A Day in Santa Barbara: Planning a Trip in Downtown

If you are looking to get away from Southern California for the day, try going up to Santa Barbara, which is about a two-hour drive from Los Angeles. If you are unfamiliar with the area, downtown along State Street, offers first-time visitors everything they need to fill out their day without spending it in the car. The area boasts a wide array of stores, restaurants and historical attractions. For those who plan to drive, plan to leave early in the morning. The highway getting close to Santa Barbara gets a lot of traffic closer to noon when everyone heads to the beach.

Visitors planning to take public transportation can take the train for around $100 roundtrip (but the price varies depending on what station and line you are riding on). Check Amtrak's web site to book your tickets and to find train departure times. The train station in Santa Barbara is located on State Street right in the middle of downtown, so its location is perfect if your concern is how to get around once you arrive in Santa Barbara.

If you are driving, there are public parking lots everywhere off of State Street, so just pay attention to the signs and pick where you want to go. Most of the lots will be located on the right. Maximum parking fees are in the $7 range.

From the train station, you can walk to several places. If you are looking for more of an experience, there are wine tours offered. Some of them will even pick you up from the station, but you have to plan accordingly.

For the most part, the wineries are about another two hours away from where the train will drop you off in Santa Barbara. If you are only looking to spend the day there, it may be best to catch a wine tour on another trip when you are able to actually spend the weekend there (just so that you can actually enjoy the experience rather than rushing from pickup points and trying to catch trains back and forth).

If you are mainly visiting to shop, State Street is lined with national retailers such as White House Black Market, Sephora, Nordstrom - everything you can find in a mall - along with more unique shops, including places that sell organic clothing, comics, books and more.

State Street is a really nice area to walk up and down. It's a relaxing atmosphere in the morning. By noon, it gets a little crazy since locals, obviously, shop there too. It's not just a tourist area.

If you have come for something a little more than just shopping, try visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Art on State Street between Anapamu and Figueroa. Admission is $9 for adults, and on Sundays admission is free. Check www.sbmuseart.org for more information about the current exhibit.

Within walking distance of the museum, you will also find the Karpeles Manuscript Library (also on Anapamu). The library houses various manuscripts and other important documents. It is free to get in, but they are only open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

After shopping and walking along State Street, make sure to visit the beach and waterfront by going to Stearns Wharf. To get there ride the Downtown-Waterfront Shuttle. The fare is 25 cents, and it operates until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Every other day of the week, it operates until 6 p.m. If you are driving, there is public parking on Cabrillo Boulevard, which is free with validation. Make sure to get there early though. Otherwise, it is difficult to find parking.

There are several restaurants you can stop at on your visit to the wharf. For hamburger-types of food, try Char West Fish & Chips or the Moby Dick if you are on a family outing. The Harbor Restaurant is a little more fancy offering fish and prime rib. The Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. should be your stop if fresh seafood is what you are after.

And if you are not able to make it to a wine tour on your trip, stop by Stearns Wharf Vintners to taste some wines with bread and sandwiches.

The wharf also has some souvenir shops and offers cruises. It is also home to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Ty Warner Sea Center.

Santa Barbara obviously boasts a number of other places - too many to mention in this article - but this should give you a relatively brief idea of how to plan a day trip. On your next trip though, make sure to book a room and spend the weekend exploring territory farther out from downtown.