A vacation that’s actually fun for the whole family is a rare thing indeed. But if any city can deliver, Santa Barbara can! In addition to plenty of beaches and parks, our coastal paradise has loads of attractions and outdoor opportunities to satisfy kids big and small.
Whether you’re craving beach days or cultural experiences, find out why Santa Barbara is the ultimate destination for unforgettable family fun.
Planning a Family Trip to Santa Barbara
The Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara with Kids
Santa Barbara enjoys mild, sunny weather year-round. Late spring and early fall are ideal times to visit, with warm days, cooler evenings and fewer crowds. However, if you don’t mind a little hustle and bustle, summer is great for splashing in the surf and playing on the shore.
How to Get to Santa Barbara and Get Around
Planning your trip is simple: Fly directly into the Santa Barbara Airport or opt for a scenic ride on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, which stops right in town. Some travelers choose to fly into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is roughly a two-hour drive away. Once you arrive, getting around is easy thanks to bike and car rentals and the waterfront shuttle, which runs Friday through Sunday.
Family-Friendly Neighborhoods in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara’s diverse neighborhoods welcome families of all kinds. Downtown is a vibrant hub of shopping, dining and culture. The Funk Zone combines industrial-inspired art with craft wine tastings in a creative and eclectic setting. Just east of downtown, Montecito boasts upscale boutiques and Spanish architecture. For families seeking serenity, the Mesa and East Beach areas feature stunning ocean views and spacious parks — perfect for picnics and playtime. And nearby Summerland charms visitors with antique shops, coastal cafés and quiet beach access.
What to Pack for a Santa Barbara Family Vacation
Bring layers for cooler evenings and plenty of sun protection for beach days. Sandals and sneakers both come in handy, as many attractions combine outdoor walking with indoor exhibits. Don’t forget swimsuits, refillable water bottles and your kids’ favorite outdoor toys for park or beach play.
The Best Things to Do in Santa Barbara with Kids
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
Located on the beautiful grounds just behind Old Mission Santa Barbara in the famed Riviera neighborhood, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History has been around for more than 100 years. And in all that time, it’s figured out a thing or two. There are millions of artifacts and specimens for little archaeologists, biologists, geologists and paleontologists to discover, as well as the hands-on Curiosity Lab, where kids can examine specimens through a microscope and talk with a naturalist. Take a stroll through the Prehistoric Forest and discover life-size dinosaurs, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Stegosaurus and Euoplocephalus, among others. But the most famous and exciting exhibit here might be the one that greets you before you even step inside: A complete, 74-foot-long skeleton of a blue whale, Earth’s biggest animal. Standing next to this gentle giant named Chad will cut even the grown-ups down to size!
The Santa Barbara Zoo
Low-key and gorgeous, the easily accessible Santa Barbara Zoo sits on 30 acres of lush gardens overlooking the ocean, the mountains and Santa Barbara itself. This small and manageable zoo makes for a great mini-outing, and won’t overwhelm even the littlest human creatures, although the collection of 500 animals — comprising 146 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects — is sure to elicit plenty of oohs and aahs. In addition to gorillas and giraffes, lions and elephants, penguins and flamingos, you’ll see some special creatures that are rarely exhibited, like the majestic — and endangered — California condor, whose gigantic wingspan tops 9 ½ feet. And rest assured, the animals you’re seeing are part of the Species Survival Plans conservation program.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
Located on Stearns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is an immersive interactive experience that’ll excite budding marine biologists and their parents alike. Check out what’s happening in the various aquariums, get up close and personal with sea creatures of every stripe at the Intertidal Wonders exhibit, crawl through the giant, 1,500-gallon Surge Tank to explore a tide pool from the inside out, and test your bravery at the shark touch pool and urchin touch tank. Don’t miss the “Dive In: Our Changing Channel” exhibition to encounter moon jellies, California two-spot octopus, giant Pacific seahorses and more.
MOXI
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, has brought an added level of innovation, imagination and fun to downtown Santa Barbara. Located on lower State Street, MOXI’s not just for kids: all ages will be awe-struck with each of the three engaging floors, filled with hands-on exhibits focused on science and technology. As an added bonus, MOXI’s stunning rooftop Sky Garden gives guests a birds-eye view of Stearns Wharf, Cabrillo Boulevard and downtown.
Family-friendly restaurants in santa barbara
Any parent will tell you that a meal out with the family can be challenging. Either it’s too stuffy and formal for the kids, or too … plastic-coated tablecloths and chicken-finger-forward for the grown-ups. However, Santa Barbara does family-friendly dining right, with a unique blend of kid-approved favorites and bold flavors for adults.
- Shoreline Café, located to the west of Santa Barbara Harbor, is right on the beach, so the kids don’t have to sit still. Instead, they can run around, build sandcastles or bury their siblings in the sand while you devour breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros.
- For a quick bite, On The Alley offers seafood tacos, fish and chips and other familiar staples your whole crew can enjoy. Sit at the eatery’s outdoor picnic benches and take in the sights and sounds of the bustling harbor.
- Santa Barbara FisHouse is another go-to for families. Close to the beach, this open-air restaurant offers a picky-eaters-approved menu of classic coastal fare and a dreamy, fairy-light ambiance that charms diners of all ages.
- Lucky Penny in the heart of the Funk Zone is an excellent option for pizza lovers. The outdoor patio setting, paired with simple and inventive pizza combinations, is sure to please everyone in your party.
- Santa Barbara Public Market houses several kid-friendly dining options in one convenient stop. Corazón Cocina dishes up Mexican classics like crispy quesadillas and cheesy bean burritos. Comfort food reigns at Little Bird Kitchen, such as buttermilk chicken strips and creamy shells and cheese. And no family dinner is complete without dessert! Swing by Rori’s Artisanal Creamery for a scoop of malted milk ball, brown sugar banana or other unique ice cream flavors.
- At Farmer Boy, enjoy kid-beloved classics for breakfast and lunch — think silver-dollar pancakes, mini-waffles and gooey grilled cheese. Nearby, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s backcountry play area is a fantastic spot for kids to explore nature and burn off some energy.
Get Outside!
Families love Santa Barbara for its breathtaking scenery and variety of outdoor activities. Simply wander out your front door and you’ll bump into something magical! Take a family sea kayak adventure through Santa Barbara Harbor. Or, schedule a full-day excursion to Channel Islands National Park, where kids can paddle through sea caves and spot animals ranging from harbor seals to the endemic island fox. Rather stay on dry land? Rent everyone cruiser bikes — or even one of Santa Barbara’s famous surreys — and soak up the beachy vibes along Cabrillo Boulevard.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The Santa Ynez Mountains weave a mesmerizing pattern across Santa Barbara, creating unbelievable hiking trails. For ocean lovers, surf lessons and surfboard rentals are at the ready. A sunset beach picnic on one of the area’s endless miles of coastline is the perfect way to end the day.
Free Things to Do for families
Some of the best adventures don’t cost a thing. Pedal along breezy waterfront bike paths, hike to Inspiration Point for panoramic views or marvel at vibrant landmarks like the Chromatic Gate and Stearns Wharf’s dolphin fountain. Little ones will delight in playgrounds at Alameda Park, picnics amid Old Mission roses and trails winding through Franceschi Park. Roam the blufftop beauty of the Douglas Family Preserve, trace history on the Red Tile Walking Tour and browse downtown’s creative galleries. Go treasure-hunting at the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show and finish the day with a free movie under the stars (summers only).
Santa Barbara’s Top Kid-Friendly Hotels
What’s a family vacation without awesome digs? Kid-friendly accommodations in Santa Barbara range from luxurious beachfront resorts to budget-friendly hotels in the heart of the city. Many offer kid-approved perks like giant lawn chess, bunk beds and s’mores kits around the fire. More than just a place to stay, these spots are destinations in themselves.
Find and book your perfect place to stay.
If you’re looking for a destination with something enticing for everyone, Santa Barbara is where X marks the spot for the whole family.
