Best things to do in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Essentials

Santa Barbara, known as the 'American Riviera,' showcases a distinct blend of Spanish Colonial history and coastal beauty. Highlights include the 1786 Mission Santa Barbara and the 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse with its panoramic clock tower views. Along the waterfront, Stearns Wharf offers dining on California's oldest working pier, while the Santa Barbara Harbor serves as a hub for sailing and maritime history. Nature and culture meet at the 30-acre seaside zoo, the botanical Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, and the downtown Museum of Art.