5 Fantastic Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas

Today, we’d like to offer some Staycation ideas in the Santa Barbara area. Our amazing town attracts visitors from across the planet, yet many locals have not taken the time to play in their own backyard and there are plenty of places and things to do in the region.

The advantage of a staycation is they can be done more economically than a long trip and are generally a lot less hassle to plan. We’ll focus on places to go and things to do within an hour’s drive of Santa Barbara proper. Let’s get started.

Best Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas #1

A Funk Zone Weekend

The Funk Zone, located between Hwy 101, Cabrillo, Garden St and State St is a visitors favorite. People give it 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor with an 85% rating of very good or excellent.

Although you could stay home and visit the Funk Zone, we suggest a night or two at the newly opened Hotel Californian. Heck, if you are going to take a staycation in Santa Barbara, you ought to pamper yourself a bit. Plus, it’s location on Lower State puts you in the heart of the Funk Zone and they often offer up to 25% discounts for locals.

What To Do While Taking A Staycation in the Funk Zone.

If wine is your thing, the Funk Zone will make you smile and probably get you a bit buzzed. There are a LOT of wine tasting rooms in the area. Our last count says 14 wine tasting rooms. Check out this map to help plan your stumble to the various Funk Zone wine tasting rooms.

In addition to wine, there are several fine eateries. The Lark gets great reviews and we’re delighted with the great fare at the Lucky Penny too. Locals like to spend happy hour at Figueroa Mountain Brewing or catch a lobster roll at Broad Street Oyster Company on Anacapa.

There aren’t a lot of shops in the Funk Zone, but we did want to mention The Shopkeepers. It’s a sweet place. While in the area, you can update your beach wear at Surf and Wear’s.

If you’re making the Funk Zone a family staycation, you’ll probably want to spend some time at the amazing MOXI. The MOXI has something for every age with its unique interactive experiences. You may also want to head over to the Harbor for some kayaking, paddle boarding or sailing, all available at Santa Barbara Sailing Center.

Best Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas #2

Take a Family Adventure at Alisal Ranch

Alisal Ranch is one of our nearby treasures many don’t know. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort has a lot to do including:

Golfing with two championship 18 hole golf courses.
Horseback Riding\ Fishing on Their Private Lake
Tennis & Pickleball
A Full-Service Spa
Lot’s of Kids Activities including horseback riding, archery, arts and crafts and more.

For a complete list of activities, check out the Alisal guest actives booklet.

A family vacation at Alisal has something for every member of the family and so easy to get to from Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas #3

A Day Whale Watching on The Condor Express

No doubt you’ve seen the Condor Express in Santa Barbara Harbor. Have you actually gone out whale watching?

In the Spring and Summer, you can hop aboard the leading Whale Watching boat in the Central Coast for a trip to the Channel Islands area. The boat leaves the Santa Barbara Harbor at 10:00 am returning at 2:30. Along the way you’ll likely see Humpback and Blue Whales and certainly a dolphin.

Most importantly, you’ll share an experience the entire family will remember for years to come. Check out the Condor Express website for booking info and rates.

Greeat Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas #4

Let’s Go Fishing Off The Channel Islands

Santa Barbara Sport Fishing Charters is your ticket for a lot of fun. Captain Tony is both a commercial and charter fisherman whose passion for the sport is well known in Santa Barbara.

Once aboard Rock Steady, Tony and up to six people will cruise the Santa Barbara waters in search of Rock Cod, Halibut, White Seabass, Sheepshead and maybe even some Yellow Tail.

Your Channel Island fishing adventure is an all-day affair with Captain Tony making sure everyone has a great time. Plus, he cleans all the fish, so you just get to enjoy the day and some tasty dinners with your fresh catch. Learn more at his website.

Great Santa Barbara Staycation Ideas #3

In Search of The Perfect Wave

Both Joe Parker and Garrett McCaw love surfing. This Santa Barbara Staycation article wouldn’t be complete without a surf and beach staycation. This is a great family choice and sure to change stress into bliss.

Joe and Garrett suggest booking a night or two at The Cliff House Inn, located just south of Rincon Point. The Cliff House ocean views are amazing and it’s a quick drive from Santa Barbara. You can dine at the Sholes Restaurant or take a quick trip to one of Ventura or Carpinteria’s fine eateries.

Using the Cliff House as your anchor point, it’s time to go surfing, boogie boarding or simply lounging on the beach. If surfing is your thing, you may want to check out Surfline.com’s surf report before starting your dawn patrol. They’ll let you know if there is any juice at lots of local beaches like Rincon, Mussel Scholes, Oil Piers, Stanley’s and Mondo’s.

Final Thoughts From The Santa Barbara Group

We hope you enjoyed our Santa Barbara Staycation ideas. Too often we put off fun because we think it has to be a trip to somewhere far away when so many from parts unknown come to our backyard. We live in one of the best places in the World, so be a tourist at home.

These are just a few of the many possibilities the Central Coast offers for a great Santa Barbara staycation. If you have suggestions of your own, please let us know by commenting on this post.

Joe Parker, Garrett McCaw, Avi Becker
The Santa Barbara Group
Berkshire Hathaway HSCP
3868 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93105
info@thesantabarbaragroup.com