There's a lot to see in Santa Barbara, and you don't even need to leave downtown to have a great weekend of sightseeing, shopping, and relaxation. I've outlined some of my favorite spots in the downtown area for your enjoyment.
101 Freeway
Railroad Tracks
Shoreline
Downtown and Waterfront Shuttles - You can ride
these shuttles for just a quarter. This is an easy way to get around downtown
without the hassle of parking.
Hot Spot - click for description
Public Parking
One Way Street Indicator - NOTE: some one way
streets may not be marked and some streets marked one way may be two way on
some blocks.Trinity is a beautiful church. Both the ceremony and the reception will take place here.
We've reserved a block of rooms at the El Prado. This is a nice, clean hotel with very reasonable (for Santa Barbara) prices. It is located just one block from the church and is a short walk to downtown.
The Upham is a very nice Victorian hotel with adorable litle cottages. If you're not looking at a tight budget for the trip you might consider staying there. The Upham is a short walk to downtown or to the church.
The Harbor View is a very nice hotel right on the ocean. Some rooms have ocean views. The rates are pricier than the El Prado (we'll have specifics up as soon as we have quotes) but may be worth it if proximity to the ocean is important to you.
The Sandwich Shop (as the locals call it) is a great place to get a good sandwich. If you go twice, Roger (the owner who is usually found working the register) will probably learn your name.
Aldo's has excellent Italian food with indoor or outdoor seating.
This is my favorite spot for breakfast! They have great, inexpensive food. Though they have some kickin' Cajun dishes, I love their standard fare and highly recommend it. Oh! This is also the restaurant that Matt proposed to me outside of.
Matt loves the greasy goods at Johnny's. This is a fun place to go for a casual, messy, meal.
The Palace has great Cajun food and amazing service. Don't forget to order the chocolate souffle or bread pudding before dinner starts up so it will be ready for dessert!
Longboard's has California beach food and a view that can't be beat.
Afternoon tea anyone? This is a great spot to have some yummy pastries and tea.
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is the best place to go for a quick cup of coffee or tea. It's location makes it a great place to take a break from shopping and do some people watching.
Cantwell's is less than a block from the church and right across from the El Prado. They have sandwiches, bagels, produce, and basic groceries.
Grocery store.
Drugstore.
Groceries - Santa Barbara style. Complete with a nice deli and health food section.
Drugstore complete with Thrifty Ice Cream.
Moon Shadow has lots of cute things to look at. This is a fun place to pick up gifts to bring home to family or friends.
This is mall shopping Santa Barbara style: great shops, great food, and movies all in the beautiful Santa Barbara Sun.
The Shell is convenient to downtown, but not the only gas station in the area.
Our place of work.
A great place for concertgoing which sometimes shows movies. The interior of the Arlington is set up like a Mediterranean village.
The Alameda Parks are a treasure of downtown Santa Barbara. I highly suggest setting aside some time to stroll through. I especially recommend grabbing a sandwich at the Sandwich Shop and walking up to the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden to eat your sandwich next to the fish pond. Kids' World has an amazing playground and shouldn't be missed if you have kids.
The Santa Barbara Courthouse is a beautiful piece of local architecture.
The museum has some cool exhibits and a very nice cafe for lunch.
De La Guerra Plaza is a popular location for outdoor events.
El Presidio was a military fortress built by the Spanish in 1782. What remains now is a museum including a beautiful chapel.
Every week local painters, sculptors, and crafters show off their work down on the beach. Take a nice stroll and consider supporting some of our local artists by purchasing their work.
There are some good restaurants on the harbor. This is also the place to go if you want to set off for a day of boating.
This is an amazing park complete with a carousel, fountains, playground, and lots of garden space to walk through.
Most parking downtown is free for 75 or 90 minutes, depending on where you are. Parking lots are usually about $1/hr after that.