Santa Barbara is one of my favorite places to hang out in California. For one thing, there are a lot of things to do in Santa Barbara for families. It’s a great place to take kids because there is enough to do that they won’t get bored but you aren’t overwhelmed with choices and driving the way you can be in larger cities. And if nothing else, you can hang out at the beach instead of looking around for the next thing to do.
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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta del Sol, parking is free in the museum lot
Admission runs $7 – $12 kids under 2 enter free
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is one of our favorite things to do in Santa Barbara for families. There are special exhibits, a hands on room where the kids can touch everything and play and draw, there are cool specimens of bugs and gemstones and animals everywhere you look. The grounds are stunningly beautiful in a way that is unique to Santa Barbara. There is a planetarium show, a butterfly pavilion and there are often extra exhibits visiting the museum. This one is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Click here for more info.
The Santa Barbara Zoo
500 Ninos Drive, parking from $8 – $11 or you can take the waterfront shuttle!
Admission is $10 – $13, some attractions require an additional fee
This low key zoo is on the grounds of a former historic estate and is home to more than 500 animals who live in open, naturalistic habitats. Exhibits include an animal kitchen, train, petting zoo and family play area. Find out more here.
Spend Time at the Beach
Free
Santa Barbara is one of the great beach towns in California and spending time at the beach is the ultimate thing to do in Santa Barbara for families. My favorite is East Beach at the easternmost end of Santa Barbara’s 4 mile stretch of beaches. Head east on Cabrillo Blvd. from Stearns Wharf and just step out onto the sand whenever you find your spot. We like the far far east section right in front of the Hyatt. There are volleyball nets, picnic tables and a playground. Your kids will happily spend hours digging in the sand and running in the surf. Butterly Beach in Montecito, and West Beach, closer to the center of town, are also great.
Take Surf Lessons!
Locations Vary
$65 – $85
Kids love the beach but are getting kind of bored? Kick it up a notch! Get those kids on a surfboard. There are several companies around Santa Barbara who offer surf lessons for kids. Try Santa Barbara Surf School or Surf Happens.
Already know how to surf or boogie board? Rent a board here.
Check out Skater’s Point
Near Anacapa and Cabrillo
Admission is free, helmets required
Drop into the bowl at Skater’s Point skate park near the wharf. Maybe the coolest skate park in California, even if your kids don’t ride they will be fascinated by the scene and it might spark an interest in skating.
Rent Bikes or Scooters
24 E. Mason Street near Stearns Wharf
Prices start at $8.95 per hour
Stop in at Wheel Fun Rentals on Mason Street and rent bikes, scooters or surreys for a true Santa Barbara adventure. Wheel Fun offers kid bikes, tag along bikes and bikes with kid seats so the whole family can get in on that bicycle action. Helmet rentals are also available. The shop is convenient to Stearns Wharf and the kid friendly Cabrillo bike path. For more info about bike paths check out this guide to biking in Santa Barbara. The Wheel Fun website is here.
The Sea Center at Stearn’s Wharf
211 Stearns Wharf
Admission $6.00 – $8.50
The Sea Center is an extension of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This highly interactive marine education facility offers you close encounters with marine animals from the Santa Barbara Channel. Kids can get their hands wet as they touch and feel anemones, hermit crabs and a variety of other marine life. More info here.
Ride Lil’ Toot
237 Stearns Wharf
$2.00 – $5.00 for one way fare
Once you’ve wandered Stearns Wharf and spent some time at the Sea Center hop on Lil’ Toot, Santa Barbara’s original water taxi. Running daily from noon until sunset, Lil’ Toot provides 15-minute narrated boat rides and sunset boat rides between the Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf every half hour. Click here for more info about Santa Barbara boat rides.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way
Admission $5.00 – $8.00, kids 5 and under admitted for free
From Stearns Wharf, Lil’ Toot will drop you at Santa Barbara Harbor, home to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. This bright and engaging space tells of adventure and tragedy in the Santa Barbara channel. There is a working periscope! And cannons! If all else fails let your kids look for cool treasure in the museum store and offer a return ride on Lil’ Toot. Click here for website.
Moxi: The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation
125 State Street
$10 – $15, kids 2 and under are admitted for free
A fun space for interactive learning, Moxi is comprised of three floors that are filled with hands-on exhibits and experiences. You can go inside a giant guitar and build your own race car and explore a sky garden. This colorful museum is so much fun that your kids won’t even realize they’re actually learning stuff. More info here.
You’ve dragged your kids to museums, you made them learn how to surf, they rode bikes and touched anemones, they sat on a boat called Lil’ Toot without once making a fart joke. Moms and Dads, the only right thing to do here is get them an ice cream cone.
Bonus: Ice Cream Cones
The best ice cream in Santa Barbara is found at McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams. With flavors like Whiskey and Pecan Pralines, Earl Grey Tea and Shortbread, and Banana and Salted Caramel this ice cream ain’t just for the kiddos. Though the kiddos will not complain. Go get ice cream.
Two locations in SB: 728 State Street and 120 State Street, Suite B in the Funk Zone.
So go forth and take your kids to Santa Barbara. They won’t mind the wine tasting as long as you work in the beach and the bikes too. Cheers!
Looking for more California content to love? Check out our Pismo Beach hotel suggestions and our favorite place to stop on a California road trip.
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