If enjoying idyllic beaches is what you have in mind, California, with its small town of Santa Barbara, can be an ideal place. Surrounded by spectacular mountains, a turquoise ocean, stunning scenery, and sunny weather all year round, the island of Santa Barbara becomes a wonderful place to visit.
The island is home to hundreds of artists, winemakers, chefs, and breweries who constantly seek to create something different; Santa Barbara is a point of convergence for culture. From the wine route, with 22 tasting rooms, and the safest beach in the world to a pier where the best seafood is served, this city is a range of opportunities. You can relax in the paradisiacal Butterfly Beach in Montecito, or kayak the caves of the Channel Island.
Located 150 kilometers north of Los Angeles, at the foot of the Santa Ynez mountains, Santa Barbara offers beautiful beaches, but that’s not it. Santa Barbara is more than a charming city of low houses next to a paradisiacal beach surrounded by palm trees. In Santa Barbara, you will also find a city whose architecture has great similarities to the Spanish colonial style that you can enjoy with your family.
What to do on the island of Santa Barbara?
The historical center of Santa Barbara, with its characteristic palm trees, its cobblestones and old buildings, is the place where you can find shops, artistic and cultural options, and it is also an important gastronomic center, with international restaurants.
Two characteristic places to visit are the Old Spanish Presidio, a Spanish Fortress rebuilt in the center of Santa Barbara, and the Mission of Santa Barbara, built at the end of the 18th century. This beautiful building of colonial architecture conserves its interior intact since 1820.
State Street, 6 blocks from the beach, is where nightlife is, with bars and nightclubs for all tastes. Santa Barbara is also an ideal place for those who practice golf, since the climate of the city allows this sport to be done at any time of the year, and the golf courses are located very close to the city.
For the wine fanatics, less than an hour of driving takes you to the Valley of Santa Ynez, whose vineyard farms can be visited, and they offer tastings. Nearby there is Solvang, a Danish village that can not be missed because of its picturesque architecture and its typical restaurants and shops.
You can also go up to the Mirador, which is what the clock tower is called, and after overcoming its 82 steps, you will have one of the best views of the city of Santa Barbara. You can take a boat cruise to see whales in the natural landscapes of the Channel Islands, or get close to the curious Danish town of Solvang.
Beautiful beaches
The main attraction of Santa Barbara is its beautiful and wide beaches bordered by rows of palm trees and impeccably maintained parks. It looks like the beautiful Santa Monica beach in North Los Angeles, but without congestion, traffic or environmental pollution. They also have a long pier with restaurants, businesses and excellent amusement parks for the enjoyment of all visitors.
Towards the north and south of downtown Santa Barbara, there are many narrower beaches, ideal for surfing, like Punto Rincón, estimated as the best place to surf throughout California.
In the port of Santa Barbara, you can rent kayaks or sailing boats, where you can take whale-watching cruises, boats for fishing trips or excursions to the natural reserves of the Channel Islands.
With all these wonders, Santa Barbara Island is undoubtedly a paradisiacal place full of culture and incredible views that allow tourists to have an unforgettable stay.
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