AnonymousBy Max Wolff
Santa Barbara is famous for its natural beauty, from its elegant Spanish-inspired homes to extensive beaches. The Santa Ynez mountains add glamor to this South Californian city while its rich culture attract tourists from all over the world.
In the entertainment scene, Santa Barbara is constantly changing. Depending on when you visit, you could participate in a festival, take your kids to a local zoo or go on a hiking trail.
The locals have a lot more entertainment choices. Below are some of them:
Online Entertainment
After COVID-19 disrupted the entertainment space in St. Barbara, organizers had to cancel festivals. Zoos and museums closed and officials prohibited people from visiting local beaches.
Luckily, fun-loving people in Santa Barbara turned to the Internet for entertainment. Some people renewed their Netflix and Hulu subscriptions. Others became social media content creators.
At the time, Major Leagues had also suspended games. You couldn’t stream sports. Neither could you bet on sports. This spurred growth for online games of chance like slots, roulette and blackjack.
Post-pandemic, Major League Sports returned. Since then, you can watch football, basketball, soccer and baseball on cable TV or online. And if you live in one of the states that support mobile betting, you can grab this BetMGM online sportsbook promo code for a risk-free bet worth up to $1000.
Beaches and Parks
Being a coastal city, visiting local beaches is a must-do activity during your free time. You can visit the Stearns Wharf harbor to relish gorgeous views of the city, especially the mountains.
Alternatively, you visit one of the city’s beaches. Both East Beach and West Beach are excellent choices for someone who wants to experience the classic Californian shoreline.
If you want to experience multiple activities in a day, start your day by touring popular parks in the city. The Rancho La Patera & Stow House in Goleta is popular with bird watchers while Kids World is a great playground for families.
There are over 50 parks in the Santa Barbara area. So, before you decide to spend your time at any of them, research about all the popular parks. Discover what each park offers and then decide where to spend your time.
Many of these parks lead you to the beach, where you can end your day sunbathing.
Celebrating Arts and Culture
Over the years, Santa Barbara has been welcoming people from all parts of the world. In turn, this spurred the creation of museums, art galleries and theaters that celebrate the city’s diverse population.
Santa Barbara’s culture can be traced to 19th century Spanish settlers. Granted land by Spain, the settlers built Spanish-style homes that are still iconic to this date.
With time, non-Spanish settlers introduced their own cultures. This turned the city into a melting point of different cultures, all of which Santa Barbara rich and unique.
There are different ways to relish art and culture in St. Barbara. For starters, you can book a date with The Wolf Museum of Exploration. This museum is one of a kind—it lets you touch and interact with everything on display.
For example, you can interact with a 3D printer to design a wide range of products. Or, you could learn how to create sound effects for a movie clip.
Spas and Hotels
For a long time, people have always visited St. Barbara for spa experiences. We’re talking about the sunshine, the welcoming people and coastal breeze. These days, the spa experience has advanced to include world-class hotels and wellness centers.
The biggest hotel in the city is Hilton Santa Barbara Beach front Resort. The luxurious getaway is located on a 24-acre farm. It has 23 suites, 337 guest rooms and a full range of amenities: Spas, fitness center, salon, pool and a tennis court.
Another well-known hotel in the city is El Encanto. It’s located on a hill, armed with 92 bungalows and offering sublime views of the Pacific Ocean. Other hotels worth checking out in the city include the Hotel Californian, Float Luxury Spa and the Ritz-Calton Bacara, Santa Barbara.
Increased Shopping
There was a time you had to visit Los Angeles for a delightful shopping experience. Those days are gone. You can get a healthy dose of shopping while touring the city’s red streets and relishing is coastal, breezy air.
Loaded with coffee shops, bars, restaurants and boutiques, the State Street is the best place to go shopping in town. Whether you’re looking for malls or small mom and pop shops, the street has it all.
Shopping in Santa Barbara is also a walking exercise. Shops are distributed throughout the city, from the Stearns Wharf in the shorelines to Arlington Plaza.
Outdoor Adventures
As already mentioned, people are back to doing outdoor activities in St. Barbara. Thanks to the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Ynez mountains and the myriads of parks and hotels, there are plenty of things to do in the city.
There’s the Paddle Sports Center, where you can paddle with sea lions. Or you can spend your day at the Channel Islands Expeditions. Other parks you can check out for outdoor activities include the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.
Food and Drinks
If you want to savor local cuisines, there are plenty of choices to explore. Visit the Funk Zone. Look for the Santa Barbara Food Tours to get a taste of sumptuous meals and drinks.
It costs an average of $135 to get artisan beer, hand-crafted spirits, fresh seafoods, and so much more. As a bonus, you’ll get a chance to take professional food photos with the help of an expert. The tour takes three hours and welcomes both children and adults.
Your Turn
The Santa Barbara entertainment industry has changed drastically since Spanish settlers first got there. For a long time, you had to drive all the way to Los Angeles to have ample entertainment.
These days, St. Barbara has got everything you need to have fun. Whether you want to paddle kayaks with sea lions, shop inside malls or taste gourmet meals, the coastal city has got it all.
