Top 5 Free Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Many celebrities call Santa Barbara home, and there’s a video that’s been making the rounds recently where some of those celebrities talk about why they love Santa Barbara. But what about me? Why do I love Santa Barbara? Many of what the celebs mention isn’t the high-profile attractions, but the lifestyle that they are able to have here. That is what I love about Santa Barbara too. The natural beauty of the ocean and mountains, the lovely weather, and a beautiful city creates a place that you don’t have to go to any place to feel content. Simply sitting in a lounge chair in the backyard, looking at the beautiful mountains and trees while sipping lemonade feels right.
Having said that I do feel guilty for not taking advantage of some of the great amenities we have at our disposal here. I am going to skip the obvious must-dos and let you in on 5 of our local favorites — and most of them are completely free!
1. Visit Farmer’s markets
There is a farmers market each day of the week here, year-round. Some are small, and when I say small these are bigger than most weekly farmers’ markets. Santa Barbara is in right next to some great agricultural lands and there is a large population of healthy-minded people so there is such variety at the markets. Organic produce, custom-crafted cheeses, and grain-fed beef in addition to rows of beautiful flowers and fresh fruit. Amid these booths are musicians, balloon sculptors, and people petitioning for all kinds of causes. It is always a great and entertaining time.
2. Go to the beach & see the tide pools
Santa Barbara has many beaches and each one has pros and cons. Some have wide-open sand with volleyball courts and boat rentals. East Beach near downtown Santa Barbara is a great example of this type of beach. Others have cliff-lined coves with gentle point break waves rolling in, like Refugio Beach. The ones that have become favorites of ours and especially as our kids are getting a bit older are the ones with tide pools. Campus Point, in particular, is a favorite of ours. .There is a lot of sea life here and a strong marine biology presence because of that. National Geographic and the BBC are often is here filming whales, dolphins and other sea life. We stroll along the rocks and observe sea stars, sea urchins, crabs, and a myriad of other small sea life. We often see dolphins playing in the surf and have once spotted a whale making it’s way up the coast. The kids collect rocks and shells and my sister usually finds a piece or two of sea glass to add to her jar.
3. Visit Parks
There are so many parks in Santa Barbara. It is really amazing. Parks that have playground equipment, some that are just rocks, some with fields and bike tracks. We have come to like a few in particular, but Kids World, Alameda Park is at the top of the list. It is a huge park with older style wooden playground equipment right in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. The kids love the wooden equipment, it looks a bit like an old castle, tire swing, and the huge whale and shark sculpture. It is also across the street from Alice Keck Park which is a stunning botanical garden. There is a pond with loads of turtles, ducks, and cranes. The small trails and “secret” passages keep the kid’s imaginations running wild while the beauty of the trees and plants keep mine in awe.
4. Concerts in the park
We haven’t been to this series in a while, but it is well worth a visit. Each Thursday evening during the summer the city hosts a free concert series in a park right across from the ocean. The artists are all usually remarkably good. The park is lovely and very one brings a picnic dinner, and wine although not technically allowed, to eat as the music plays and the sun begins to set. Hard to beat sitting on the manicured grass, listening to good music, eating a picnic, and watching the sunset through the palm trees with the Pacific behind them.
5. Hike to 7 Falls & Inspiration Point
One thing that makes Santa Barbara so unique is the combination of mountains and ocean. The foothills that line the city on one side have some excellent hiking trails. One of my favorites is the 7 falls hike. It is a fairly easy hike that winds up the hills and into the trees. It crisscrosses several streams until finally crossing at 7 falls. A spot where you can actually sit in the water and slide down 7 small waterfalls. The hike continues on quite a while to the top of the mountain to Inspiration Point where you can see the whole panorama of the city mountains and ocean. It is breathtaking.
Final Word
Even as I write this list I am reminded of the hundred other things I am not including, like the zoo or aquarium, the great restaurants, performing arts, shopping, wine tasting, nightlife…on and on…Santa Barbara is truly remarkable. Look for our post 50 things to do in Santa Barbara coming soon. No wonder we always end up back here and why we usually end up extending our time. As one famous Santa Barbarian put it “Ocean washed, mountain guarded, island girded. Sunny sun-kissed Santa Barbara enjoys the most equitable year-round climate of any place in the world.” Harold Chase, I happen to agree.
Free Santa Barbara Resources
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Santa Barbara – 2020… – Tripadvisor
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Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Santa Barbara, California on Tripadvisor: See 31,676 traveler reviews and photos of Santa Barbara tourist attractions. We have reviews of the best places to see in Santa Barbara. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
20 Best Free Things to Do in Santa Barbara, CA Year-Round
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Santa Barbara, California offers a number of free things to do for visitors of any age, such as beaches, parks, and museums. For those who love the outdoors, the many parks and beaches are certainly highlights of the area, such as the popular Santa Claus Beach or Alameda Park with its…
10 Best Free Things to Do in Santa Barbara, CA – USA TODAY 10Best
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Recommended for Free Things to Do because Santa Claus Beach is where the locals go to have a budget-friendly good time. Recommended for Free Things to Do Because There’s no better place to get a view of Santa Barbara than from the top of the Courthouse clock tower.
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The Santa Barbara County Courthouse epitomizes the Spanish-Moorish architecture that is found across the city. Completed in 1929, the complex Santa Barbara’s most famous avenue, State Street cuts through downtown and leads right onto Stearns Wharf. It’s nearly impossible to miss it…
Things to Do in Santa Barbara | Activities, Attractions and More
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Plan your next getaway to Santa Barbara. Here you’ll find plenty of information about things to do in Santa Barbara—whether you want to relax on the beach, stroll through the city’s eclectic shops and boutiques, or figure out which winery you’re going to try first.
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The bread bowl at Santa Barbara Shellfish Company is probably the closest you’ll get to the real New England deal without a plane ticket, and while you’re there, you can watch the sailboats set sail and wish you were on one… except then, you wouldn’t The best way to do Santa Barbara is on a whim!
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Fun things to do in and around Santa Barbara for a day.A great way to get acquainted with Santa Santa Barbara is within easy day-trip distance from Los Angeles. If you are planning on making the journey get an early start because there are plenty of things to do in this beautiful coastal city.
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Discover the best things to do when you visit beautiful Santa Barbara, California including scenic State Street, Santa Barbara’s main street is also its busiest shopping area. Shops are not as You can find a map on the Santa Barbara Car Free website and a podcast audio tour on the city visitor…
10 things to do in Santa Barbara | The Independent
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Within easy reach of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a picture-perfect seaside city, with a temperature that rarely dips below the mythical Southern, Don’t leave this seaside town without experiencing its main draw: the Pacific Ocean ( iStock ). 10 things to do in Santa Barbara. It has some of SoCal’s…
10 Free Things To Do Around UC Santa Barbara – Society19
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Hey, Gauchos! Whether you’re an incoming student or a continuing student, we can all agree that college is expensive and we definitely don’t have the funds to be going out and spending crazy amounts of money any time we want to have a fun time. So how can you have fun without having to pay?
The Top 10 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
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The nearby Santa Ynez Mountains make for a picturesque backdrop. They are also the source of the warm, or sometimes even hot, winds that blow in occasionally. Many of Goleta’s residents commute to Santa Barbara to work at a variety of companies or at the University of California Santa Barbara.
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Santa Barbara may be perceived as one of California’s pricier destinations. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a pristine example of Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture. As docents take you around on a free tour, check out the mosaic work and the painted murals depicting California history.
THE 5 BEST Things to Do in Santa Barbara – 2020… – Tripadvisor
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Santa Barbara with Kids: 10 Top Things to Do | PlanetWare
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Soaked in year-round sunshine, Santa Barbara is a wonderland for wiggly kids. Nature scores top billing here, and children of all ages will find a range of One of the most popular tourist attractions in Santa Barbara is also one of the most fun for families with kids. When the weather is fine, which is…
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Santa Barbara – Things to Do
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The Santa Barbara Golf Club is a public18-hole par 70 course that includes a practice putting green and driving range; pro shop; lessons; cart and club rentals; and a restaurant/bar. SBGC is conveniently located between downtown Santa Barbara and Goleta, easily accessible from the 101 freeway.
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Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Wondering what to do in Santa Barbara with kids? When you land in Geneva make sure to pick up your free transport ticket in the luggage collection area, from the machine. It gives you 80 minutes’ worth of travel from arrival until you get to your hotel or…
5 BEST Neighborhoods and Areas in Santa Barbara (2020 Guide)
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Back in Santa Barbara, a once-industrial area called the “Funk Zone” has transformed into a walkable neighborhood full of art galleries and nearly 20 Finish the day with a two-hour sunset cruise aboard the Double Dolphin sailboat. You’ll get views of the Santa Barbara coastline and have a chance to…
5 Things to Do in Santa Barbara
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Things to Do in Santa Barbara – 2 Days In Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara County is known for producing delicious wines from Santa Ynez Valley to the downtown wineries located in Santa Barbara. I hope this article has given you a good feel for all the things to do in Santa Barbara. It is such a beautiful and unique city in California.
Top 10 Things To Do in Santa Barbara Downtown – Trip-N-Travel
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The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, one of the finest art museums. It is the house to nationally recognized collections which are of International value. Discover the underground salt caves in Santa Barbara. There are two salt caves, offering various sessions. Take part in these sessions and feel…
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www.thecrazytourist.com/top-15-things-santa-ana-ca
The city of Santa Ana in Orange County, California is a beautiful city that is located next to the Santa Ana River and just ten miles from the Californian coast. The city itself is very densely populated, with the downtown area being the main arts and entertainment hub. Let’s take a look at the best things to…
Outdoor Adventures & Things to Do in Santa Barbara, CA
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Explore popular outdoor experiences in Santa Barbara, CA such as camping, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, skiing, surfing, trail running & more! Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara is the northernmost gate of the Southern California Kingdom.