Vacation in California: Beaches and attractions – The best tips for Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara actually owes its name to a saint. A mission building in California was dedicated to the young woman, who, according to tradition, was beheaded by her father because she did not want to give up her Christian faith.

From this building developed the city, which today is one of the most prosperous in the USA.

It was the Spaniards who settled the area around 400 years ago – and it was they who founded the mission on December 4, 1786. The building of the Spanish Franciscans is today one of the most important sights in Santa Barbara. The complex includes a church, a museum and a mausoleum. “The Mission” is still home to Franciscans today.

Tours on your own or with a guide are worthwhile. See original furniture, paintings, Franciscan objects, living quarters, the church, cemetery and gardens, and feel the special atmosphere of the mission (address: 2201 Laguna Street).

City of Celebrities

The Californian city of Santa Barbara is located on the Pacific Ocean, about 130 kilometers northwest of Los Angeles. In the hinterland are the mountains of the Santa Ynez Mountains, in front of the door some miles of beaches. Many of the houses have red tiled roofs and are built in a Spanish-style. In addition, there is the pleasant Mediterranean climate and the vegetation with palm trees and pines (and grapevines). No wonder Santa Barbara is also popular with celebrities. Stars like the Depeche Mode singer Martin Gore, the singer Katy Perry or the actress Gwyneth Paltrow live or lived here.

Beaches near Santa Barbara

Tourists come to the city mainly for the beaches. A few examples: Carpinteria State Beach is twelve miles outside of Santa Barbara, and there is also a campground on the site. El Capitan State Beach (Hwy 101, exit signposted) has fine sand, is lined with oak and sycamore trees, and has a campground and picnic area. Finally, Gaviota State Park is about 33 miles west of Santa Barbara on Highway 101. An impressive railroad bridge, more like a fragile structure, is a focal point of this beach, which is one of the most popular in the region.

Historical landmarks in Santa Barbara

There are many more beaches and parks where bathers, paragliders and nature lovers get their money’s worth. And of course there are plenty of other attractions in Santa Barbara. Museums such as the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Historical Society Museum and the Natural History Museum near the mission. This also includes the impressive court house in the center, whose 26 meter high bell tower you should climb to enjoy a wide view over the city. And finally the Royal Fort Presidio Real de Santa Barbara from 1782, now used as a museum.

Trolley tour

But the modern areas of Santa Barbara are at least as exciting. State Street, for example, is the main shopping street where you can buy high-end fashion and sportswear. There are also many street cafes. If you want to get to know the city, you should take a tour with the trolley, a comfortable bus. Passing by many landmarks and passing through charming areas such as the Mexican Quarter, wealthy Montecito and the Funk Zone east of State Street, you will be told many anecdotes and information about Santa Barbara. You also learn about the Danish settlement of Solvang near Santa Barbara.

The trolley stops at many attractions and you can hop on and off on one of the next trolleys. The cars drive to the stops every 60 minutes.

Getting there

The best way to get to Santa Barbara is by car from Los Angeles on Highway 1. There is also a regional airport about 20 miles west of the city. Buses also operate from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) . The journey time is around 2 hours 15 minutes.

Note: Important note: Information on entry requirements and the current corona situation in the USA can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.