Santa Barbara to LA - Celebrity Spotting and More

Fuel up and get your agenda ready – it’s time to go celebrity spotting in the city of angels. Santa Barbara is only two hours away, and it’s easy to plan a quick day trip to Los Angeles.

All year round, you can find famous people throughout the city, living in luxury at red carpet events and keeping a low profile at sports games. Whether you are hoping to rub elbows with the rich and famous at an event, or drive around to do your own star-spotting, you can be sure to find famous people throughout the year at these events and attractions in LA.

Academy Awards Bleacher Seats – Celebrity Spotting

Slide into your designer wear and get glammed up for a night at the Academy Awards where you are sure to see your favorite stars. Fortunately, you don’t have to be famous to attend, although maybe you will be discovered while at the awards. Bleacher seats are available to the public at both the Oscars and Emmys so you too can participate in the infamous award shows and sit amongst those being honored. Plan ahead of time, and you just might score free seats to either event.

TCL Chinese Theatre – Celebrity Spotting

Hollywood is located about 90 minutes away from Santa Barbara. In the heart of the city lies the TCL Chinese Theatre, which is more than just your average movie theater. Throughout the year, you can find red carpet movie premieres here, with a celebrity-filled lineup walking the carpet. While you won’t get to sit in on the movie premieres, you can camp outside the theater with your camera and autograph book handy as the stars themselves approach the theater. Be sure to catch a movie in between premieres to see the gorgeous architecture and the world’s largest IMAX auditorium that help make this theater famous.

Lakers Game – Celebrity Spotting

Santa Barbara doesn’t have an NBA team of its own, but the Staples Center is less than two hours away. It’s also a great place to spot celebrities. Gear up to cheer on the Los Angeles Lakers, a favorite past time for celebrities in the LA area. Courtside tickets might have you sitting within rows of celebrities such as Jay-Z and Beyonce or Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher. If you can’t land courtside tickets, be sure to bring a pair of binoculars with you to zoom in on celebrities from up in the stands. You can also use a local deal aggregator to find a discount.

Beaches in Malibu – Celebrity Spotting

Some of the best beaches in Los Angeles are only a little more than an hour away from Santa Barbara. When celebrities aren’t vacationing in far-off exotic destinations or rural small towns, they kick it beachside in Malibu. Many celebrities own beachfront property, so stroll along the shore to find them. Get the full scoop on the celebrities living in Malibu here, The list of Malibu beaches goes on and on, so you have quite a selection for sun and star-filled days on the shore. Check out the scenic beaches to choose from, and plan your day in the sun where you’re bound to be lying beachside with celebrities.

Rodeo Drive – Celebrity Spotting

Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive is one spot that you cannot miss while visiting Los Angeles. The area represents Los Angeles’s as a global location for “Luxury, Fashion, Entertainment” (cite from website). With high price stores, you are bound to run into a celebrity in the area while you are window shopping with your family. The area is especially beautiful around the holidays. You do not have to worry about those frigid temperatures up north.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Unveilings – Celebrity Spotting

See your favorite celebrity receive the coveted Hollywood Walk of Fame star on Hollywood Boulevard. Celebrities receive an individual ceremony for their star unveiling. While the ceremonies are spread out throughout the year, they are a worthwhile event that honors the hard work of actors, musicians, and other artists. Find the lineup here so you can plan to see your favorite star receive their star! After the ceremony, be sure to walk along and see the stars of those that have already been honored in Hollywood.

Grand Openings – Celebrity Spotting 

You can pretty much expect to find celebrities in the crowd at any major gallery or attraction grand opening. Plan ahead to attend the grand opening of the King Tut attraction in 2018. The California Science Center is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, so this is sure to be an event A-listers will line up for.. Celebrities are already adding this to their event calendar for the year, so you won’t want to miss this star-spotting opportunity at this celebrity worthy attraction.

Fine Dining – Celebrity Spotting

After a full day of celebrity spotting, you should fuel up before driving back to Santa Barbara. Therefore, sit back, relax, and gaze over your candlelit dinner into the eyes of the famous at some of the city’s top restaurants. Celebrities are always the first to check out the newest and best-rated restaurants, so landing yourself on the waitlist will have you filling up on fine food and your fix of famous people. One of LA’s most popular restaurants for famous and normal people alike is Osteria Mozza. The authentic Italian cuisine and romantic atmosphere have been known to draw in A-listers such as Jennifer Aniston and Charlize Theron, to name a couple.

Home Tours – Celebrity Spotting

Still, need your celebrity fix? Take a tour to see the homes of stars and other places they tend to spend time or take your chance at finding them throughout the city. Many celebrities will be lining up at the hottest and fanciest places in town, but others will try to keep a low profile and only visit the hidden local spots. Keep your eyes peeled and your options open – you never know who you might bump into.