Things to Do in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s activities are divided between the city itself — the Mission, Courthouse, beaches, State Street, and the Funk Zone — and the Santa Ynez Valley wine country 30 miles north. Both are accessible as day-use destinations; combining them over 2-3 days gives a complete picture of why the city draws visitors year-round.

Old Mission Santa Barbara

Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St) is the most visited attraction in the city and one of the most architecturally distinguished of California’s 21 missions. Founded on December 4, 1786, it is the only mission that has remained continuously in Franciscan hands — never transferred, abandoned, or sold — which partly explains its exceptional state of preservation. The self-guided tour covers the church (still an active parish), the mortuary chapel, the museum (with Chumash and early Californian artifacts), the historic cemetery, and the restored fountain and garden. Self-guided admission approximately $15 adults; guided tours approximately $20 as of 2026. Open daily 9am-5pm.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Santa Barbara County Courthouse (1100 Anacapa St) is one of the finest public buildings in California — a Spanish-Moorish structure completed in 1929 with hand-painted ceilings, tile work, carved stone, and a sunken garden. The clock tower is open for self-guided ascent Monday-Friday and provides panoramic views over the city’s red-tile rooftops to the ocean. Both the building and clock tower are free. Guided tours are offered Monday-Friday at 10:30am and Saturday at 10:30am and 2pm.

State Street and the Funk Zone

State Street is Santa Barbara’s main commercial street — the blocks between Cabrillo Boulevard and the 500 block have the primary retail concentration. The Funk Zone (roughly the area between Garden and Milpas Streets south of Highway 101, near the train station) is the most interesting destination: a converted light-industrial neighborhood with wine tasting rooms, craft beer, a distillery, galleries, and restaurants.

The Funk Zone Wine Trail — a self-directed walking circuit of tasting rooms, all within a 2-3 block radius: Municipal Winemakers (22 Anacapa St), Cutler’s Artisan Spirits, Industrial Eats food hall. Most tasting rooms are open daily and charge approximately $12-$20 per flight.

Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf (at the foot of State Street) is the oldest working wood wharf on the West Coast, extending 1,000 feet into the harbor. A small but well-presented Natural History Sea Center (free admission for members of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History) occupies the end of the wharf. Restaurants and a wine tasting room are on the wharf; parking is available at the front. Worth the walk for harbor and mountain views.

Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country

Santa Ynez Valley (30 miles north via CA-154 or US-101 and CA-246) is the Sideways wine country — the 2004 film brought international attention to the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from this high-elevation inland valley. The towns of Los Olivos (a grid of galleries and tasting rooms) and Solvang (a Danish-themed village with its own considerable charm) anchor the visitor infrastructure.

Major wineries with visitor-friendly tasting rooms: Firestone Vineyard (5000 Zaca Station Rd, Los Olivos), Foxen Vineyard (7200 Foxen Canyon Rd), Demetria Estate, and Zaca Mesa Winery. Most tasting rooms are open daily 10am-5pm; reserve for winery tours. Flight approximately $20-$30 per person.

The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail connects multiple producers in the northern part of the valley; CA-246 through the valley connects Los Olivos and Solvang to Buellton and the US-101 return route.

Beaches and Water Activities

East Beach (Cabrillo Blvd, east of Stearns Wharf) is Santa Barbara’s primary beach — a broad sandy strand with volleyball courts, bike path, and the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion. No entry fee.

Leadbetter Beach (west of the wharf, below Mesa neighborhood) is the primary local surf spot and a calmer swimming beach.

Whale watching: Condor Express (301 W Cabrillo Blvd) operates whale watching cruises year-round — gray whales December-April, humpbacks May-November, blue whales June-October in some years. Tours approximately $55-$85 per person as of 2026.

Kayaking: Santa Barbara Adventure Company (32 E Cabrillo Blvd) rents sea kayaks and runs tours around the harbor and along the sea cliffs west of the harbor; tours from approximately $60-$90 per person.

Day Trips

Channel Islands National Park — boat tours from Ventura (25 miles south) reach Santa Cruz Island in approximately 1 hour. Kayaking, hiking, and endemic wildlife on the islands that were California before European contact. Full-day crossings approximately $60-$80 per person; multi-day camping available.