You realize that the close by seashores of San Diego are my household’s frequent stomping grounds, however do you know there’s one other coastal California city that has our hearts? Picturesque Santa Barbara is one in all our favourite locations on this planet. Mike, my husband, spent 4 unbelievable years at UCSB, and now our son Owen is beginning his second 12 months there.
Our visits to Santa Barbara are at all times stuffed with nostalgia, pleasure, and cherished household moments. Right here’s our private information to having fun with Santa Barbara with little ones and youths alike, filled with our favourite spots and actions.
13 Issues to Do in Santa Barbara
Hit the Seaside
Santa Barbara boasts two primary seashores, East Seaside and West Seaside, situated on the finish of State St. These lovely seashores provide loads of house, making certain you received’t really feel crowded even throughout peak seasons, besides maybe on the 4th of July.
Santa Barbara is commonly cooler than our preferrred swimming climate, however it’s enjoyable to take a stroll alongside the shore, gathering seashells, and watching the seagulls.
Store & Dine Alongside State St. Promenade
State St. is the colourful coronary heart of Santa Barbara, stuffed with distinctive shops and eating spots. Most of it’s blocked off to be a pedestrian walkway so you may leisurely stroll with the youngsters.
Our household loves the eclectic combine of outlets right here. A few of our favorites embody Brandy Melville for stylish finds, McConnell’s Ice Cream for a candy deal with, and Vuori for trendy activewear. Enjoyable truth, we used to run a magnificence retailer on this avenue earlier than we have been married!
Our favourite eating places aren’t on State St. Promenade! We at all times make a cease at Los Agaves for some scrumptious Mexican delicacies. You order on the counter and the outside patio seating is nice for giant households. As for breakfast, it’s important to cease in at The Store Kitchen. All of us agree it’s one in all our high 5 breakfast spots ever (don’t miss the Frenchie)!
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is one in all our high spots, particularly with little ones in tow. It’s smaller and simple to navigate however nonetheless provides lots to see. The zoo is house to over 500 animals, and enjoyable points of interest just like the Zoo Prepare make it much more fulfilling.
We love how the zoo is laid out, making it simple to stroll by and see every little thing with out feeling overwhelmed. The children at all times get excited to feed the giraffes and trip the little prepare across the zoo. It’s an ideal solution to spend a number of hours, and the recollections we make listed here are priceless.
Santa Barbara Museum of Artwork
For a dose of tradition, the Santa Barbara Museum of Artwork is ideal. They provide vacation workshops and weekend artwork camps that our youngsters love. Plus, youngsters underneath six get free entry, making it a budget-friendly choice for households.
The museum’s various assortment and interesting packages make it a favourite cease for us. The children benefit from the interactive reveals and the chance to get inventive within the artwork workshops. It’s an exquisite solution to introduce them to the world of artwork and let their imaginations run wild.
Santa Barbara Botanic Backyard
The Santa Barbara Botanic Backyard is beautiful. The paths showcase distinctive crops from California’s various habitats. It’s a peaceable place to discover at your individual tempo, and the guided excursions on weekends are instructional and enjoyable. Our little ones are at all times fascinated by the completely different crops and flowers, and we benefit from the tranquility of the backyard.
It’s an important place to be taught in regards to the native flora and revel in a soothing stroll amidst nature. The backyard additionally provides varied family-friendly actions and occasions which are each enjoyable and academic.
Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf is a high attraction for a lot of Santa Barbara guests. It’s filled with household enjoyable, from studying in regards to the ocean on the Sea Middle to fishing, grabbing ice cream, or having fun with a seaside dinner at one of many many eating places. The wharf provides gorgeous views of the shoreline and the ocean, and the assorted actions and points of interest make it a enjoyable and thrilling place to go to.
We love strolling alongside the pier, watching the boats, and having fun with the recent sea breeze.
Santa Barbara Museum of Pure Historical past
One other gem is the Santa Barbara Museum of Pure Historical past. From the large Blue Whale Skeleton to Mammal Corridor, the reveals captivate our kids’s imaginations. The Create Zone and Fossil Excavation areas present hands-on instructional play. The museum provides an interesting glimpse into the pure world, and the interactive reveals make studying enjoyable and interesting.
Previous Mission Santa Barbara
The Previous Mission in Santa Barbara, relationship again to 1786, is stuffed with California historical past. Exploring its 12 acres, together with the cemetery, museum, and gardens, is an interesting expertise. The docent-led excursions provide deep insights into the mission’s historical past. We get pleasure from strolling by the gorgeous gardens and studying in regards to the mission’s wealthy historical past.
Santa Barbara Trolley Firm
The Santa Barbara Trolley Firm provides a handy solution to see town’s sights, and it’s so cute! With hop-on-hop-off flexibility, it’s good for households with younger youngsters. Highlights embody East Seaside, Stearns Wharf, the Previous Santa Barbara Mission, and the Harbor.
The trolley trip is a enjoyable and enjoyable solution to discover Santa Barbara, permitting us to see the sights with out having to fret about parking or navigating. The children benefit from the trip, and we love the comfort and suppleness it provides. It’s an effective way to get an outline of town and uncover new locations to go to.
Paddle Sports activities Middle
Santa Barbara is a seaside city in any case, and water sports activities are extremely fashionable. The Paddle Sports activities Middle provides a big selection of apparatus, together with SUPs, kayaks, boogie boards, and surfboards for lease. We extremely suggest taking one of many kayak excursions, that are wonderful for the whole household!
MOXI Museum
MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, is a household favourite. Its interactive reveals on science, expertise, and engineering are each instructional and entertaining. We’ve heard the Improbable Forces Courtyard and the Pace Monitor reveals are superior.
The hands-on actions and reveals are designed to spark curiosity and creativity, making it a enjoyable and interesting expertise for youths of all ages. MOXI is unquestionably a must-visit for households trying to mix enjoyable with studying.
Santa Barbara Public Market
Within the coronary heart of Santa Barbara, the Public Market provides a various choice of meals and drinks. Dad and mom can get pleasure from craft beers at The Backyard whereas the youngsters take pleasure in natural ice cream from Rori’s Creamery. It’s an important spot for the entire household to calm down and revel in. We love the laid-back, family-friendly vibe!
Santa Barbara is greater than only a lovely vacation spot for us; it’s a spot the place household recollections are made. We hope our information helps you create your individual unforgettable moments on this charming coastal city.
Map of Issues to Do in Santa Barbara
If you happen to loved our listing of issues to do in Santa Barbara with youngsters, you may additionally like:
TOP THINGS TO DO IN CARLSBAD – ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES IN THE WORLD
15 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN OXNARD [THE HIDDEN GEM BEACH CITY!]
TAKING A WEST COAST ROAD TRIP – HERE ARE [9 AMAZING MUST DO STOPS]!
Amber shouldn’t be solely the dynamic CEO and founding father of our staff but additionally a devoted mom of six and savvy entrepreneur. Her intensive travels together with her household haven’t solely created lasting recollections however have additionally led to their tight-knit bonds. Serving to you deliver your loved ones nearer collectively and discovering group with all of you is what will get her away from bed on a regular basis (though her toddler performs a job on this as effectively).