Santa Barbara's nearby Santa Ynez Valley has a unique climate of warm temps + cool winds off the Pacific Ocean. It produces amazing Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. (Fun fact: the movie Sideways featured many scenes shot in towns in this region).

If you have a rental car, definitely take the 45 min drive through the winding hills of the Valley to nearby towns of Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, and Solvang. Our favorite wineries are Fess Parker, Demetria, and Sunstone. There are also pre-paid tours you can book that include transportation through Trip Advisor and other sites.

If you don't have a rental car or the time, check out the 25+ tasting rooms in downtown SB! Our favs are Paradise Springs, Melville, Margerum, Pali Wine Co, and Carr.

Discover Santa Barbara's culinary charm! From farm-to-table eateries to seaside seafood spots, SB is so much fun for foodies. Explore cozy cafes and bakeries, elegant restaurants, fantastic Mexican food, and much more. Some of our favorite spots for coffee and brunch are D'Angelo Bakery, Oat Bakery, Hook & Press Donuts, Dart Coffee and Jeannine's. For lunch, we love East Beach Tacos, La Super Rica, Buena Onda and Tamar. For dinner, we love Barbareño, Oku, Loquita, the Lark or La Paloma.

Make sure to check out Santa Barbara's iconic State Street! State is closed to traffic so you can stroll up and down the promenade, popping into cozy cafes, charming boutiques, and great bars and patios, perfect for people watching. We love sitting outside at Satellite. Downtown Santa Barbara is also home to historic landmarks such as the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, and the Arlington Theater.

A 12 min walk from State Street is the vibrant Funk Zone neighborhood. Even more good food, wine bars, breweries, art galleries, and shops can be found throughout this super walkable area! We love Dart Coffee Co. because across the street they have a beautiful garden for sitting.

Santa Barbara doesn't just have the beach, it has the mountains, too! So many hiking trails can be found throughout the Santa Barbara foothills, with paths through lush trails that often have panoramic views of the ocean or beautiful rivers and waterfalls. Some of the best hikes in the area include Saddleback Trail, Montecito Peak, Rattlesnake Canyon, and Lizard's Mouth. There are also many ranches with guided horseback riding available.

Santa Barbara is definitely best known for its beautiful beaches and laidback California surf culture. East Beach right near the Funk Zone and close to Stearns Wharf is a great spot to rent bikes and go for a leisurely ride along the picturesque coastline. At the top of Santa Barbara's "Mesa" is Shoreline Park, with stunning views of the Santa Barbara channel and a great spot for a picnic at sunset.

However, nothing beats just relaxing on the sand and taking a dip in the water (the Pacific is usually chilly but September is the warmest month temperature wise for swimming in the Ocean in SB!) Our favorite beaches near downtown are Leadbetter, Butterfly Beach, and Santa Claus Beach a little further south in Carpinteria.