If a trip to the Mediterranean isn’t in the cards anytime soon, good news: There’s a Spanish Riviera dupe a couple hours outside Los Angeles. Yes, we’re talking about Santa Barbara, the coastal California enclave that’s long been dubbed the “American Riviera” — thanks to its spectacular sandy beaches, almost always perfect weather, established food and wine scenes, ridiculously chic hotels (stay at Drift Santa Barbara), and stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
Add in day trips to Montecito (where homeowners include Oprah and a certain royal couple) and the Santa Ynez Valley (a must-visit for wine lovers), and a scoop from McConnell’s — and you’ll be pulling up Zillow listings before your trip is over.
👟 Spend a day on State Street, Santa Barbara’s palm tree-lined main drag. It’s packed with buzzy restaurants, hip tasting rooms and wine bars (don’t miss the natural pours at Satellite), cultural gems like the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (its 25,000-plus works range from Impressionist paintings to classical antiquities), and a dizzying number of cute boutiques.
Those include Domecíl (for handwoven baskets, ceramic bowls, and more coastal-cool home decor) and Diani (for boho-chic clothes and accessories). And pay a visit to the nearby Santa Barbara County Courthouse (yes, you read that right), which boasts a climbable clock tower with 360-degree views, impressive murals, and sunken gardens.
🌊 Now, for the main event: the glorious, cliff-draped beaches. Rent a bike and cruise along the 4.5-mile-long Cabrillo Bike Path, which hugs the coastline and passes some postcard-worthy spots. Stop at East Beach (one of the largest and liveliest), Leadbetter Beach (a go-to for surfers), and Butterfly Beach (a local fave with calmer vibes and striking sunsets).
For more aquatic activities, explore the Santa Barbara Harbor via kayak or paddleboard (keep an eye out for sea lions), join a whale-watching excursion, or book a boat tour to Channel Islands National Park — where tide pools, scenic hikes, and more wildlife than a Nat Geo special await.
🍴 Santa Barbara takes its tacos seriously — so, naturally, your first agenda item should be Lilly’s Taqueria, a no-frills spot known for pillowy corn tortillas, marinated pork adobada, and an extensive salsa bar. For dinner, head to Bettina, where exceptional wood-fired pizzas (topped with hand-pulled mozzarella and seasonal ingredients) are served alongside whipped ricotta and cacio e pepe arancini.
Or, snag a reservation at Barbareño for California-inspired dishes, like grilled avocado and ahi crudo — and whatever you do, don’t skip the Baked California for dessert.