Santa Barbara: Californian Riveria is famous for its beautiful Mediterranean climate. It has several pretty beaches, Mediterranean architecture, and palm trees. Also, it houses the famous California mission State Street shops with quaint, laidback vibes. Not only are there beautiful things to do in Santa Barbara, but also there are many day trips from Santa Barbara, Ca, with unique getaway ideas. So let’s read about Day Trips From Santa Barbara CA – Santa Barbara Getaway Ideas.
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Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California – Santa Barbara Getaway Ideas
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Read some fantastic day trips from Santa Barbara CA – Santa Barbara Getaway ideas with things to do, where to stay, valuable tips, and other helpful information.
Solvang | Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California
Distance from Santa Barbara – 35 Miles (Approx. 45 minutes).
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Why Solvang – You will get a taste of Europe in the heart of California as this place has European heritage architecture. Take a walking tour around narrow streets and small alleys. You can find Danish pastries, Danish icons like windmills, historic churches here as these places were established by Danish immigrants and are well preserved. It is called as “Danish Capital of America” too.
Things to do in Solvang
- Old Santa Ines Mission
- Walk around the historic town and spot the Little Mermaid Fountain, five windmills, the giant red clog & Round Tower
- Shop across 150 boutique shops
- Santa Ynez Valley tour
- Hans Christian Andersen Museum
- Wildling Museum
- Ostrichland, the USA
- Enjoy shows or concerts at Solvang Festival Theater
- Food tour to taste Danish delicacies and visit Bakery and Winery
Lake Cachuma | Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California
Distance from Santa Barbara – 32 min (23.2 mi) via CA-154 W/San Marcos Pass Rd
Why Lake Cachuma – Set amidst acres of wilderness flanked by the picturesque Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains lies glimmering Cachuma Lake. Here you will find practically everything you need for a relaxing getaway in the great outdoors. Mild temperatures, typically sunny skies, and celebrated fishing conditions make camping here during the winter months enriching.
Located off scenic Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley, Cachuma Lake is midway between the beaches and bustle of Santa Barbara and the Danish Community of Solvang. At any age… in any season… you’ll find that the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area offers a fun and relaxing getaway.
Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tasting Tours | Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California
Distance from Santa Barbara – 44 min (34.2 mi) via CA-154 W/San Marcos Pass Rd
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On California’s Central Coast, Santa Ynez is the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country. It is approximately two hours north of Los Angeles and about four hours south of the San Francisco Bay Area. This region is divided into six distinct parts or towns to explore. This region produces approximately 9.6 million gallons of wine annually. Not only wine, but this region is also famous for fantastic food tours. So wine and dining with natural vineyards all around is the key feature of this trip.
Why Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tasting Tours – A beautiful, scenic tour of California’s Central Coast Wine Region perfect for any wine lover!
Things to do in Santa Ynez Valley tour
Explore six distinct wine regions of this valley.
- Buellton
- Los Alamos
- Solvang
- Los Olivos
- Santa Ynez
- Ballard
Pismo Beach | Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 25 min (82.9 mi) via CA-154 W/San Marcos Pass Rd and US-101 N
Pismo Beach is a seaside town that attracts all ocean lovers and is a perfect stop on Pacific Coast Highway 1. Pismo Beach is a classic beach town in the San Luis Obispo region with a surfing beach.
Why Pismo Beach – For water sports lovers, beach lovers, and surfers.
Morro Bay
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 51 min (107.9 mi) via CA-154 W/San Marcos Pass Rd and US-101 N
Why Morro Bay – Gibraltar of Pacific is known for surfing, beautiful coasts, sandy beaches, and a perfect coastal holiday spot for nature lovers.
San Simeon
Distance from Santa Barbara – 2 hr 21 min (136.8 mi) via US-101 N and CA-1 N
San Simeon is one of the most beautiful spots on Pacific Coast Highway 1. Exotic coastal cliffs and vast ocean views are worth turning off Highway 1 with elephant seals lying across beaches in their natural habitat. Do not miss this stop on this drive.
Why San Simeon – Explore virgin Pacific Coast Highway stop with Elephant seals rolling across on the beach.
Bixby Creek Bridge – Big Sur
Distance from Santa Barbara – Big Sur – 3 hr 54 min (201.5 mi) via US-101 N and CA-1 N and Bixby Creek Bridge – 4 hr 9 min (212.2 mi) via US-101 N and CA-1 N
Why Bixby Creek Bridge – Bixby Creek Bridge, also known as Bixby Canyon Bridge, on the Big Sur coast of California, is a perfect and must stopover during this road trip. It is one of the most photographed bridges in California.
Why Big Sur – Formed of rugged coastline with stunning views, it is where Saint Lucia mountains meet the Pacific Ocean. Known for its wild forests unexplored virgin coasts, Big Sur comes under the best top nature attractions in the world. It is known as one of the most spectacular coastlines globally and the most scenic coastline in the USA.
Things to do in Big Sur – Must do in Big Sur
- · Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
- · Andrew Molera State Park.
- · Pfeiffer Beach
- · Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.
- · Garrapata State Park.
- · Sand Dollar Beach
San Luis Obispo | Best Day Trips From Santa Barbara California
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 36 min (95.2 mi) via CA-154 W/San Marcos Pass Rd and US-101 N
San Luis Obispo – San Luis Obispo is located on scenic foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains in Central California. San Luis Obispo is also known as the “Happiest City in America.” This happy and cheerful town has a friendly vibe, with more than 300 days of sunshine a year, a fun-loving young population, and stunning attractions like Pismo Beach and Morro Bay.
Malibu
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 10 min (66.6 mi) via US-101 S and CA-1 S
Why Malibu – Malibu is a beach town in western Los Angeles county. Malibu is known for its beautiful Mediterranean climate and scenic sunsets. It is an excellent spot for surfing, scuba diving, and windsurfing with a long oceanfront.
Things to do in Malibu
- Go for the best Malibu Hikes.
- Zuma Beach
- Point Dume
- El Matador Beach
- Malibu Lagoon state beach & Adamson House
- Malibu State Creek Park
- Solstice Canyon
- Leo Carrillo State Park
- Santa Monica Mountains National
- The Getty Villa
- Malibu Country Mart
Ventura
Distance from Santa Barbara – 29 min (27.4 mi) via US-101 S
A perfect laidback coastal town with lovely beaches and beach resorts is just half an hour’s drive from Santa Barbara. The beautiful industry across PCH no one and the beaches of this town make it a perfect day trip from Santa Barbara. Also, this county is famous for farmer’s markets too.
Why Ventura – Ventura is a perfect beach chill town with fantastic local produce, friendly people, and lovely weather.
Things to do in Ventura
- Ventura Pier and Promenada
- Ventura to Ojai Paved Bike path
- Serra Cross Park
- Ventura Botanical Gardens
- Surfers Point Park
- Ventura City Hall
- Mission San Buenaventura
Santa Monica
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 43 min (91.8 mi) via US-101 S
Santa Monica is a beautiful beach city with a pier, small aquarium, historic merry-go-round, large, huge swath of beach with volleyball, and a long beach bike path to enjoy it all. Safe, easily walkable, pretty, seaside. It is like a fair and carnival on the beachside with lots of people are enjoying rides overlooking the Pacific coast.
Why Santa Monica – For fun and frolic beach type of getaway, colorful beach fun, lots of amusement rides with many eateries on Pier.
Venice Beach
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 51 min (93.7 mi) via US-101 S
Venice Beach is the most exotic and famous beach nearby Los Angeles. Many people come here to spend their weekends under the sunny sky and wavy waters. Venice is one of the most popular destinations for Los Angeles locals and international visitors. It is home to famous Beat Generation poets and artists.
This beach is famous for surfers, nature lovers, street shopping due to the large Broadwalk. Not only is it an exotic beach destination, but it is also an artistic center of that region.
Why Venice Beach – For beach lovers, art and craft lovers, local artisans market, exotic beach fun.
Los Angeles – Weekend road trips from Santa Barbara
Distance from Santa Barbara – 1 hr 47 min (95.0 mi) via US-101 S
Why LA – The most glamourous city of southern California boasts world-class tourist spots, idyllic weather, a funky dining scene, and many cultural-artistic attractions. LA is the perfect weekend road trips from Santa Barbara.
Things to do in Los Angeles – LA
- Universal Studios Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Rodeo Drive
- Beverly Hills Celebrity tours
- Hollywood Sign hike
I hope you loved reading about best day Trips From Santa Barbara California – Santa Barbara Getaway Ideas and would now truly explore the Central California coastal region. Now you know places to visit around Santa Barbara with some great scenic drives near Santa Barbara. Please save this Santa Barbara road trip with a scenic drive route worth doing in your California road trip and Pacific Coast Highway No. 1.
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