Sarah WallockHere I’ll describe 3 of my favorite ways to spend the day in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. Much of that has to do with tacos, picnicking, and being by the beach. I was born and raised in SB. Since growing up here, I’ve returned to spend a few weeks with my family ever year.
Morning
Eat
To start the day, there are tons of great brunch options in Santa Barbara. I always perk up when my family wants to grab something out. Many people’s favorite brunch spot has to be Jeannine’s. They have good coffee and classic egg dishes and pancakes. If you want something more fruity or light, head to Backyard Bowls, take it to-go and enjoy at the beach.
See
One of the most beautiful buildings in SB has to be the courthouse. Every time I have a visitor, I take them to the top of the clocktower for 360 degree views of the city, beach and mountains. This is a fun, free, and easy activity. It also gives you a neat perspective on the layout of Santa Barbara. On any given day the courthouse will have people having picnics, weddings, or kids running around the grass in the sunken gardens.
In the summers, one of my favorite activities is the free summer movie series. This was canceled due to Covid, but make sure to check back for it in the future. Hundreds of people attend. Each group brings a picnic blanket, chairs, food and drinks and watches an outdoor movie in the park. Truly a SB tradition!
Play
Hike to Inspiration Point for panoramic views of the city and ocean. Inspiration Point is a dynamic trail with plenty of switchbacks and sunny sections. Get up here early to avoid the heat and the crowds and the lack of solid parking options.
The hike begins with an incline following a road then transitions to a trail. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with an incredible vantage point of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean.
If you’re feeling inclined, make it a trail run, straight up and then straight down. Reward yourself with one of the delicious taco options below.
Afternoon
Eat
You can’t come to Santa Barbara without getting tacos.
I love both Mony’s and Corazon Cocina for different reasons. Mony’s is a classic taqueria with $2.75 tacos filled with different meats, fish options, veggies, and flavor combos. They are street tacos and simply light and delicious. Their salsa bar is the selling point.
Corazon has a smaller selection of tacos and dishes but is a little more upscale with larger portions. Their creations are absolutely incredible and the tacos are a heftier size. Corazon is located in the SB Public Market, so there’s lots of options for post-taco snacks all around it. You can also call it in and take it to-go for a picnic.
I could barely resist and I went to both within 3 days of being back home…
See
A great way to spend the afternoon in SB is to take a long stroll along the beachfront downtown or cruising by the shops on State Street. The beachfront near the Pier is an especially popular spot and a lovely place for a walk. There is a significant stretch of coastline so there is lots to see.
Play
My number one favorite thing to do in Santa Barbara is visit the “off-leash” section of Hendry’s beach. Can you picture anything more idyllic than sand, sunshine, ocean, an abundance of dogs running free, and a stunning view? It’s pretty epic. Sometimes I go down there for a walk or sit and read a book.
The best part of sitting down and relaxing is the amount of dogs that will come over and give you a cuddle. Why go to any other beach when you could visit a dog beach?
Night
Eat
If I could only have one meal before I died, it would have to be Los Agaves or their newer upscale sister restaurant Santo Mezcal. Los Agaves is a SB staple of Mexican food, delicious guac, and unreal shrimp tacos. It has a family friendly vibe and transports well as the perfect picnic food.
I had the pleasure of visiting the more touristy and modern Santo Mezcal during this visit home and tasting some of the mezcal offerings. They have an entire menu dedicated to interesting mezcal and tequila based drinks and of course, margs. You won’t go wrong with dining at either of these amazing restaurants.
See
Hit up the Santa Barbara Bowl for energetic live music, in a stunning outdoor venue overlooking the ocean. This medium sized 4,500 person venue attracts some of the most famous artists in the world.
Just a few of the acts I’ve seen include: Katy Perry (from Santa Barbara), Lorde, Head and the Heart, Alt-J, Hippocampus, and more.
Play
A lovely way to spend the end of the day in Santa Barbara is to walk along the Breakwater at light and watch the city lights twinkle. I love walking along the ocean and hearing the waves crash. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
There are so many ways to spend the day in Santa Barbara!
