Planning a family trip to California? Santa Barbara is a fantastic destination for families with toddlers or older children, with its relaxed vibe, beautiful beaches, and many family-friendly attractions. Whether you’re visiting for a day or staying for the weekend, there are so many things to do in Santa Barbara with kids that make it an ideal destination for a family getaway.
We spent two days exploring Santa Barbara with our baby and toddler, and it turned out to be one of our favourite stops on our California road trip. From playgrounds to beaches, this guide covers everything we loved — and what we’d do again next time.
For reference, At the time of this trip, our toddler was 3.5 years old and our baby was just 4 months.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the beautiful sunshine that was forecast. It was pretty cold and windy. Our older one also wasn’t feeling 100%. Despite this, we still managed to have a great time and make some beautiful family memories! So, if you’re wondering what not to miss in Santa Barbara, read on.
SANTA BARBARA WITH KIDS QUICK PLANNING:
Best Time of Year to Visit:
Between March and May or September and November.
Ideal Trip Length:
2-3 days is perfect.
Getting Around Santa Barbara:
Mainly, you can get around on foot.
Other Areas of CA to Visit:
Turn your visit into a road trip. Compare rental car prices here. We also have guides on San Diego and Los Angeles.
Family Hotel Recommendations:
The Eagle Inn (where we stayed).
Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara is another great option.
Best Beach:
Arroyo Burro
Top Playground:
Kids World Playground
Things to Book:
Trolley Tour
West Beach: Kayak Rental
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own, and the products are things I have purchased with my own money.
How Long to Spend in Santa Barbara
Our California road trip was our first two-week vacation as a family of 4. Santa Barbara was the first stop on our itinerary. We had 3 nights, 2 days in Santa Barbara, but we would have liked one extra, especially if the weather had been better.
If you’re short on time, you could easily just have 1 day in Santa Barbara, spend the morning exploring the town and the afternoon on the beach!
Arroyo Burro Beach
Where to Stay in Santa Barbara
We stayed at The Eagle Inn in Santa Barbara. This hotel was in a great location, close to both the beach and the town centre. It also offered free parking for guests, and a delicious breakfast was included for all visitors. We booked a room with a terrace, which was perfect for families, as the kids could go to bed while we enjoyed a drink on the terrace.
How to Get Around Santa Barbara with Kids
Santa Barbara isn’t huge, except for one beach (Arroyo Burro Beach), so we were able to walk everywhere. I bought the Joolz Aer+ travel stroller for this trip. If you travel a lot, we would recommend it!
We hired a car as we visited Santa Barbara as part of a California road trip. Arroyo Burro Beach was our favourite; however, you could skip this to save the cost of car rental!
READ MORE: OUR JOOLZ AER+ STROLLER REVIEW
PIN FOR LATER
Things to do in Santa Barbara with Kids
Head to the Beach
Our 3-year-old toddler was so excited to get to the beach. Of course, beach days are always a hit with kids! As I mentioned, we really didn’t get beach weather, but we kept trying, and he enjoyed it all the same. If you want to know what beach is best for kids in Santa Barbara, I’ll tell you about them all below.
- East Beach had quite a bit of tar in the sand close to the Wharf, but further East, it is more sandy and family-friendly. This is a large, spacious beach, so it is good to visit on sunny days as there’s plenty of room.
- West Beach is another sandy, family-friendly beach. A wide path along the beach is perfect for strollers (pushchairs). You can also rent kayaks here, which is a fun family activity. West Beach merges with East Beach on either side of Sterns Wharf.
- Leadbetter Beach, in my opinion, is a nicer beach than East or West Beach. However, it was also a huge wind tunnel. We didn’t last long there because the boys (and I) were just too cold! As I mentioned, despite it being July, the weather was unexpectedly cold. On a hot day, this would be a great option.
- Arroyo Burro Beach was the final beach we visited. It was the only one we drove to, but it was also our favourite. There is a free car park right by the beach. There are quite a lot of steps down to the beach, but this made it more sheltered from the wind. It has some sand and many rocks that are great for toddlers to explore. The only downside to this beach is it’s a popular spot for dog walkers. We have no problem with dogs, but I don’t like it when they run at my children, especially when we don’t know if they’re friendly!
We got this beach tent for our baby to shade him from the sun. It ended up being more of a windbreaker in Santa Barbara, but later in the trip, it did the job well!
Sheltering in our tent on Ledbetter Beach & East Beach by Sternes Wharf
Walk Along Stearns Wharf
Located between East and West Beaches, you’ll see Sternes Wharf. I feel like walking along the Wharf is a must-do when visiting Santa Barbara, although there’s not actually too much to do on the Wharf, especially for kids. There are a few shops and restaurants here, which is useful to know.
Enjoy the Parks and Playgrounds
We love finding great playgrounds when we travel. We found some really good options in Santa Barbara that are a perfect, free thing to do with kids.
Our kids get up early, and as it was too cold for the beach, we would head straight to a playground. I’ll share the two best ones below:
Alice Keck Park
Kids World Playground
Located in Alameda Park, this large wooden playground is a really fun thing to do with kids in Santa Barbara. It has big wooden structures, swings and slides, perfect for toddlers (and older kids) to enjoy.
Just across the road, there’s Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. A small but pretty garden with beautiful grounds and a pond. We enjoyed looking at the terrapins swimming here. This is the perfect place for a family picnic or ice cream!
Kids World Playground
Shipwreck Playground
This one is located opposite East Beach in Chase Palm Park. A large play boat that’s great for climbing on or pretending to be pirates! There’s also a lot of sand.
Shipwreck Playground
Wander Down State Street
This State Street is the main Street in Santa Barbara. It is very pretty and lined with shops and plenty of Instagrammable cafes, coffee shops and restaurants.
There were a few ‘little libraries’ along the street where you could take a book and leave a book. Freddie really enjoyed looking at them all! It’s a long street, so we also played games with him, like, ‘How many American flags can you count?’ to keep him entertained.
Enjoy a Trolley Tour
An oldfashion street car trolley runs arouns Santa Barbara. This is a fun thing to do in Santa Barbara with a toddler who loves vehicles! Reserve your spot now!
Look at The Yachts in the Harbour
The harbour is just a short walk from Leadbetter Beach. As the beach was so windy, we spent a while looking at the boats and picking out our dream one!
Looking at Yaughts in the Harbour
Where to Eat in Santa Barbara with Kids
There are plenty of options on State Street, but here are a couple more options:
- Santa Barbara Public Market – Located in Downtown Santa Barbara, this is a really nice place to stop for food. It has tables both inside and outside and a variety of places to choose from. There was also a tractor inside that the kids could play on. Is this a dream come true for all toddlers? Even better, if you post a photo, tagging them on Instagram, Dad can get a free beer from the bar. My husband was pretty pleased!
- The Funk Zone – another location with lots of food places. Located towards the lower end of State Street, nearer the waterfront.
Santa Barbara Public Market
Map of Santa Barbara with Kids
Below is my map of all the things to do in Santa Barbara with kids. Just click on the top right-hand corner to open it in Google Maps.
FAQ’s About Santa Barbara with Kids
Yes, Santa Barbara is absolutely worth visiting with kids, especially if you’re looking for a relaxed, scenic California getaway that combines beaches, walkability and low-stress sightseeing.
Staying near the beach is best for first-time visitors. Being close to the waterfront keeps everything walkable, including beaches, parks, Stearns Wharf and restaurants.
Both are beautiful and perfect to combine as a road trip. Which one is best depends on what kind of trip you want. San Diego is bigger and has more attractions and activities. Santa Barbara is calmer, slower-paced and easier with younger kids.
Thank you so much for reading our guide on the best things to do in Santa Barbara with kids. We hope you have an amazing family vacation in California!
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Happy Travelling,
