Recommended Must-Dos in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Zoo. The Beaches. Hiking Trails. Wine Tasting in the Funk Zone. Wine Tours to Santa Ynez. Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. Stearns Wharf. Aquarium at the Wharf. Kayaking or paddleboarding in the marina.

Santa Barbara is a year-round destination. The two slowest months are April and May. We recommend those on a budget visit during those times to take advantage of great deals and fewer crowds. For winter visitors: December through March is the best.

For families with kids, it's the last week of June through the middle of August and we require a 7-night minimum.

Starting the middle of August, we drop the minimum from 7 nights to 3 and 5 nights. So, from the middle of August through September, we have lower minimum night requirements, great pricing, and sunny warm beach weather.

Santa Barbara Film Festival (SBIFF)

The SBIFF is one of the city’s earliest and most popular festivals. Usually held in late January and early February, the SBIFF lasts for eleven days and attracts some of the film industry’s leading actors and directors. In addition to a diverse array of new film screenings, guests will find old classics, animated pictures, and foreign films playing at some of the city’s most iconic theatres. During the SBIFF, there are also numerous panel discussions and award ceremonies. Any film enthusiasts in need of a winter holiday must visit their vacation rentals at the American Riveria during the SBIFF.

International Orchid Show

The central Californian coast has a moderate Mediterranean climate, which has made it easy for horticulturalists to grow an impressive array of exotic plants. Ever since the start of the 1900s, orchids have become one of the region’s most distinctive flowers. Indeed, the orchid business became so big in the mid-1900s that the city eventually decided to create the annual International Orchid Show in the 1940s. This three-day show is still going strong to this day and features thousands of different orchid varieties for guests to marvel over. Anyone interested in beautiful orchids shouldn’t miss this March festival.

Summer Solstice Celebration

The origins of the Summer Solstice Celebration go back to 1974 when an artist named Michael Gonzalez and a few friends decided to dance on State Street in dresses. This odd event obviously struck a cord in the city because it inspired the Summer Solstice festivities. Most of the action in this celebration takes place at Alameda Park and includes a funky parade, street vendors, and plenty of live music. This festival usually runs for four days in June.

California Wine Festival

The American Riviera has some of the world’s most lauded vineyards. Indeed, one of the top tourist attractions while visiting this area is to go wine tasting in the city’s many exquisite wineries. If you want a thorough sampling of Californian wine, however, then book your trip during the annual California Wine Festival in July. Well over 70 wineries in the Golden State take part in this annual three-day event that also features live music, educational seminars, and food tastings.

Harbor & Seafood Festival

America’s Riviera has an eclectic array of world-class eateries, but it’s perhaps best known for its local seafood. Due to the city’s location along the Californian coast, it makes sense that Santa Barbara would have some of the finest seafood in the USA. The best way to enjoy Central Californian seafood is to visit during the Harbor & Seafood Festival. At this special one-day festival, people get to meet local fishermen face-to-face as they purchase locally caught crabs, lobsters, sea urchins, and more. There’s nothing like eating a warm meal prepared right in front of you with fresh-caught fish! The Harbor & Seafood Festival usually takes place in October.

We have over a dozen pet friendly homes in Santa Barbara. To see if a home is pet-friendly, refer to the property description under the photo gallery.

Tips for taking your dog to the beach in Santa Barbara

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from East Beach going West to Leadbetter Beach. However, dogs can be exercised off-leash from the Shoreline Park staircase going west to the Arroyo Burro Estuary. The easiest way to get onto this section of beach is from Hendry's Beach Parking lot. When you walk to the beach they have signs that say which side of the beach you can have your dog on. Hendry's Beach Parking lot also has a coin-operated dog washing station.

Definitely! For two reasons, Carpinteria state beach is known as the world's safest beach. It's a south-facing beach so the waves are normally pretty mellow, and also because there are no rip tides at this beach. For that reason, a lot of families tend to like Carpinteria for safety reasons. Also, we have tide pools that kids can explore at low tide and it's a pretty safe city. Families feel safe letting their kids wander around and walk into town.