Santa Barbara worth the drive?

emilymad

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 17, 2003

• Feb 7, 2016

• #1

We are trying to put together a So Cal trip. If we fly into LAX is it worth it to drive up to Santa Barbara for a day before seeing LA and then Disneyland? It seems like it would be a 3-4 hour roundtrip drive. We plan to visit one of the LA beaches as well during the trip.

 

hodad

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 31, 2015

• Feb 7, 2016

• #2

What would you want to get out of a trip to Santa Barbara that you can't get in LA, Orange County, or San Diego (much closer)? In my opinion, it's not different enough and there aren't enough unique things to warrant a drive.

 

StageTek

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

Joined

Apr 20, 2007

• Feb 8, 2016

• #3

It is very much worth the drive. To me SB is much more different and unique than LA, OC or SD.

 

emilymad

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 17, 2003

• Feb 8, 2016

• #4

Thanks! How much time do you think we would need to spend in SB? One day?

 

WebmasterMaryJo

Techarita

Staff member

Administrator

Joined

Dec 15, 1998

• Feb 9, 2016

• #5

If you go to Santa Barbara, figure on a full day. There is a trolley you can ride that is a hop on/ hop off, so you can get a tour of the town, then stop where you want to go visit, including the Santa Barbara Mission. The downtown area is fun to visit, and there is a huge fig tree (really big) by the little train station there. On Sundays, people sell crafts along the beach. There is a restaurant/cafe right on the beach. I enjoyed eating there (http://www.shorelinebeachcafe.com/).

You might stop off at Carpinteria, if you'd like, and see the seals there (http://www.carpinteriacoast.com/seal_rookery.html). It makes for a really nice outing. It's about a two hour drive to Santa Barbara. (I go there a few times a year for business (to Goleta).

I did a segment on our Podcast about Santa Barbara, if you'd like to take a listen. I didn't know about the seal preserve in Carpinteria, but plan on going there this weekend to check it out.

Podcast - Show Notes page

Day Six Drive: Santa Barbara & Solvang

 

emilymad

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 17, 2003

• Feb 9, 2016

• #6

Mary Jo said:

If you go to Santa Barbara, figure on a full day. There is a trolley you can ride that is a hop on/ hop off, so you can get a tour of the town, then stop where you want to go visit, including the Santa Barbara Mission. The downtown area is fun to visit, and there is a huge fig tree (really big) by the little train station there. On Sundays, people sell crafts along the beach. There is a restaurant/cafe right on the beach. I enjoyed eating there (http://www.shorelinebeachcafe.com/).

You might stop off at Carpinteria, if you'd like, and see the seals there (http://www.carpinteriacoast.com/seal_rookery.html). It makes for a really nice outing. It's about a two hour drive to Santa Barbara. (I go there a few times a year for business (to Goleta).

I did a segment on our Podcast about Santa Barbara, if you'd like to take a listen. I didn't know about the seal preserve in Carpinteria, but plan on going there this weekend to check it out.

Podcast - Show Notes page

Day Six Drive: Santa Barbara & Solvang

Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the wonderful information!

 

L

lost*in*cyberspace

DIS Veteran

Joined

Dec 30, 2005

• Feb 9, 2016

• #7

That fig tree is called the Moreton Bay Fig Tree. I went to college at UCSB and at the time (don't know if it's still true) many homeless people lived under the tree.

OP, for such a short visit, I would skip the Santa Barbara visit. It's a cute town, but save it for a longer visit or a stop if you ever drive up the coast.

 

S

SA-TX

Earning My Ears

Joined

Jul 7, 2015

• Feb 18, 2016

• #8

I agree with hodad and lost. It's not that it isn't worth a drive. If you live in SoCal and you want to spend a day there, it's worth the drive. If you're driving the coast, it's worth the stop. If you've got longer than a short trip, it's definitely worth checking out. But while it is beautiful, it's not really worth going out of your way for a short visit. It's a cute town, very beautiful at night, but there's not much there to make a special trip. You'll get there, you'll check out State Street and the wharf but then what?

 

StageTek

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

Joined

Apr 20, 2007

• Feb 18, 2016

• #9

SA-TX said:

You'll get there, you'll check out State Street and the wharf but then what?

Click to expand...

As with any day visit to any city there is a lot one can do. After State Street and the Wharf
there is the Mission and the stunning Lotusland. There is the Marina and the Botanic Garden;
one unlike any other is CA. There is a wonderful intimate Zoo. Even the Courthouse in SB is
a wonderful destination. Many unique things to see and do on a day trip. Well worth the round
trip drive.

All day trips depend on ones point of view. Some of those who have already spent time in SB
see no reason to see it again. But that trip is well worth it for a first time visitor.

 

S

SA-TX

Earning My Ears

Joined

Jul 7, 2015

• Feb 18, 2016

• #10

I love Santa Barbara by the way. At night, the lights of the city are breathtaking. It's a safe, relaxing, and walk-able city, even late at night. There are a lot of homeless people, but they don't bother anyone. I am thinking only along the lines of the time one has between the drive there and the drive back.

 

StageTek

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

Joined

Apr 20, 2007

• Feb 19, 2016

• #11

Me too, SA-TX. I feel the drive there and back is well worth is and that is a lot to do
after you check out State Street and Stern's Wharf. But I hear you. To you a day trip
to SB isn't worth the drive. It's good for emilymad to read different opinions, isn't it?