Santa Barbara Airport is an easy 15-kilometers drive west of downtown. If you want to cruise along the waterfront, you’ll find a handful of bike rental shops down by Stearns Wharf. Local buses and downtown shuttles can whisk you around the city, with most departing from State Street. Getting around Santa Barbaraĭowntown Santa Barbara is pedestrian-friendly and ideal for getting around on foot. Just outside the city is Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, where you’ll find an oasis of Japanese tea gardens, wildflower meadows, towering redwood groves and other picturesque settings. With a mini train and plenty of grassy picnic spots, Santa Barbara Zoo is a firm favourite with families. While you’re at the waterfront, don’t miss Stearns Wharf, a historic wooden pier with an upbeat atmosphere. Need to cool off? Head to one of Santa Barbara’s golden beaches, such as the popular Arroyo Burro, a curving bay fringed by swaying palm trees. Arigato Sushi serves up the best California Rolls in town, while M8RX Nightclub is famous for its all night DJ sets. You’ll also find some of the city’s best restaurants and nightclubs clustered along the strip. State Street serves as Santa Barbara’s main drag, lined with an appealing mix of cafes, bookshops, and boutiques. The 18th-century Mission Santa Barbara is one of the best examples of the Spanish Revival style, set in lush gardens with sweeping ocean views. With red-tiled roofs and whitewashed stucco walls, Santa Barbara’s architecture is a definite highlight. It’s perched on gentle hills that slope down to the sparkling Pacific Ocean, which means you can explore the city’s historic attractions or cool off on a palm-fringed beach. Dotted with Spanish Revival buildings and historic pier, Santa Barbara is a picturesque place to soak up the Southern Californian sunshine.

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