Travel Guide
Move Over LA! This California Destination Has Beautiful Beaches & Rich History
Oct
Last Updated
Beautiful seashores, fascinating native and Spanish colonial historical past, and over 300 days of sunshine a 12 months.
These are simply a few of the the reason why Santa Barbara needs to be in your journey radar.
And I’m not the one one who thinks so.
Expedia has revealed its 2025 journey development report, and certainly one of its rising traits is the vacation spot dupe.
And Santa Barbara made the checklist!
Destination dupes are all the fashion.
And whereas I would now be a fan of the tacky catchphrase, I do like the concept of getting off the overwhelmed path and exploring someplace rather less apparent.
With that in thoughts, right here’s why Santa Barbara is the proper dupe for LA.
Visiting Santa Barbara In the Fall And Winter
Santa Barbara is somewhat beneath 100 miles away from Los Angeles, and you’ll drive between the 2 locations in about an hour and a half.
But regardless of their proximity, the 2 locations are miles aside.
Santa Barbara has a way more relaxed and laid-back vibe.
With its broad sandy seashores, it isn’t a spot to see and be seen however a spot to unwind and discover peace.
Because of its seashores, you’d be forgiven for considering that Santa Barbara is a summertime vacation spot.
And that is actually when town is at its busiest.
But the shoulder season of fall remains to be a good time to go to for lengthy, lazy days on the seashore with out the crowds.
Why not rent kayaks to discover the harbor and bay from a special approach?
You can lease a single kayak from the Paddle Board Center in Santa Barbara Harbor for $25 per hour or $55 for the whole day.
Though the climate could also be cooler in the winter, Santa Barbara boasts over 300 days of sunshine a 12 months, so you may nonetheless be capable to absorb that very important vitamin D in your break.
November to April is one of the best time of 12 months to go to Santa Barbara for its famend whale watching.
Condor Express Whale Watching is taken into account one of the best tour operator within the space.
During fall and winter, you’ll be able to take a 4.5-hour “open channel” journey in the hunt for humpback, blue, and fin whales.
You’ll additionally hunt for a few of the most various array of marine life on the West Coast.
These 4.5-hour journeys cost $125 per adult and $75 for children.
The Best Beaches In Santa Barbara
Choosing one of the best seashores in Santa Barbara is tough work since you’re so spoiled for selection.
Butterfly Beach is an easy and laid-back seashore common with locals.
The ocean is calmer right here, so it’s an incredible selection for swimming or stand-up paddleboarding.
For a broad sandy seashore packed filled with services, strive Leadbetter Beach.
The seashore is fringed by a park, making it a well-liked selection for these on the lookout for one of the best of two pure worlds.
It has nice services and offshore winds that are perfect for kite browsing.
Finally, in the event you’re on the lookout for probably the most picturesque seashore in Santa Barbara, strive Arroyo Burro Beach.
It is surrounded by tall bluffs and is well-known for its excellent pure magnificence.
Santa Barbara’s Rich History
Santa Barbara has a wealthy and various historical past that’s properly price exploring.
Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara, a ravishing construction that accommodates a church, historic cemetery, gardens, and mausoleum.
This is a ravishing relic constructed within the 18th century and it’s the solely mission with twin bell towers, making it a singular vacation spot to discover.
Entry costs $17 per person for a self guided tour.
After a morning within the Old Mission spend your afternoon in El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park. Founded in 1782, this can be a 5 1/2-acre park that preserves the positioning of the final Spanish fortress within the area.
This will allow you to discover 2 points of Santa Barbara’s wealthy historical past in a single culture-rich day.
If you favor somewhat extra inventive tradition, then discover the Santa Barbara Museum of Modern Art.
With over 4,000 items of artwork starting from trendy to historic, you’ll discover examples of Asian, American, and European artwork right here.
This is a broad and complete assortment that gives a tremendous introduction to the artwork world, but additionally has improbable items that can enchantment to established artwork fanatics.
↓ Elevate Your Travel↓
Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No advertisements, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your e-mail tackle to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.
This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.
