There are different types of travelers. To be brief, some go looking for adventure, others go looking for a party and the rest are usually looking to relax. Santa Barbara is one of those relaxing places. Yes, it’s a college town with lots of lively bars, the concert series at the Santa Barbara Bowl is always a pleasure and the variety of restaurants is superb. Yet with everything going on, the place is still married to its small-town feel. One thing you’ll notice as you arrive after a drive up the PCH from Los Angeles, no one in town honks. Also, people follow the speed limit if not slightly below it. No one is in a rush, no one is pressed for time. Yes, these are all important successful people living in a very expensive area, yet it feels like they just decided stressing out about daily inconveniences wasn’t worth their energy. That is what makes this town a magical place.

When you plan your trip here, first remember that whatever happens, happens and it’ll still be an amazing trip because you are in Santa Barbara.

 

Stern’s Wharf & The Harbor

This is a pretty iconic spot of the city. You can stroll along the pier where several restaurants line the area. From here, you can admire the curving coastline and the mountains all in one glance. If you are facing the ocean, on the left side of the beach is East Beach and you can usually spot wedding ceremonies on the shore during high wedding season. On the right side is West Beach, where you can spot the cliffs and where the local community college teaches their surf classes. If you head toward West Beach, your walk leads you to the Harbor which was newly remodeled and offers more cafes and restaurant options. You’ll also pass by the Maritime Museum which is impressive for such a small location and absolutely worth a visit.

State Street

State Street is the heart of downtown and ever since the pandemic hit, restaurants have built outdoor dining patios, closing off streets to cars. You can stroll between shops and cafes as music spills out from every which way. Most recently, I spotted a brass band during their OktoberFest celebrations as patrons at the beer garden played corn hole. Here you can wander between fine dining, simple coffee shops, and city exclusive food joints like Blenders In The Grass. There is also shopping that ranges from chains running simple boutiques to local artists selling handmade goods.

Once the sun drops, the street turns into a place for bar hopping. My recommendation is to start at Joe’s Cafe. The name is unassuming, but they have the stiffest pour in the city, and anywhere you go next is sure to be that much more fun.

Festivals

The city is always celebrating something so chances are you’ll show up during a festival weekend. (Think family-friendly state fair, not Coachella style festival.) My favorites have always been the Summer Solstice festival and Old Spanish Days. The Summer Solstice happens during the solstice in June when the main street is shut down, locals line the street, and families, neighbors, or businesses show off their homemade parade floats. Some are impressive and innovative, others are abstract. The crowd favorites are always ones that have music. Once the parade ends, the party continues at a nearby park lined with food trucks and drum circles.

The Old Spanish Days

This celebration is all about paying tribute to the city’s Spanish and Mexican history. Usually, the month of August is filled with performances of little kids taking part in Flamenco dances. On weekends you’ll find the streets dotted with pieces of colorful paper and broken eggshells. Vendors sell the hand-painted eggs filled with confetti by the dozen as locals young and old pelt each other with the colorful objects. The festival is also home to one of the largest equestrian parades in the world with over 600 horses and their riders dressed up in traditional charro suits.

The Funk Zone

Walking from the beach to downtown Santa Barbara used to be a bit of a trek, but ever since the city opened up The Funk Zone, locals and tourists cut their walk-in half because this lively place is right in the way and hosts food trucks, a food hall and plenty of bars. My favorite is Test Pilot. It’s a tiki bar with innovative drinks that aren’t syrupy sweet and the venue is a jungle theme that is Instagram-worthy. When it comes to the food hall A.K.A. The Santa Barbara Public Market, they have a range of things from a delicious Mexican food spot with massive tacos, Japanese food with a bomb sashimi bowl, your usual beer garden, and vegan options. Yes, there are actual restaurants in the area, but when you have a tipsy group of friends wandering, the food hall is the way to go.

Health and Wellness

Santa Barbara is also the SoCal mecca when it comes to wellness retreats and spas. Celebrities make the trek to low-key locations that offer luxurious pampering at exorbitant prices. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I once got a massage, wrap, and body scrub treatment that cost around $500 with tip at Float Spa. I was glowing like a newborn. It definitely helped that it was a gift and I didn’t have to worry about forking over that amount of money. However, it’s not something I’d personally want to spend every week. Below are a few places that are highly recommended.

Float Spa
Le Reve Organic Day Spa
Salt Del Mar at the Hilton
The Spa at The Four Seasons Resort at The Biltmore

Health and Wellness on a Budget

Less pricey wellness options include heading to The Salt Cave where for a fraction of the price, you can sit in an underground salt cave and take revitalizing breaths while you meditate. Apparently, the experience does wonders for your lungs and they also provide massages.

Montecito Hot Springs

Another place to relax on a budget is the Montecito Hot Springs. Montecito neighbors Santa Barbara and is where all the rich live in quiet seclusion. (One resident just happens to be Oprah. NBD.) You need to hike to this hot spring but it’s less than four miles round trip and very walkable. I would warn that this spot can get crowded, so try to go during the week and definitely not on a holiday weekend. The pools actually have water from natural hot springs and were part of an abandoned resort from the 1800s. They have man-made primitive pools but it does the job.

Sound Baths

Rather than locations, people have started their own wellness business so usually, people who perform sound baths work by appointment only and go for $150 per session per couple. However, Kineci is a holistic physical therapy office and they host sound baths twice a month at only $25 per person which is a steal. For those of you who don’t know what a sound bath is, just imagine laying down for a nap when you were in kindergarten while tones emit from large bowls. It sounds a bit odd but once you settle into it, the sounds match with the vibrations of your body and help you release tension, work through anxiety and stress. I highly recommend everyone try it once.

Hotels

There are countless beautiful hotels in the area and some can get pretty pricey. But if you are willing to make a 15-minute drive away from downtown, you’ll find The Kimpton Goodland. It’s a very affordable hotel that has a 50’s surf movie feel. They have a warm and lively pool with a lounge area. They also have movie screenings on their lawn on certain weekends. The hotel also has a great indoor/outdoor bar with expert mixologists. During the winter you receive complimentary hot chocolate and you can hang around their massive bonfire area as you make new friends. I’ve definitely shown up and within 10 minutes had my new besties handing me a beer. Overall, the people who stay here are more laid-back, open, and friendly.

Santa Barbara is a beautiful place to visit for a few hours or a few days. I also know plenty of people who rent out a back cottage for the winter and turn it into a personal writer’s retreat. The best thing about this little zen town is no one pries or judges. Everyone just is. Do you want to walk around half-naked during the Summer Solstice festival? Sure thing. Do you want to randomly bang out Chopin on the random pianos that you find on downtown sidewalks? Go for it. Do you prefer just swimming by yourself in the ocean until a random dolphin comes up to say hi? It is possible! The last one actually happened to me! So when I call this a magical place where you can just be, I mean it from the bottom of my heart to yours. So go wander and explore!