Santa Barbara offers escape and relaxation, along with opportunities to contemplate the ocean, mountains, and engaging vistas, and to explore a bit of history and humankind’s relationship to coastal ecology. The area offers a multitude of activities for active and passive vacationers: everything from swimming, boating, hiking, and sports fishing to the more exotic jet skiing, kayaking, whale-watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, and more. Or you can select your beach lounge chair, watch the scenery, and relax Santa Barbara-style. Santa Barbara enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate that is generally mild and sunny all 12 months of the year, with relatively stable temperatures; there is no real “off-season.”

The self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour, which is bounded by Victoria, Chapala, Ortega and Santa Barbara streets, touches many of the city's landmarks. Of special interest is the County Courthouse (1100 Anacapa Street), an architectural masterpiece completed in 1929. The Spanish-Moorish structure features tropical gardens and lush lawns. In addition, historic adobes and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park (123 E. Canon Perdido Street; 805-966-9719) are snapshot-worthy. Hop aboard the Downtown Waterfront Trolley, which cruises the length of the Red Tile district for just 25 cents, or rent a whimsical quadricycle on State Street or Cabrillo Blvd.
     Santa Barbara's historic Stearns Wharf features the Sea Center (Stearns Wharf; 805-962-0885), with live displays and touch tanks, and the Arts and Craft Show (Sundays; along Cabrillo Blvd.).  From Stearns Wharf you will see a multitude of sailboats and fishing boats in and about the nearby Santa Barbara Harbor. A centerpiece at the Harbor is the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (805-962-8404). This wonderful seaside museum features ship models, historic exhibits and floating exhibits.
     If you're in search of a garden spot, there's a place for you. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission Canyon Rd; 805-682-4726) offers trails that wind through canyon, desert and other settings. Discover a variety of delectable items and much more when you visit the Farmers Market (Tuesdays; 500 and 600 blocks of State Street; and Saturdays; between Santa Barbara and Cota streets; 805-962-5354).
     One of Santa Barbara's treasures, the Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St.; 805-682-4713) was founded in 1786. Its unique stone facade, which was copied from an ancient Roman book on architecture, has made the mission a popular subject for photographers. Rooms filled with artifacts and an old cemetery are open for exploration.
     The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.; 805-963-4364) is known for innovative exhibitions and an unforgettable permanent collection, plus education programs for kids of all ages. Marvel at Greek and Roman antiquities, as well and works from nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American, French and English artists.

Keeping children happily occupied is easy in Santa Barbara. You can choose from the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (500 Ninos Drive; 805-963-5339), with sea lions, elephants, giraffes and more; the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol Rd.; 805-682-4711); and Kid's World (Alameda Park, Micheltorena and Garden streets), a community-designed, community-build playground. Santa Barbara's historic Stearns Wharf features the Sea Center (Stearns Wharf; 805-962-0885), with live displays and touch tanks.

Santa Barbara just wouldn't be Santa Barbara without the beach and the ocean. Thanks to the temperate climate, you can enjoy the outdoors most of the year. Its a great feeling to think about the rest of the country in the dead of winter, while you're playing on the beach in shorts, T-shirts and bathing suites. East Beach (E. Cabrillo Blvd) is the large stretch of sand along Chase Palm Park to the east of Stearns Wharf. It's often acclaimed in various magazines as one of the best beaches in the nation. There are places for picnics, volleyball, showers, a playground and a beach side grill. West Beach (W. Cabrillo Blvd)  is directly west of Stearns Wharf and also next to the Santa Barbara Harbor. You can rent a kayak just a block from here on State Street and spend the day paddling the coast. There are nearby playgrounds and a kids swimming pool during the summer.  Leadbetter Beach (Shoreline Dr at Loma Alta Dr) is a fantastic family beach just west of the Santa Barbara Harbor. The waves are usually calm, there are great picnic facilities with barbeques in addition to restrooms and showers. The center piece of this beach is the Shoreline Beach Cafe where you can sit at tables with your toes in the sand! Butterfly Beach (in nearby Montecito at Olive Mill Rd) lies across the street from the posh Biltmore Hotel. If you're hoping to run into celebrities, you have a fairly good chance here and we recommend you do your best to leave them alone! There are no facilities here, but it is a nice beach for swimming and sunbathing and at low tide you can take a great walk to East Beach

Less than an hour from Santa Barbara, in the Santa Ynez Valley, lies Santa Barbara’s wine country. For a great introduction to wine tasting in this area, try the Foxen Canyon Trail. Take Highway 101 north about 30 minutes past Santa Barbara. You will reach an overpass for Highway 154 where you exit the 101. Turn right and you will quickly see Foxen Canyon Road on your left. You will encounter a series of fabulous wineries in the following order: Firestone Vineyard (5000 Zaca Station Rd; 805-688-3940; open 10-5), Curtis Winery (5249 Foxen Canyon Rd; 805-686-8999; open 10-5), Fess Parker Winery (6200 Foxen Canyon Rd; 805-688-1545; open 10-5), Zaca Mesa Winery (6905 Foxen Canyon Rd; 805-688-9339).
     From here, it's a bit of a stretch to Alisos Canyon Road, which you will come upon quickly. Turn left here to go to the next winery. Bedford Thompson Winery (9303 Alisos Canyon Rd; 805-344-2107; open 10-5).
     Return to Foxen Canyon Road and turn left. Follow the road several miles until you come upon Foxen (quickly - it's very rustic and easy to miss). Foxen Winery (7200 Foxen Canyon Rd; 805-937-4251; open 12-4).
   Continue on Foxen Canyon until the road comes upon a field and jogs sharply to the left. The entrance to Rancho Sisquoc is next. Their driveway is long and narrow so be careful when driving down it. Don't bring a bus or awkward vehicle down here - the road's not wide enough. Rancho Sisquoc (6600 Foxen Canyon Rd; 805-934-4332; open 10-4), Byron Vineyard (5230 Tepusquet Canyon Rd; 805-937-7288; 10-4 daily Nov-Mar; 10-5 daily Apr- Oct), Cambria Winery (5475 Chardonnay Lane; 805-937-8091; open 10-5 weekends and holidays).
     When leaving you will need to return to Foxen Canyon Road and continue until you reach Dominion. We missed it entirely the first time so watch out. Cotton Canyon is open later than the others so they will be expecting you! Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard (3940 Dominion Rd; 805-937-9063; open 10:30-5:30).

For activity of a more participatory kind, hiking and bike trail maps are available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (1 Garden Street; 805-965-3021). Bikes and in-line skates are available for rent at Beach Rentals (22 State Street; 805-966-6733). If you’d rather travel by four-legged friend, call the people at Circle Bar B Riding Stables who arrange all kinds of rides, including sunset and sunrise, English- or Western-style excursions. You can hit the seas with Sunset Kidd Sailing Charters (at the breakwater; 805-962-8222), which offers day tours, seasonal whale watches, and Sunset Cruises on a 41-foot Morgan. The Condor (board at Sea Landing at the harbor, 888-77WHALE or 805-882-0088), operated through the Natural History Museum, is an 88-foot boat that offers educational trips with knowledgeable volunteers (during the months of February, March and April only). For the more adventurous, Truth Aquatics (Sea Landing at the harbor; 805-962-1127) offers Channel Island trips including kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and hiking. The easiest way to Kayak in Santa Barbara is to go to Santa Barbara Adventure Company or, Captain Jacks Santa Barbara Tours or Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara.

Most of the nightlife scene is centered in Old Town Santa Barbara, particularly on State Street. Q’s (409 State Street) and Velvet Jones (423 State St) are great for dancing to the latest sounds. Enjoy live music at SoHo (1221 State St) which changes nightly, from jazz, blues, dance, funk, and reggae to Eastern European traditional folk. To many people, State Street begins at none other than Joe’s Café (536 State St) with their generously strong drinks. Also on State Street is the sports bar O’Malleys (523 State St). A more sophisticated crown is drawn to the bar scene and upstairs lounge at Blue Agave (20 E. Cota St) and The James Joyce (513 State St). During warmer months the Santa Barbara Bowl (805-962-7411), an outdoor arena set into the local foothills, attracts all the major concert tours.

Santa Barbara hosts a variety of restaurant and dining options to please your palate. From the exotic to the ordinary, a large selection of cuisines cater to every taste. Seafood lovers should be sure to stop at Brophy Bros (Breakwater at the Harbor; 805-966-4418) and dine on the balcony overlooking the Santa Barbara Harbor. Cajun cuisine connoisseurs might look no further than The Palace (8 East Cota St; 805-963-5000). The award for finest Sushi on State Street might have to go to  Arigato (1225 State St; 805-965-6074). Inexpensive, stunning decor and incredible edible Italian lunch and dinners is just the beginning of the story about Santa Barbara's very own Pascucci (729 State St; 805-963-8123). 
     And then there is Cold Spring Tavern (5995 Stagecoach Rd; 805-967-0066), considered one of Santa Barbara's precious jewels and always a great source for drinks and steaks. Over one hundred years ago, dusty stagecoaches would stop by at what was then known as "Cold Spring Relay Station" to change teams of horses and allow travelers to rest at this stagecoach stop and enjoy one of the most delicious meals in the Old West.  Though the stagecoaches are gone, replaced, perhaps, by a BMW or a Harley-Davidson, the rustic setting is virtually unchanged in a century.
     For Mexican food lovers, Santa Barbara has many, many fine authentic restaurants to choose from. It is part of the local heritage. But only one has gained world-wide fame and been crowned best in the nation by the New York Times and celebrity chef Julia Childs. We are, of course, referring to La Super Rica Taqueria (622 North Milpas St; 805-963-4940). There is no sign on the building so you'll need to look for the green roof or perhaps the line of hungry fans outside. The food speaks for itself and is accompanied by the trademark tortillas, made fresh from scratch at the time you order.
   Last, but not least, be sure to check out the Best of Santa Barbara Dining.

Santa Barbara’s shopping is excellent and State Street is considered the main shopping area. There are specialty stores and boutiques in historic El Paseo (State Street, above De La Guerra Street) and La Arcada (State Street, above Figuroa Street) and the beautiful modern mall Paseo Nuevo (State Street at De La Guerra Street) which includes Nordstom’s and Macy’s. Minutes further north is La Cumbre Plaza (Highway 101 north, turn left at La Cumbre Rd) is anchored by Robinsons-May and Sears. 15 minutes north of downtown Santa Barbara is the Camino Real Marketplace (Highway 101 north, turn left at Storke Rd) which is anchored by Costco, Home Depot, Staples and CompuUSA. If you don't mind driving 45 minutes south of Santa Barbara to the city of Camarillo, you will find the largest mall in our area: the Camarillo Premium Outlets with acres and acres of every store imaginable.

Start your day with breakfast at one of the restaurants on the beach or at Stearns Wharf, overlooking the ocean. Visit the Sea Center, then rent a bike or rollerblades or just take a stroll along the waterfront. You can visit the zoo or stop in at the historic Biltmore (now the Four Seasons Biltmore). Walk or take the trolley along State Street, browsing the shops, restaurants, and historic buildings at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, and the Courthouse. After lunch, visit the natural history museum and the Old Mission, then travel on up to the Botanical Garden. Return to Stearns Wharf in time for sunset, then spend the evening dining, enjoying live music, or taking another stroll along the beach in the beautiful night air.

Several thousand years ago the Chumash Indians settled here. In the 1500s the Spanish explored the region, but they didn’t settle until 1782. Forty years later this land became part of Mexico when it won independence from Spain. The 1848 discovery of gold in California brought thousands of settlers, and by 1850 the American flag flew over Santa Barbara. In the 1870s Santa Barbara became a haven for health-seekers and tourists.

Whether you’re a Santa Barbara local, or a visitor arriving by train, plane, or car, Santa Barbara offers a menu of special car free opportunities. Walk out on the wharf, around the harbor, or up State Street to shop and dine – and hop on the 25-cent electric shuttle anywhere along the way. Rent a bike and ride it along the waterfront on a beautiful off-road bike path. Or try for a more ambitious ride on another scenic bike path. Rent a kayak and paddle it around the harbor. Take a boat trip out to see whales in the Santa Barbara Channel – or try a sunset cruise along the coast. Charter a fishing boat. Take a water taxi. Tour and taste in wine country as you relax and let someone else do the driving. For more information, go to the Santa Barbara Car Free website - www.SantaBarbaraCarFree.org