Whether you live within driving distance or want to plan a fun weekend away, Santa Barbara is the perfect destination! Since living in Los Angeles, I’ve taken a lot of day and weekend trips up and gotten to explore SB. Located just 1.5 hours north of LA with close to 300 different wineries, it’s the ideal getaway location.

I’ve compiled a full day itinerary for inspiration for your next day trip. There are SO many cool spots and I stumble upon something new every single time I visit. Check out my travel bookmarks for the complete Google Maps guide to all of the spots mentioned and more!

Click to save my Santa Barbara Travel Bookmarks on Google Maps

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7:00 AM: Chase Palm Park

I recommend waking up early and driving up right away to catch the sunrise at Chase Palm Park. It’s lined with beautiful palm trees that really encapsulate the Southern California spirit. You can also fit in an early morning workout on the open grassy area. Or, you could bike or walk along the path by the beach!

8:30 AM: Chromatic Gate

Right behind the park is this giant rainbow arch, the Chromatic Gate. It is actually so impressive to see in person; it is 21 feet tall! You can see how large it is compared to me haha. Make sure you stop by to admire the artwork and get those golden glow photos the first hour after sunrise.

9:30 AM: Breakfast @ Helena Ave Bakery

Helena Avenue Bakery offers a delicious assortment of breakfast foods, including freshly baked seasonal pastries made from scratch, organic artisan breads, and coffee. You can check out their current menu here. They don’t take reservations, so I’d recommend getting here before 10 AM to beat the brunch crowds.

11:00 AM: Paseo Nuevo

After brunch, be sure to explore downtown Santa Barbara’s open air mall, Paseo Nuevo. There are a ton of cute shops along State Street and also these colorful stairs! I would also recommend grabbing lunch here at one of the many restaurants. For a quick meal, my go-to is California Pasta. For a sit down meal, I would look ahead of time at all of the different options and make a reservation. It can get pretty busy, especially when the weather is warm!

2:00 PM: Shoreline Park

Once you’ve shopped til you dropped, head to Shoreline Park for a relaxing afternoon break on the beach! You will climb down the stairs at the top of the park, and go through a cave to get to this beach. Alternatively, you could also walk out on Stearns Wharf. There are a few specialty shops and restaurants, as well as a small aquarium. If you’ve never been to Santa Barbara, I do think it’s worth checking out at least once.

4:30 PM: Funk Zone

Once you’ve soaked up enough sun, drive over to the Funk Zone for food & drinks! The Funk Zone is a cute little arts district with a ton of fun wineries and breweries. You could really spend a full day here! If you like to drink, I would recommend hopping around to a bunch of different spots and getting a drink at each place! We got these glasses of rosé from Fox Wine Co. For dinner, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance at The Lark. It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had and I cannot wait to go back!

7:00 PM: Douglas Family Preserve

For these incredible sunset views, go to the Douglas Family Preserve after dinner! Especially in the winter time, you cannot beat the sunsets in Southern California! Note, the time may need to be adjusted here, depending on when the sun sets. You could also stop here for the sunset, and then go to your dinner reservation.

8:00 PM: McConnell's Fine Ice Creams

Last but not least, make sure to grab an ice cream cone from McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams! It was started in Santa Barbara, and was dubbed “the best ice cream in the world” by Time Magazine. If that isn’t convincing enough, they also get my vote of confidence ESPECIALLY because they have vegan flavors. So delicious! You can also get pints to go…you’ll thank me later!

Comment below your favorite place to visit in Santa Barbara! Be sure to save down my Google Maps Collection to make it easier to see where everything is as you explore the city. 

💙mariss