Santa Barbara Weekend Guide: Wine, Beaches and the Funk Zone
Santa Barbara is often called the American Riviera, and once you see the mountains meeting the ocean you'll understand why. It's about a 90-minute drive up the coast from Los Angeles (traffic permitting), and it's one of the easiest, prettiest weekend trips in California. Fall is harvest season in the local wine country, which makes it an especially good time to visit.
Wine Tasting Without Leaving Town
You don't have to drive to a vineyard to taste great wine here. The Urban Wine Trail is a collection of tasting rooms you can walk between, many of them in the Funk Zone, a creative neighborhood near the beach filled with murals, galleries, restaurants and wine bars. Book a couple of tastings, wander between them and stop for tacos in between.
Day Trip: Santa Ynez Valley
About 45 minutes over the mountains, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to dozens of wineries and charming small towns. Los Olivos is packed with tasting rooms you can visit on foot, and Solvang, with its Danish-style windmills and bakeries, is a fun stop for pastries. Always plan a designated driver or book a wine tour.
Beyond the Wine
- Old Mission Santa Barbara: known as the "Queen of the Missions," with beautiful gardens and a rose garden across the street.
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse: climb the clock tower for one of the best free views in town.
- Stearns Wharf and the beaches: walk the wharf, then relax at East Beach or Butterfly Beach in nearby Montecito.
- State Street: the main shopping street, with a pedestrian-friendly stretch downtown full of shops and patios.
What to Wear
Santa Barbara style is relaxed and polished. Think a floral maxi dress or white jeans, flat sandals or loafers, and a denim or suede jacket for when the ocean breeze picks up in the evening. Wine country is warmer during the day, so dress in layers.
Shop dresses and jackets for your trip on my Shop My Closet page.
Hours, prices and events change often, so check official websites before you go.
More California getaways: Palm Springs · San Diego · Laguna Beach · Carmel-by-the-Sea · Los Angeles · Hermosa Beach · Catalina Island
