A Travel Community for San Francisco Bay Area Families
Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands
Santa Barbara is that transition point where Northern California stops and Southern California starts. The air is sweeter, the flowers brighter, and the water warmer.
As such, it provides a relatively easy, warm beach get away for Bay Area residents who don't want to wear their down parkas at the beach. Combine the balmy weather with beautiful beaches, fun family activities, and tremendous food and you have the makings of a great family trip.
To Do
Channel Islands Day Trip
If you want incredible wildlife viewing and pristine islands, you may want to spend a day at the Channel Islands National Park. A trip to the park requires a boat ride and you can reserve a spot through concessionaires that run hikes, dives, and cruises out to the islands as well as experienced guides.
You can do a one day trip out to Anacapa island leaving Oxnard (about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara) at 9:30 and returning at 4:30 with a company called Island Packers. The boat trip is about one hour each way. Visitors rave about the island—wildflowers (particularly in March and April), birds, pelicans, seals and sea lions, gray and humpback whales. The walk on is rated moderate and the person I talked to said they often have young children (3, 4, 5).
East Beach
This is a beautiful beach complete with white sand, palm trees, and volleyball players. There are restrooms close by and if the kiddies get tired of the beach, you can watch the volleyball game, check out the skateboard park or head over the carousel across the street. The wharf is not far and you can catch a snack before or after your trip to the beach. I recommend the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for some quick chowder or crab out on the picnic tables.
Alameda Park
This is one of the coolest playgrounds I've been to. It has an incredible “Kid’s World” play structure with lots of different areas to explore. Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can track them on the play structure. There are swings, sand, and nice spots for the parents to sit. You are only a few blocks from downtown and a very convenient Starbucks but warning...your kids won’t want to leave!
1400 Santa Barbara St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-5418
Santa Barbara Zoo
This small, friendly zoo will delight your kids. The penguins, lions and lemurs were all a big hit. There are some nice play spots for kids where the grown ups can relax as well. The small size allows the animals to be more “up close and personal” than in most zoos.
It's only $11 for adults, and $4 per car to park. You get a discount if you belong to the San Francisco Zoo. Makes for a fun, low-key family adventure.
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 962-5339
www.santabarbarazoo.org
Where to Stay
While there is no lack of accommodations in Santa Barbara, I struggle to find a place I can recommend with gusto for families. I personally like being close to downtown with options like the new Canary Hotel. If you want to be beach-side, you may want to check out the DoubleTree Inn or the Biltmore Four Seasons. Last time I made the trip, I gave up on the hotels all together and rented a great house for the family that was walking distance to downtown and right by Alameda Park from Paradise Retreats. I look forward to El Encanto opening this summer.
Hotel Santa Barbara
Hotel Santa Barbara is is centrally located on State Street with the excellent shopping and restaurants of Santa Barbara close at hand. It is the oldest hotel in Santa Barbara, historically charming, and tastefully updated.
533 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Canary Hotel
This newly renovated hotel gets high marks on TripAdvisor. The rooms are quiet, the beds are comfortable and the décor is top notch. The Coast restaurant has some good appetizers and a happy hour but I’d head elsewhere for dinner.
31 West Carrillo Street, (Formerly Andalucia Hotel), Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort
Location, location. This hotel is across from East Beach and not far from downtown. It doesn’t have the four star staff and accommodations of the Four Seasons but the rates reflect that.
633 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Four Seasons
What can I say? The service great, it's right on the beach, and it has a great pool. That said, it is a steep price to pay, particularly if you need two rooms to accomodate the whole family.
1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Paradise Retreats House Rentals. We rented the “Downtown Retreat” with another family and enjoyed the house and particularly its proximately to downtown. We could walk into town for lunch, play in the amazing Alameda park, and enjoy a media room for nighttime movies.
Where to Eat
Italian At Arnoldi's. One of the city's oldest restaurants, patrons can indulge in authentic fare (including handmade ravioli) and then indulge in some bocce in the yard.
600 Olive St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 962-5394
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
Rather than waiting in line for an indoor table you can grab crab, chowder and other seafood delights at their take-out window and sit out on the picnic tables on the wharf. Watch out for greedy seagulls.
230 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-6676
Tupelo Junction Café
A wonderful breakfast spot serving up delicious apple beignets, vanilla French toast, and pumpkin waffles.
1218 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 899-3100
www.tupelojunctioncafe.com
McConnell's Ice Cream
Blueberry ice cream, cherry burgundy, banana splits. Locals swear by the generously sized cones at McConnell’s.
201 W Mission Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 569-2323
La Super Rica Taqueria
This local favorite got the nod from Julia Childs and has become the Santa Barbara place for authentic Mexican street food. While there is often a bit of a wait, the items on the menu are worth waiting for and the price tag will be a pleasant surprise as well. Enjoy your lunch out back on the patio.
622 N Milpas St
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4940
Itinerary
As such, it provides a relatively easy, warm beach get away for Bay Area residents who don't want to wear their down parkas at the beach. Combine the balmy weather with beautiful beaches, fun family activities, and tremendous food and you have the makings of a great family trip.
To Do
Channel Islands Day Trip
If you want incredible wildlife viewing and pristine islands, you may want to spend a day at the Channel Islands National Park. A trip to the park requires a boat ride and you can reserve a spot through concessionaires that run hikes, dives, and cruises out to the islands as well as experienced guides.
You can do a one day trip out to Anacapa island leaving Oxnard (about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara) at 9:30 and returning at 4:30 with a company called Island Packers. The boat trip is about one hour each way. Visitors rave about the island—wildflowers (particularly in March and April), birds, pelicans, seals and sea lions, gray and humpback whales. The walk on is rated moderate and the person I talked to said they often have young children (3, 4, 5).
East Beach
This is a beautiful beach complete with white sand, palm trees, and volleyball players. There are restrooms close by and if the kiddies get tired of the beach, you can watch the volleyball game, check out the skateboard park or head over the carousel across the street. The wharf is not far and you can catch a snack before or after your trip to the beach. I recommend the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company for some quick chowder or crab out on the picnic tables.
Alameda Park
This is one of the coolest playgrounds I've been to. It has an incredible “Kid’s World” play structure with lots of different areas to explore. Dress your kids in bright clothes so you can track them on the play structure. There are swings, sand, and nice spots for the parents to sit. You are only a few blocks from downtown and a very convenient Starbucks but warning...your kids won’t want to leave!
1400 Santa Barbara St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564-5418
Santa Barbara Zoo
This small, friendly zoo will delight your kids. The penguins, lions and lemurs were all a big hit. There are some nice play spots for kids where the grown ups can relax as well. The small size allows the animals to be more “up close and personal” than in most zoos.
It's only $11 for adults, and $4 per car to park. You get a discount if you belong to the San Francisco Zoo. Makes for a fun, low-key family adventure.
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 962-5339
www.santabarbarazoo.org
Where to Stay
While there is no lack of accommodations in Santa Barbara, I struggle to find a place I can recommend with gusto for families. I personally like being close to downtown with options like the new Canary Hotel. If you want to be beach-side, you may want to check out the DoubleTree Inn or the Biltmore Four Seasons. Last time I made the trip, I gave up on the hotels all together and rented a great house for the family that was walking distance to downtown and right by Alameda Park from Paradise Retreats. I look forward to El Encanto opening this summer.
Hotel Santa Barbara
Hotel Santa Barbara is is centrally located on State Street with the excellent shopping and restaurants of Santa Barbara close at hand. It is the oldest hotel in Santa Barbara, historically charming, and tastefully updated.
533 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Canary Hotel
This newly renovated hotel gets high marks on TripAdvisor. The rooms are quiet, the beds are comfortable and the décor is top notch. The Coast restaurant has some good appetizers and a happy hour but I’d head elsewhere for dinner.
31 West Carrillo Street, (Formerly Andalucia Hotel), Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Fess Parker’s DoubleTree Resort
Location, location. This hotel is across from East Beach and not far from downtown. It doesn’t have the four star staff and accommodations of the Four Seasons but the rates reflect that.
633 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Four Seasons
What can I say? The service great, it's right on the beach, and it has a great pool. That said, it is a steep price to pay, particularly if you need two rooms to accomodate the whole family.
1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Paradise Retreats House Rentals. We rented the “Downtown Retreat” with another family and enjoyed the house and particularly its proximately to downtown. We could walk into town for lunch, play in the amazing Alameda park, and enjoy a media room for nighttime movies.
Where to Eat
Italian At Arnoldi's. One of the city's oldest restaurants, patrons can indulge in authentic fare (including handmade ravioli) and then indulge in some bocce in the yard.
600 Olive St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 962-5394
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
Rather than waiting in line for an indoor table you can grab crab, chowder and other seafood delights at their take-out window and sit out on the picnic tables on the wharf. Watch out for greedy seagulls.
230 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 966-6676
Tupelo Junction Café
A wonderful breakfast spot serving up delicious apple beignets, vanilla French toast, and pumpkin waffles.
1218 State St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 899-3100
www.tupelojunctioncafe.com
McConnell's Ice Cream
Blueberry ice cream, cherry burgundy, banana splits. Locals swear by the generously sized cones at McConnell’s.
201 W Mission Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 569-2323
La Super Rica Taqueria
This local favorite got the nod from Julia Childs and has become the Santa Barbara place for authentic Mexican street food. While there is often a bit of a wait, the items on the menu are worth waiting for and the price tag will be a pleasant surprise as well. Enjoy your lunch out back on the patio.
622 N Milpas St
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 963-4940
Itinerary
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