaway? You?re in luck! Santa Barbara can fulfill all your vacation or wanderlust needs in just 24-48 hours.
We?re known for our Mediterranean climate, beautiful beaches, exquisite wine, and drool-worthy food. But just because you?re visiting paradise doesn?t mean you have to spend your life savings to have all the fun (unless you want to)!
Next time you’re looking to get away for the day or plan to spend the night in Santa Barbara, keep some of these budget-friendly or luxury travel tips in mind.
How To See Santa Barbara On A Budget
How to Get Here:
Ride The Train: We LOVE taking the Pacific Surfliner train! If you’re coming from LA/SD or San Luis Obispo, we highly recommend this mode of transportation that is fully stocked with tasty bites as well as local beer and wine and has some of the best views of the coastline. Bonus: you don’t have to worry about parking or driving after you’ve had a couple beers.
Where to Stay:
The Wayfarer is just a hop and skip from the train station and sits on the edge of the Funk Zone where we host our food tour. They have private rooms as well as shared rooms, but don’t be fooled by their title of “hostel”. These guys aren’t anything like the hostels you’ve trekked through in Europe. We’re talking fur blankets on the beds and amenities you usually find at a 4 or 5 star hotel. It’s really more of a poshtel, a posh hostel.
Looking for something a little more like the hotel experience? Book a stay at the historically charming Hotel Santa Barbara in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Bonus: Book a weekend stay in their king room and score discounted tickets to our El Paseo Wine Tour!
What to Do:
Start the day with a bike ride along the beach on classic beach cruiser from Wheel Fun Rentals or a kayak adventure through the harbor starting at Santa Barbara Sailing Center. Get a close up of those stunning beach views and sea life before you head downtown for a bit of culture.
Hop on the Downtown Shuttle for just 50 cents and stop at Figueroa Street where you can grab a cup of joe at French Press or a bakery treat at Jeannine’s before heading over to the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Take in 360 degree views of the city and marvel at the view of the Channel Islands, downtown area, and surrounding mountains. Insider’s tip: this place has THE best view in town and it doesn’t cost you a cent!
Educate yourself and discover incredible pieces of the past at the Karpele’s Manuscript Library. Among the treasures of this free admission museum is the original draft of the Bill of Rights, Einstein’s famous E=MC2 formula, and over a million more relics.
Round out the day with a self-guided nature walk through the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden or a challenging yet rewarding hike up Inspiration Point. Both have incredible panoramic vantage points at the top and offer stunning sunset views.
Places to Eat & Drink:
If you love a damn good donut first thing in the AM, head over to Hook & Press inside Mosaic Locale right at opening before the line is out the door to get your sugar fix for the day and a most Instagrammable breakfast treat. Need more of a protein boost in the AM? Eat like a local at Lito’s on Haley Street, one of the city’s oldest Mexican restaurants, where you can order generous sized breakfast burritos for a single digit price point.
If you didn’t get enough of that tasty fresh seafood on our Funk Zone food tour, circle back to Enterprise Fish Co. for happy hour where the oysters on the half-shell are just $1 every Wednesday and the drinks are always on point. Still looking for a place to rest while you knock one back and enjoy lively entertainment? Head over to Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. for a craft beer and your choice of live music, comedy night or bingo depending on the day of the week.
Looking for those tasty late night eats after a night of crawling lower State Street? Stumble into Little Kitchen for modern comfort food that’s both healthy and delicious, serving up late night bites Friday-Sunday, after 11:30pm.