Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is truly a place you’ll want to visit again and again! The sunshine is amazing, the vibe is so relaxing, and it’s perfect for a slow-paced travel itinerary. Day 1⃣️ Depart from LA to Santa Barbara It takes about two hours to drive from LA to Santa Barbara 🏨. In the evening, we ate at Loquita, a Spanish restaurant. Day 2⃣️ The coast + UCSB 📎 In the morning, we first went to Stearns Wharf ☀️. The weather was fantastic! We had lunch at the pier’s Shellfish Company. The coastal views, with rivers and bike paths, were stunning ). 📎 In the evening, we visited UCSB. The campus has small hills, lakes, and ocean views—superb for watching the sunset, absolutely beautiful! Day 3⃣️ Santa Barbara Courthouse + Old Mission 📎 Morning: Santa Barbara Courthouse The courthouse is so photogenic! The rooftop offers panoramic views of the entire city (, and the lawns and architecture downstairs are great for photos too. For lunch nearby, we had Secret Bao—their Asian fusion dishes perfectly suited our tastes. 📎 Afternoon: My favorite part of the whole trip—Old Mission Santa Barbara (). The soft red buildings, gardens, and lawns were incredibly beautiful and healing! The quiet atmosphere made me want to sit and daydream all afternoon. In the evening, we dined at the pre-booked French restaurant Stella Mare's. Eating in the glasshouse was incredibly atmospheric! Day 4⃣️ Return trip Drive back to LA from Santa Barbara. 📎 Dining highlights 1⃣️ Loquita Highly recommend!! We booked in advance for Spanish cuisine. The paella, ham, and cheesecake were amazing! Just note the portions are small—order more dishes to fill up. 2⃣️ Santa Barbara Shellfish Company Located on the pier, the seafood is incredibly flavorful (you’ll have to wait in line). The views are great too—oysters, sea urchin, coconut shrimp, and pasta were all delicious 😋. 3⃣️ Secret Bao Close to the courthouse. Their bibimbap, cod rice, and drinks were all good. 4⃣️ Stella Mare’s French cuisine in a glasshouse. The escargots, onion soup, and duck legs were tasty, and the main course ribs were excellent. Highly recommend!! Make a reservation in advance. #roadtrip #LosAngeles #SantaBarbara #travelguide #Cali #daytrip #CaliforniaLife #food #trip