Alex KhachigianAlex Khachigian
Santa Barbara County

Central Coast, California

Santa Barbara County

Palms, red tile roofs, and a beach that faces south.

  • Downtown Santa Barbara
  • Montecito
  • Carpinteria

Top Hotel & Airbnb Stays

Tours & Experiences

My Santa Barbara County Reels

About Santa Barbara County

Top Places To See or Explore

  • Funk Zone
  • Montecito
  • State Street
  • Butterfly Beach
  • Courthouse Tower
Best time to go:
Year-round; March to May and September to November are best
Getting there:
About 1.5 hours from Los Angeles up Highway 101

Planning a Trip to Santa Barbara County

The American Riviera earns the nickname. Bike the waterfront path, climb the courthouse tower, and use it as the softest possible landing between Los Angeles and Big Sur.

What to Do in Santa Barbara County

  1. Climb the courthouse clock tower

    Free, open to anyone, and the best view in the city.

  2. Ride the beach path end to end

    Three flat miles on the water. Rentals sit by the wharf.

  3. Taste through the Funk Zone on foot

    A dozen tasting rooms in four blocks by the train station.

  4. Watch the sunset from Butterfly Beach

    Faces south, so the sun drops into the water off to your right.

Common Questions About Santa Barbara County

When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara County?
Year-round; March to May and September to November are best.
How do you get to Santa Barbara County?
About 1.5 hours from Los Angeles up Highway 101.
Where should you stay in Santa Barbara County?
Good bases are Downtown Santa Barbara, Montecito and Carpinteria. The places I'd book first are Rosewood Miramar Beach, Palihouse Santa Barbara, La Playa Inn and Casa Iglesia.

My Shop and Affiliate Partners

Preview of my California map in Google MapsDigital

My California Map (800+ pins on Google Maps)

Every place I enjoyed in California, pinned in one map: 800+ of my favorite spots to explore across the state. It works directly in the Google Maps app.

Where to next

Highway 395 Road Trip: 7-Day Eastern Sierra Itinerary