Santa Barbara Museum of Art Travel 2019 Panama Canal

Spend a few days in Santa Barbara and information technology's safe to say you'll never want to exit. Nestled between the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Body of water, Santa Barbara boasts an average 300 sunny days a twelvemonth and temperatures that by and large stay between the mid-60s and mid-70s. It'south just 90 miles due north of LA and makes for an excellent side trip, but information technology'southward also worth visiting on its own. With tons of outdoor and h2o activities and plenty of great shopping, restaurants, and family attractions, I can't think of a amend place for a family holiday.

We got to spend a few days in Santa Barbara and roughshod in love with this beach town paradise. We're already planning our render visit! Here are our 30 favorite things to do with kids on your Santa Barbara family vacation.

MOXI

MOXI, a three-story children's scientific discipline museum in downtown Santa Barbara, is absolutely loaded with land-of-the-fine art interactive exhibits. Here, kids are encouraged to invent, design, and detect to their hearts' content, all while having the time of their lives. This is ane attraction you definitely don't want to skip if you're visiting Santa Barbara with children — We are children's museum experts, people, (Cheque out my travel athenaeum if you don't believe me!) and MOXI stands out as specially awesome.

Source: David Collier/Visit Santa Barbara

Cabrillo Beach Boulevard Wheel Trail

This iv.v mile long paved bike trail is flat, condom, almost entirely off the street, and perfect for families. You'll ride along the beach and laissez passer Stearn'southward Wharf, East Beach, and Santa Barbara Harbor, so at that place are plenty of opportunities to make stops for snacking and shopping along the way. Rent bikes from Open Air Bicycles and access the Cabrillo Beach Boulevard Bike Trail along Cabrillo Embankment Boulevard.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Renovations are complete and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is now better than ever. Within, this kid-friendly museum includes exhibits on local birds and mammals, gems and minerals, and fossils, every bit well as a planetarium and observatory. You'll also discover a few items said to have belonged to Juana María, who inspired the character of Karena in Isle of the Blue Dolphins. Exterior is the 'Museum Backyard,' which enchanted all of us– It's an outdoor trail with lots of nature playground features that are fun for kids and adults alike.

Source: Helena Avenue Baker

Helena Artery Baker

Our breakfasts each morning came from this incredible bakery in Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. Whether y'all relish a hot meal at the Helena Artery Baker or pick up pastries and picnic fixings to become, you lot actually shouldn't miss this place. We absolutely loved their cinnamon rolls and assorted pastries and I'one thousand eager to go back for light-green eggs and ham and avocado toast. YUM.

Source: SB Run a risk Company/Visit Santa Barbara

Channel Islands Kayak Tours

If you have older kids, you'll definitely want to experience the Channel Islands on a guided kayak tour. Known as 'the Galapagos Islands of North America," the Channel Islands consist of five volcanic islands 25 miles off the Santa Barbara declension. They're filled with plants and animals that can only exist found on those islands and the area is considered to be one of the all-time whale watching spots in the world! A guided kayak tour is the best way to explore the islands' sea grottos. You'll take a ferry to the islands, then board kayaks once you lot make it. The Santa Barbara Adventure Visitor is a pop option and tours oftentimes sell out, so exist sure and reserve your spots ahead of time. Kids ages five and up are welcome.

Source: Caroline Juen/Visit Santa Barbara

La Super-Rica Taqueria

When Julia Child retired in nearby Montecito years agone and proclaimed this restaurant to be her favorite, its reputation was made. To this day, locals and tourists alike line upward for tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, and tamales. You might have to wait up to an hour in line to place your order, but La Super-Rica'south devout following insists the food hither is worth the look! The price is definitely correct here for families — In a town where food tends to be pricy, the average adult tin can expect to spend about $8 for a repast.

Old Mission Santa Barbara

Just around the corner from the Museum of Natural History, you'll discover Old Mission Santa Barbara, a ca. 1820 stone church rich in history and ambiance. Built by Chumash Indians under the supervision of the Franciscans, the interior looks largely the same as information technology did in 1820 and the building is however in use weekly equally a Catholic church. It'southward gorgeous and definitely worth a expect. Outside, y'all'll find a cemetery containing both the graves of early on Californian settlers also the unmarked graves of Chumash Indians — Juana Maria is amidst those buried here. Don't exit without taking a look at the Air-conditioning Postel Memorial Rose Garden next door, which contains more than 1500 rose plants.

Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Located in Balboa Park, the massive Moreton Bay Fig Tree was originally a cutting brought over from Australia and planted in the garden of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Today, information technology is… Well, information technology's gigantic. You lot just accept to run into it for yourself. You'll find the tree on the corner of Montecito and Chapala Streets.

 

Arroyo Burro Canton Embankment Park

Besides known every bit Hendry's Embankment, Arroyo Burro Canton Beach Park is a public beach but five miles from Santa Barbara and it's a favorite with locals because of its make clean restrooms and showers, lifeguards in season, fascinating tidepools, and overall natural beauty. Locals say this is a great spot both for safe pond and for beginning surfers. Proceed a weekday if y'all can, when crowds are lightest.

Source: Blake Bronstad/Visit Santa Barbara

Encina Inn & Suites

Santa Barbara hotels tend to exist expensive. One popular and affordable option is the Best Western Encina Inn & Suites. Located on a quiet residential street filled with homes built a century ago, this picturesque hotel gets raves for its large, comfortable rooms, reasonable prices, and splendid customer service. Although its role of the Best Western chain, guests say it has a boutique hotel feel.

Chocolate Maya

We happened across this cozy little chocolate shop on West Gutierrez Street and went back for more the very next mean solar day. Using ethically sourced cocoa and techniques learned from the masters in Switzerland, Chocolate Maya creates exquisite truffles, bonbons and bars in all kinds of imaginative shapes and sizes. Only what we went crazy over was their dark chocolate hot cocoa, which comes in four unlike varieties and is every bit every bit rich and luxurious every bit it sounds.

Source: Cecilia Rosell/Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Zoo

Situated in the heart of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Zoo boasts more than 500 animals and spectacular sea views. In add-on to giraffes, elephants, leopards, and gorillas, y'all'll also find a zoo railroad train, live stage shows, a play area, and more than. Consider this a must-do if you're visiting the surface area with children.

Santa Barbara Courthouse and Clock Tower

For an unforgettable birds-eye look at the city, climb to the top of the clock tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. This Castilian-Colonial building was constructed in 1929 and is beautifully preserved within and out — and you can't trounce the panoramic views on the clock tower's balcony. The courthouse'south history is interesting besides — Complimentary tours are offered each day at 2pm (and weekdays at ten:30am) in the mural room on the second floor of the edifice.

Within the courthouse, you lot'll observe the Bisno Schall Clock Gallery, which contains the globe's largest model of a  weight-driven Seth Thomas belfry clock. Information technology was installed here in 1929 and remains in its original condition — Seeing how it works is really fascinating, particularly to kids. The gallery is open up to the public several days a week. While you lot're within, be sure and expect upwards at the ceiling, which depicts the exact constellations in the sky when Santa Barbara got its name back in 1602.

Source: Santa Barbara Trolley Co./Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Trolley Bout

Why deal with parking when you lot can get everywhere yous need to go in Santa Barbara on a narrated trolley tour? Bound on and off the trolley throughout the day, which includes stops at the Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History, the celebrated Santa Barbara Mission, Stearns Wharf, and more. Want an overview of the metropolis? Stay on the trolley for the entire tour, which takes virtually ninety minutes. Tickets for adults are $25 and each adult pass includes one free kid. Boosted child passes are $8.

Source: JessyLynn Perkins and Blake Bronstad/Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Public Market

Public markets are a family favorite, since we can ever discover something for anybody, and Santa Barbara has a cracking i. Located at the corner of 38 West Victoria Street and Chapala, the Santa Barbara Public Market place includes the uber-popularCorazón Cocina, which has creative and delicious (and messy!) tacos that locals line upwards for. Yous'll too find vendors here selling cupcakes, gourmet noodles, pizza, barbecue, water ice cream, and more than. Make sure you lot terminate hither on your Santa Barbara vacation at least once!

Source: David Collier/Visit Santa Barbara

Whale Watching on the Condor Express

Seeing whales in the wild is sort of a spiritual feel as far as I'm concerned– One time you've done it, you lot'll never forget it. The Condor Limited is a high-speed catamaran offering 2 1/2 hour whale watching cruises year round. The Santa Barbara Aqueduct is frequented by many whale species, including Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, and Orcas. The all-time time to come across whales is December through April during the Greyness Whale migration, but y'all tin can see whales at any fourth dimension of year. Cruises starting time at $fifty for adults, $thirty for children.

State Street

No holiday is consummate without souvenir shopping, and State Street is loaded with shops your entire family will dear. Stocked with thousands of board games, Game Seeker was a striking with everyone in my family. Hats Unlimited stocks pretty much every kind of chapeau you lot tin imagine and is a great spot for funny family photos. Antique Aisle is filled with thousands of vintage treasures including jewelry, habiliment, furniture, art, and more. Book lovers won't want to miss The Book Den, California's oldest used book store, which you'll find just off State Street on Anapamu Street. Here, you lot'll find 20,000 new and used titles to choose from.

Source: McConnell'southward Ice Foam

McConnell's Fine Water ice Creams

Open up since 1949, McConnells keeps it simple by making ice cream from scratch with no added preservatives — and I think you'll agree the results are very tasty. With inventive flavors similar blood orange, chocolate covered strawberries, and Turkish coffee, everyone in your family is certain to find the perfect scoop. McConnell'due south State Street location makes a perfect pit finish while you're out souvenir shopping.

Benchmark Eatery

We had a fun dinner at this casual State Street restaurant, which has a reasonably priced carte du jour with lots of options including salads, sandwiches, tacos, vegetarian dishes, and a kids carte du jour. Bonus points for the bendable sculpting sticks the kids were given when we arrived — They definitely kept them serenity and entertained while we waited for our food!

Source: Jay Sinclair/Santa Barbara CVB

Stearns Wharf

No visit to Santa Barbara is complete without a walk down Stearns Wharf. This wharf was built in 1872 and is the oldest working wood wharf in California. Here, y'all'll find restaurants, souvenir shops, a shellfish market, and a bait and tackle shop where you lot tin can rent fishing gear and get assist from employees reeling in your own catch on the wharf.  Wharf including 3 restaurants, a shellfish market, a bait and tackle shop, tourist oriented shops, a Aqueduct Islands showroom hall and the Museum of Natural History's Body of water Center.

Source: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Ocean Center

Located on Stearns Wharf, the Sea Center is a big striking with kids and their parents. Here, you tin pet sharks and starfish, view jellyfish, Decorator Crab, and octopus exhibits, try out oceanographic tools used by existent-life scientists, watch special programs, and collaborate with the enthusiastic and informative staff.

Source: Gabriela Herman/Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company

You'll find this love no-frills restaurant at the end of Stearn'due south Wharf, which features seasonal, local shellfish direct from the fishermen who hauled it in. In addition to the spectacular view and reasonably-priced menu, locals particularly love the restaurant'southward lobster bisque, rock crab, and California spiny lobster. The Santa Barbara Shellfish Company has been in the aforementioned location for 40 years, so you know it's gotta be good!

The Kimpton Goodland Hotel

Since Santa Barbara hotels tin be pricy, consider staying in nearby Goleta. Nosotros loved the Kimpton Goodland Hotel, which featured stylish surfside decor, clean and comfortable rooms, and impeccable customer service. We'd stay here once more in a heartbeat!

Santa Barbara Harbor

For gorgeous views, stroll through the Santa Barbara Harbor — This is a swell identify for lunch at one of the harbor'southward open up-air cafes. It's also a launch signal for lots of fun family activities, including sailing, stand up-up paddleboarding, kayaking, angling, renting a boat or jet ski, or going on a dusk or whale watching prowl.

Source: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Visitors absolutely love this interactive museum, which spotlights the region's maritime history through lots of fun and imaginative exhibits. Here, you tin can learn to enhance a sail, go on a simulated SCUBA dive, try sustainable fishing in a kelp forest, await at model ships, go a virtual tattoo, and more. Be sure to head upward to the 4th floor observation deck, which has amazing views of Santa Barbara and the harbor.

Source: Commemoration Cruises

Lil' Toot H2o Taxi

Kids and parents alike love taking the Lil' Toot Water Taxi between the Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf, especially at dusk. For $five per adult and $2 per child, this xv-minute narrated gunkhole ride is brusque enought to concord the attending of even the smallest child — and no advance reservations are needed. The water taxi departs every one-half-60 minutes and seats upwards to 19 people. Y'all tin purchase tickets online ahead of time if you like, or pay when you get there.

Milk & Dear

We loved this hip tapas bar on Anapamu Street, which has some items that are surprisingly kid-friendly. Nosotros gobbled up the seasoned kale fries, the Gambas tiger prawns and our kids went crazy for the Atomic number 82&J sliders (featuring basis sirloin, peanut butter, and raspberry jam!) and the 'I Like Pig Butts' bbq sliders — They were so pop, we had multiple orders of each! Add to this an innovative craft cocktail menu and you end upwardly with a restaurant the whole family unit can dear. Milk & Honey was definitely my favorite restaurant of our visit.

Source: Craig Moe/Flickr Artistic Eatables

Ellwood Bluffs

In Goleta, y'all'll detect the popularEllwood Bluffs trail — a 1.ii mile loop trail forth 80-pes cliffs that'due south kid friendly and includes spectacular coastal views plus lots of gorgeous wildflowers. Spend your fourth dimension atop the bluffs or accept one of the trails that atomic number 82 down to the beach. If you're visiting between November and February, you'll also want to brand fourth dimension to walk through the nearbyGoleta Butterfly Grove, a migration point for thousands of Monarch butterflies. Access to the grove is free.

Source: Jay Sinclair/Visit Santa Barbara

The Saturday Morning time Market

It doesn't become more local than a farmers market, which is why information technology's one of our favorite attractions when nosotros're on vacation. Santa Barbara's downtown farmers market happens every Sabbatum between viii:30am and 1pm at the corner of Santa Barbara and Cota Street. Here, yous'll find fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers, nuts, fresh milk, and more of the best local and regional farmers take to offer.

Kids Earth

You lot'll notice this viii,000 foursquare-pes playground in Santa Barbara's Alameda Park — Information technology'due south a peachy place to permit your kids burn off some energy and could also exist a great advantage after time spent shopping or touring a museum.

Although I received media accommodation for some of our activities, I researched and created my itinerary independently and all opinions/ recommendations are my ain.

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