Santa Barbara, California

"Welcome to Paradise," is a fitting expression for those visiting the coastal city of Santa Barbara. Called the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is a place where food, art, history, fashion, wine and sunshine mix to create a delightful and unique experience for the visitor. Charming Spanish and Moorish style buildings graced by brilliantly-colored bougainvillea, palm-lined beaches, a warm Mediterranean climate, charming sidewalk cafés and a pristine seaside setting are some of the aesthetic reasons for visiting Santa Barbara.

The "Queen of the Missions," Santa Barbara's Old Mission can be traced back to the 1700's when the mission was built to bring Christianity to the Chumash Indians. The Old Mission is now a California Historical Landmark and is one of the most popular attractions in the area.

Just outside of Santa Barbara, lies the Santa Ynez Valley which is home to numerous world-renowned wineries. The scenic beauty of the dramatic mountains, lush valleys and oak trees is only surpassed by the rich flavors of the wines produced in the area.

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Points of Interest

  • Santa Barbara Mission
  • Wine Country
  • Santa Barbara Courthouse
  • State Street
  • Solvang
  • Los Olivos
  • Fig Tree
  • Outdoor Adventures

More about Santa Barbara, California Points of Interest

  • Santa Barbara Mission

    Founded by Catholic settlers in 1786, the commanding presence and graceful lines of this majestic mission leave no doubt why she is called "Queen of the Missions."

  • Wine Country

    Featuring the ideal Mediterranean climate for growing grapes, the fertile Santa Ynez Valley is home to California's most accomplished wineries which have produced award-winning wines since the 1970s.

  • Santa Barbara Courthouse

    Considered the most beautiful government building in America, this impressive Spanish-Moorish style landmark completed in 1929 occupies a square block in downtown Santa Barbara.

  • State Street

    The heart of Santa Barbara, this bustling, vibrant district lined with one-of-a-kind boutiques, restaurants and cafes is popular with locals and tourists alike.

  • Solvang

    This quaint Danish-themed town founded in 1911 replicates Copenhagen with its windmills, cobblestone streets, half-timbered walls, thatched roofs and restaurants featuring Danish cuisine.

  • Los Olivos

    Nestled among the verdant, rolling hills of Santa Barbara's wine country, this charming village-like town is renowned for its art galleries, wine tasting shops and craft boutiques.

  • Fig Tree

    Pause to take in the grandeur (and a photograph!) of the landmark Moreton Bay Fig Tree, the oldest fig tree in America planted in 1870 and spanning 160 feet.

  • Outdoor Adventures

    Whale watching is a popular pastime as is horseback or bicycle riding along the beautiful landscape; as well as kayaking or exploring the many eateries, breweries and vineyards located throughout the region.

9 EXCURSIONS

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Santa Barbara by Trolley

1.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 2 0 0
  • Fig Tree
  • Santa Barbara Mission
  • Santa Barbara Courthouse
  • State Street

Acquaint yourself with Santa Barbara during this 1.5 hour, fully narrated tour aboard an open-air nostalgic trolley. View the wharf and State Street, perfect areas for shopping and dining. See a massive fig tree. Take in historic sites including the courthouse, the Presidio, and majestic Santa Barbara Mission.

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Easy Activity

From

$28.00

Average Guest Rating

Montecito Stars & History Tour

3 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 2 1 5
  • Fig Tree

Bring a camera and a sense of adventure for this scenic tour to Montecito. From your motorcoach view one of the wealthiest communities in America, mega-stars like Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres enjoy lavish estates. A scenic driving tour blends with free time for shopping with the chance of a celebrity-sightseeing half-day tour.

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Easy Activity

From

$59.95

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Solvang On Your Own

4.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 1 8 5
  • Solvang

Lace up your walking shoes and get ready to stroll along the picturesque streets of Solvang! Its quaint Danish roots are ever-present in the enchanting architecture, interesting attractions like the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and delightful restaurants that serve up authentic Danish desserts like Aebleskiver. Enjoy some of the area wines at the various tasting rooms and wineries.

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Easy Activity

From

$69.95

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Coastal Whale Watching

2.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 6 4 5
  • Outdoor Adventures

Mid February through the end of April is a spectacular time in the Santa Barbara Channel, this is the time when the Gray Whales are migrating up the coast to Alaska to their feeding grounds after leaving the mating a calving grounds. It only takes a 2.5 hour trip as these whales are so close to the shore.

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Moderate Activity

From

$99.95

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Local Connections: Historical Santa Barbara & Old Mission with Expert Guide

4 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 2 1 0
  • Santa Barbara Courthouse
  • Santa Barbara Mission

An exceptional experience at the historic Santa Barbara Old Mission begins with a special greeting by a Franciscan friar or local Parish leader followed by a guided interior tour of the mission's museum, chapel and historic cemetery. A downloadable mission exterior walking tour covers the outside points of interest, and a city highlights drive returns you to port.

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Moderate Activity

From

$109.95

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Santa Barbara Walking, Food & Photo Tour

3.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 3 8 0
  • Outdoor Adventures

All fitness levels and photo skills are welcome on this half-day tour to hip eateries, nook wineries, and award-winning microbreweries housed in aged warehouses and forgotten scuba shops in Santa Barbara's colorful Funk Zone. Snack, sip and learn how to improve your photos while exploring with a pro tour guide.

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Moderate Activity, Includes snack

From

$149.95

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Santa Barbara & Los Olivos: California's Riviera, Food and Wine

6.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 2 5 5
  • Santa Barbara Mission
  • Santa Barbara Courthouse
  • State Street
  • Los Olivos

Santa Barbara is a feast for the senses. Discover the best this culinary-rich city has to offer on a "foodie" adventure designed to incorporate the city's historical and cultural highlights while showcasing its spectacular gastronomic offerings, including lunch at a renowned Mexican restaurant and a wine tasting in the lush Santa Ynez Valley.

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Moderate Activity, Includes meal

From

$169.95

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Whale Watching

4.5 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 6 4 0
  • Outdoor Adventures

Experience a thrilling, full-day whale-watching expedition via luxury catamaran in the waters off Santa Barbara. Cruise along the Channel Islands teeming with birds, sea lions and dolphins. Time and weather-permitting, visit one of the world's largest sea caves. Watch for magnificent whales that spout and breach in the glistening waters of this migratory corridor. More than 30 species of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions frequent the area, including the majestic blue whale, the acrobatic humpback whale, the powerful orca, the playful long-beaked common dolphin and the gregarious California sea lion.

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Moderate Activity

From

$169.95

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Cycling through the Vineyards

7 hours | Santa Barbara | S B A - 4 5 0
  • Solvang

Truly experience the scenic beauty of Santa Barbara Wine Country on an active 15 mile guided ebike tour. Spend time in Solvang and Los Olivos. Enjoy wine tastings, visit a lavender farm and savor a rustic Italian-inspired lunch to complete your full-day tour.

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Moderate Activity, Includes meal

From

$239.95

Average Guest Rating