10 BEST Things to Do in Downtown Santa Barbara

One of my favorite downtown areas is in the seaside city of Santa Barbara in California.

Santa Barbara has a uniquely mediterranean feel, and was completely rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake in a unifying Spanish Colonial style. Think white stucco buildings, red tiled roofs, lush landscaping and enchanting courtyards with fountains.

I always walk up and down State Street in downtown Santa Barbara for the best selection of shops and restaurants, and follow it all the way to the end of Stearns Wharf for Pacific Ocean views.

Things to do in Downtown Santa Barbara

I'd recommend starting your exploration of Santa Barbara's downtown, along gorgeous State Street. You might also consider a stay in one of the downtown hotels, like the swanky Hotel Californian with a rooftop pool. From here you can walk to top attractions like the exceptional Santa Barbara Museum of Art, or enjoy soaring views from the observation tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

One of my new favorite things to do near downtown Santa Barbara, is follow Yanonali Street all the way to the Funk Zone district. I had so much fun in this former industrial area, exploring boutiques, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and galleries in renovated warehouses.

It also took me a few visits to downtown Santa Barbara to realize there are some excellent museums here. I got a feel for Santa Barbara's early history when I toured a Spanish Colonial family home at Casa de la Guerra (1828). It was impeccably preserved with lots of rooms to explore. I also had a chance to wander through an authentic Spanish Military post at El Presidio (1788), again just a short walk from State Street.

One of the best exhibitions was on Santa Barbara's 1925 earthquake, at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

10 BEST things to do in Downtown Santa Barbara

1. Visit beautiful State Street.

I always set aside a day to walk the full length of State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. There's so much do, including a bustling street full of shops, galleries and restaurants in the heart of Santa Barbara's commercial district. My favorite restaurants include Jane (American), Loquita (Spanish), and The Cruisery (craft cocktails and health conscious dishes) .

There are so many fun nooks and crannies off State Street, and my favorite is the charming La Arcada Courtyard (below). This pretty courtyard has ivy strewn walls, decorative red awnings, and plenty of flower pots. I love strolling through the arcade to the turtle fountain, then stopping at State & Fig for a meal.

2. Shop at Paseo Nuevo open air mall.

The 458,000 square foot Paseo Nuveo mall is just off State Street, and tastefully designed in the Spanish Colonial style, with terraces, courtyards and paseo areas. The highlight is climbing the brightly tiled Spanish Stairs and taking an instagram worthy photo there! There are so many shops here including Gap, Sephora and Aveda. I also enjoy catching a movie at the theater, and dining alfresco at the restaurants.

3. Visit Funk Zone Santa Barbara.

One of my new favorite places in Santa Barbara is the cool neighborhood known as Funk Zone. This former warehouse area has been revitalized with a fun mix of restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and lots of wine tasting rooms. I also like that it's easy to get to from downtown, and just an easy walk from State Street along Yanonali Street.

Two of my top places to visit are the trendy tasting room at Santa Barbara Wine Collective, and the lovely garden with a seating area across from the Dart Coffee Company. Some other top picks are Validation Ale and Lucky Penny Pizza. I also came across a decent amount of quirky shops and galleries like Dylan Star Boutique and Rodeo Gallery.

4. Climb the tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse.

My recommendation for the best views in Santa Barbara, is at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in downtown Santa Barbara. This gorgeous building is a must-see, constructed in the distinctive Spanish Colonial style. I also love that it's free to visit! The interior is stunning, full of red tiled floors and beautiful frescoes. The Santa Barbara Courthouse is often recognized as the nicest government building in America!

5. Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

I was pleasantly surprised by how amazing the art collection is at the prestigious Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and was impressed by this elegant, neoclassical building that used to be the town's post office. I strolled through two floors of artworks, including notable artists from masters like Monet, Dali and Renoir. There's also a solid selection of 19th and 20th Century European Art. There's so much to see, I would actually recommend setting aside a whole day.

6. Take kids to Moxi (Wolf Museum of Exploration & Innovation).

My kids loved the exhibits at MOXI, which is otherwise known as the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation. This spectacular building is full of fun experiences for kids, with tons of interactive science and music exhibits. After exploring everything on the two floors, there's a stairway that leads to a glass rooftop deck with awesome views over Santa Barbara.

7. Experience Salt Cave Santa Barbara.

Stepping inside a salt cave was not something I expected to find on the main commercial street in Santa Barbara. However, Salt Cave Santa Barbara on State Street is the largest underground crystal salt cave in America! It's a surreal experience relaxing inside one of the two magnificent caves, backlit by thousands of crystals. Choose from a full range of spa services including massage and facials.

8. Tour an 1788 military compound at El Presidio.

One of my most memorable experiences in Santa Barbara, was touring a 1788 military compound known as El Presidio. This 5.5 acre fortress is absolutely fascinating, and transported me back to a time when the Spanish occupied Alta California. This particular fortress (presidio) was the last one built during Spain's occupation.

I spent some time trying to figure out which buildings were original. The only two original buildings are:

El Cuartel (1782) the second oldest building in California and the original soldier's family residence.
Canedo Adobe (1782) the third oldest building in California, and an officers' quarters.

The other buildings have been reconstructed as close to the originals as possible. These include the beatiful bell tower and chapel, Padre's Quarters, Comandante's Quarters, and cocina.

9. Visit a family home at Casa de la Guerra (1828).

It was a great experience touring an authentic family home in downtown Santa Barbara, known as Casa de la Guerra (1828). The home is historically significant because it housed the man considered to be Santa Barbara's first citizen, Don Jose De La Guerra. His wife and 13 children also lived there. De La Guerra was a prominent trader, and was held in such high esteem he is interred beneath the altar at the Santa Barbara Mission. The central courtyard was the location for many social events back in the day, ranging from weddings to visits from other dignatories.

10. Learn about the 1925 earthquake at Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

One of the most fascinating parts of Santa Barbara's history concerns the devastating 1925 earthquake. This completely changed the future building code for Santa Barbara, and resulted in the consistent Spanish Colonial style we see today. I learned all about this 1925 earthquake at the excellent Santa Barbara Historical Museum in downtown, where there was a large gallery with an audio-visual presentation on the earthquake, including before and after photos of different buildings.

I also enjoyed the permanent exhibition on the Story of Santa Barbara, including some first hand accounts from early citizens. My visit then continued with a quick look at the galleries filled with rotating art exhibitions.

As an added bonus, I was able to cross the street to visit a historic home built by a commander of the Santa Barbara Presidio. The home is known as Casa Covvarubias (1817).