While there are many incredible restaurants, one that stood out was Oliver’s. It’s one of the best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in all of SoCal, and we’d likely go here for dinner on Day 1. Other noteworthy stops include Goat Tree for brunch/lunch and McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams for dessert.

Santa Barbara has numerous options for beaches, and while we won’t be there in the warmest weather (think 65ºF), we can still walk along Stearns Wharf and Arroyo Burro Beach Park for beautiful water views.

Just before Santa Barbara, there are a series of hot spring pools that can be reached with a short hike. We’d wake up early in the morning on Day 2 to visit them and soak in these natural hot tubs

Santa Barbara is home to many beautiful hikes, including trails that wind through the mountains and rocks with views of the ocean and waterfalls. A few notable ones include Inspiration Point, Rocky Pine Lookout, and the Seven Falls Hike. We would pick 1-2 of these to do on Day 1

There is a beautiful bike path called Shoreline Park that runs along the beach. Bike rentals are easy and accessible, so we’d rent bikes on Day 1 and check out the Santa Barbara coastline.