How to Plan Your Trip to Santa Barbara

Planning a vacation can be daunting, especially if you’re visiting a place as exciting and fun as Santa Barbara. But never fear! We’ll help you come up with a checklist and get you ready for a life-changing vacation with us. Here’s our list of things to prioritize when planning your trip to Santa Barbara.

Family Activities

If you’re traveling solo or adults-only, then you can skip this step. However, for those traveling with kids, planning family activities is essential. Luckily there’s a number of kid friendly activities in Santa Barbara, from visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo to Stearns Wharf. Schedule activities for your kids ahead of time so that you can avoid future headaches.

Where to Hike

Perhaps you weren’t planning to go hiking during your trip to Santa Barbara, but we’re here to tell you that it’s a necessity. There are many hiking trails to choose from, depending on what level of difficulty you’re looking for, so there are really no excuses not to go. Regardless of what trail you choose though, you’ll be amazed by all of the beautiful vistas and breathtaking overlooks. You won’t want to miss out!

Where to Bike

Biking isn’t as much of a necessity as hiking, but it’s still a fun activity to do while you’re here. There’s really no reason not to when you consider the fact that Marina Beach Motel offers free bike rentals to guests. So make time in your itinerary to grab one of our beach cruisers and hit a biking trail.

Which Beach to Visit

As you might imagine, Santa Barbara has a lot of beaches. Don’t make the mistake of just going to the first one that pops up on your GPS! There are beaches for families, dog friendly beaches, celebrity-spotting beaches, and more. Check out our list of the best beaches in Santa Barbara to help you decide.

Where to Go Wine Tasting

Santa Barbara is known for its wine, so it’s important to factor wine tasting into your schedule. Because the soil is perfect for growing wine grapes, there are many wineries here. So check out our list of the most popular Santa Barbara wineries to help you decide where to get your wine tasting.

What’s Free

If you’re traveling on a budget, you’re going to want to stretch your dollar as far as it can go. Fortunately, there are many free things to do in Santa Barbara, so we promise you’ll never be bored. Make sure to budget wisely and plan out plenty of free activities so that this trip doesn’t break the bank.

What to Bring

Last but not least, you’re going to need to plan what you want to bring with you to Santa Barbara. We put together a list of essentials, but you’re going to need your own list of necessities. So plan carefully and try not to bring too much. You’ll regret it once you’re struggling with multiple suitcases at the airport!

If you follow these planning tips, your trip to Santa Barbara will be fun and relaxing. So take the time to plan your trip carefully and reap the benefits when you stay with us at Marina Beach Motel.