Santa Barbara is known for its beaches and sunshine, but what happens when it rains? If you get caught in Santa Barbara in the rain, don’t despair! There’s still plenty to do! Instead of checking out the beach, check out some of these Santa Barbara rainy day activities instead!
Visit a museum
Santa Barbara is home to many wonderful museums. Take advantage of the weather and duck inside to one of the many museums. We suggest either the Santa Barbara Museum of Art or the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The Museum of Art is a great place to wander and gaze at the thousands of works of art. The Museum Natural History makes learning about Santa Barbara fun and interesting, and with plenty of interactive exhibits, even young kids will enjoy it!
Go out to eat
Just because it’s raining it doesn’t mean you have to stay inside your hotel (but we get why you’d be tempted to)! Go out to eat at one of the many Santa Barbara restaurants–you can’t go wrong with whichever meal you choose–and enjoy some delicious food. If you get seated by the windows, you can enjoy the best of both worlds and watch the rain while staying nice and dry.
See a movie
We know that you might be thinking, “But I can see a movie at home! Why would I see one when I’m on vacation?” Well, in Santa Barbara you can visit their historic Arlington Theater to catch a movie in a theater that has plenty of charm. Looking for a fun nighttime activity to escape the rain? Arlington Theater also frequently hosts bands and comedians! Go see a concert or comedy show for a unique rainy day experience.
Go shopping
Visit Stearns Wharf and walk through the many shops. Window shop, purchase souvenirs, or do a wine tasting! With so many shops and activities at Stearns Wharf, you can easily spend a full day indoors avoiding the rain. And, for a bonus, you can look off the end of the wharf and watch the storm over the ocean.
A rainy day in Santa Barbara doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice having fun! The sunny days can make it difficult to enjoy indoor activities since you might feel like you have to take advantage of the weather. But on rainy days, you can experience all the indoor activities Santa Barbara has to offer guilt-free!
What are your favorite things to do in Santa Barbara on a rainy day? We’d love to know on Instagram and Facebook!
