All Photos by Samantha Demangate
The Pandemic has chained everyone to their households. The insatiable itch to visit far off destinations full of adventures and life-changing experiences has reached a new intensity. People are looking forward to exploring the world around them like never before. When the pandemic finally ends and humanity can carry on living out their wildest fantasies, many people will book a flight to somewhere far away and exotic. Others will stay closer to home, inevitably wandering up or down California’s coast, discovering the many vibrant communities this state boasts. In my mind, the ultimate weekend getaway would be to experience a city that is affectionately referred to as the American Riviera. Oftentimes, people feel overwhelmed by the unlimited natural beauty and sociability of this wine-country beachside paradise. So, with a little post-covid foresight and a local’s love and insight, I created my favorite weekend itinerary for Santa Barbara, California.
Saturday
As the sun rises over the eastern horizon, it’s time to get up and head to the Santa Barbara Harbor to sample the town’s world famous uni (sea urchins). Every Saturday morning, local fishermen set up on the city pier to sell their fresh catches to the public. Here you can purchase a live uni and have it cracked open and served to you fresh on the dock. The rich buttery umami and slight brininess reminiscent of the sea will make your tastebuds sing. A true Santa Barbara breakfast of champions.
From here, take the lively walking path along picturesque West Beach, to Stearns Wharf, California’s oldest functioning wharf. Walking over the creaking wooden planks and taking in the magnificent sun soaked mountains, you can truly appreciate the city’s natural grandeur. Santa Barbara’s wharf has been around since 1872 and continues to be one of its most iconic landmarks.
Before lunch, head to the corner of Cota and Santa Barbara street for the Saturday farmers’ market. Here you can sample a wide selection of locally grown produce while bumping shoulders with the area’s top chefs as they source their ingredients. After perusing the wide range of warm-climate produce, make sure to grab some ingredients for a Sunday picnic at the town’s most romantic open space.
Next, head over to Milpas Street to stretch out lunchtime by walking up and down the busy avenue to sample tacos. There are over a dozen Mexican restaurants strewn along Milpas, and each has its own unique charm and die-hard patronage. From Al Pastor, fish tacos, and creative poke-style fusions, Milpas’ establishments have it all.
After filling up on tacos, head down to the Funk Zone, Santa Barbara’s gentrified arts district and wine ghetto, to indulge in the county’s best vino. The city is home to six well known AVAs located within the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys, each represented in the Funk Zone’s inviting tasting rooms. Some of my personal favorites include the timeless Lafond winery, Paradise, and Skyenna.
As the sun meets the horizon, it’s time to walk off the wine and tacos and catch the incredible sunset while walking from nearby East Beach to Butterfly Beach. This stretch of shoreline is one of the city’s most romantic places to stroll at dusk. The clusters of sailboats anchored offshore are framed by the dramatic backdrop of the sunlit channel islands, the protected offshore archipelago that’s home to a huge array of indigenous flora and fauna.
Once the kaleidoscope of evening hues dwindle to a faint ombre of red, head back to the Funk Zone for dinner. Naturally, with great wine comes great food, and the district doesn’t fall short on amazing restaurants, food trucks, and cozy eateries. If you’re in the mood for cuisine that highlights Santa Barbara’s incredible produce, check out The Lark and their ever-rotating menu of inspiring dishes. For traditional and creative Spanish delights, head to Loquita, one of my favorite places in town for food and drinks. For an incredible Deli experience check out Metropolis Greek Deli, home of the best gyro in town.
For those who want to carry on the evening after dinner, lower State Street is the prime spot for late night escapades and exciting drinks. Its new traffic-free make-over and endless nightlife creates a party environment that rivals many cities twice its size. Don your dancing shoes and check out the large number of bars and clubs catering to just about every music taste. For a memorable jazz bar experience with live music and a fun crowd, check out The Red Piano. For incredible food, cocktails, and the Modern Times Beer Garden (affectionately named the Academy of Recreational Sciences), check out 418 State St. And for electronic music and the chance to see some of Southern California’s best upcoming and big-name DJ’s head to EOS, just a short walk east on Anacapa St. Worth mentioning is Santa Barbara Craft Ramen, THE place to go to for your late-night noodle fix once dinner’s worn off.
Sunday
Start your Sunday off right with a refreshing hike around the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. The 78-acre grounds are full of over a thousand varieties of native Californian flora, including towering redwoods, colorful cactus, and vivid wildflowers. The inviting natural landscape attracts huge numbers of native fauna that call this living museum home, including deer, birds of prey, and the occasional mountain lion.
To continue your discovery of Santa Barbara’s natural habitat, make your way to the Museum of Natural History just a short drive away. The impressive museum hosts a wide collection of native Chumash artifacts, zoological exhibits, and a planetarium that hosts monthly star parties where locals set up their private telescopes and focus on a celestial body of their choice, eager to share their excitement and knowledge with others.
After perusing the botanical garden and museum, take a short walk or drive to the Santa Barbara Mission to enjoy a picnic on the grass. Santa Barbara’s mission is considered by many to be the finest example of 18th century California Mission architecture and no visit would be complete without it. Take a rest in the soft grass or between the rows of delectably scented roses. Locals treasure this open space and use it regularly for picnics, and quite frankly, so should you.
After lazing around the Mission open space, take a short drive into town to enjoy the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Since 1941, the museum has housed an extensive collection of local and international art collections that rival many in LA. However, if you have time, there are plenty of other museums that are well worth a visit. Thanks to decades of settlement by creatives, art collectors, and philanthropists, the city has amassed an impressive amount of stellar museums and creative spaces. Casa Dolores, located in the city’s only remaining two story 19th century adobe, houses a wonderful collection of Mexican art and cultural pieces. Children and adults should check out The Moxi, Santa Barbara’s interactive center of the arts and sciences. If plants are your thing and driving isn’t an issue, a visit to the highly acclaimed Lotus Land is a must. Located on a historic estate, it contains an unimaginable array of exotic plants and sculpture gardens sure to captivate any visitor.
Architecture, especially the Spanish revival, continues to be one of the main draws for visitors to Santa Barbara. After spending time in the museums, head up State Street to check out the Granada and Arlington Theaters. Attending a performance in one of these historical theaters is an incredible experience.
From here, you can concentrate on your time in Santa Barbara’s city center, a place teeming with iconic landmarks. Nestled in the heart of this area is the 18th century fort known as the Presidio. This was at one point the central seat of the Spanish military and government from San Luis Obispo to Los Angeles. Two of the original adobe’s are still standing and contain artifacts from that period. Before or after photographing and enjoying this timeless structure, head across the street to Handlebar Coffee Roasters for a memorable cup of locally roasted coffee and homemade pastries.
Just a couple blocks up from the Presidio on Santa Barbara Street is the County Courthouse, one of the most majestic buildings in California and the city’s most iconic landmark aside from the Mission. Built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style in 1929, it continues to function as the county’s primary courthouse. It’s easy to spend hours walking the grounds and touring the halls adorned with murals depicting the region’s history. Once inside, take the elevator or narrow staircase to the observation deck, one of the city’s most spectacular viewing towers. From here, you can take in an unparalleled panoramic view of the Santa Barbara channel, mountains, and cityscape.
After the sun sets, it’s time to check out upper State street’s vibrant food scene. A few of my favorites include: The Blue Owl, a small French/ Vietnamese Bistro serving incredible rice bowls and sandwiches; The Brasil Arts Cafe, a fun Brazilian restaurant and community center; Bibiji, Indian food with locally sourced ingredients made with a lot of love; and Sushi Bar 29 on Chapala Street, one of the city’s best Japanese restaurants. Two newer and must visit local establishments are the Draughtsman Aleworks at the Mosaic Locale and Crush Bar & Tap, a mellow, all-inclusive, locally sourced bar with weekly drag shows and other fun events. For a taste of pop-culture and everything nerdy, hop on over to Metro Entertainment, the town’s community center for comic books, games, and other merchandise.
Santa Barbara and its breathtakingly beautiful surrounding region demands more than two days. However, hopefully with this guide, you’ll be able to discover enough of what many people consider the quintessential Santa Barbara experience. With the pandemic’s end in sight, small communities and the businesses that call them home are eager for visitors to return. The excitement is palpable. In Santa Barbara’s case, that excitement has turned into creative energy that has poured into the community like never before. Come experience the new energetic makeover of one of the world’s most memorable destinations, all within a two-hour drive from LA.
