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Beautiful seashores, fascinating native and Spanish colonial historical past, and over 300 days of sunshine a 12 months.
These are simply a number of the the reason why Santa Barbara ought to be in your journey radar.
And I’m not the one one who thinks so.
Expedia has revealed its 2025 journey development report, and one in all its rising tendencies is the vacation spot dupe.
And Santa Barbara made the record!
Destination dupes are all the fad.
And whereas I’d now be a fan of the tacky catchphrase, I do like the thought of getting off the overwhelmed path and exploring someplace rather less apparent.
With that in thoughts, right here’s why Santa Barbara is the proper dupe for LA.
Visiting Santa Barbara In the Fall And Winter
Santa Barbara is slightly underneath 100 miles away from Los Angeles, and you’ll drive between the 2 locations in about an hour and a half.
But regardless of their proximity, the 2 locations are miles aside.
Santa Barbara has a way more relaxed and laid-back vibe.
With its broad sandy seashores, it isn’t a spot to see and be seen however a spot to unwind and discover peace.
Because of its seashores, you’ll be forgiven for pondering that Santa Barbara is a summertime vacation spot.
And that is actually when town is at its busiest.
But the shoulder season of fall continues to be a good time to go to for lengthy, lazy days on the seaside with out the crowds.
Why not rent kayaks to discover the harbor and bay from a unique approach?
You can hire a single kayak from the Paddle Board Center in Santa Barbara Harbor for $25 per hour or $55 for the whole day.
Though the climate could also be cooler in the winter, Santa Barbara boasts over 300 days of sunshine a 12 months, so you will nonetheless have the ability to absorb that very important vitamin D in your break.
November to April is one of the best time of 12 months to go to Santa Barbara for its famend whale watching.
Condor Express Whale Watching is taken into account one of the best tour operator within the space.
During fall and winter, you’ll be able to take a 4.5-hour “open channel” journey in quest of humpback, blue, and fin whales.
You’ll additionally hunt for a number of the most numerous array of marine life on the West Coast.
These 4.5-hour journeys cost $125 per adult and $75 for children.
The Best Beaches In Santa Barbara
Choosing one of the best seashores in Santa Barbara is tough work since you’re so spoiled for selection.
Butterfly Beach is a straightforward and laid-back seaside in style with locals.
The ocean is calmer right here, so it’s an excellent selection for swimming or stand-up paddleboarding.
For a broad sandy seaside packed stuffed with amenities, attempt Leadbetter Beach.
The seaside is fringed by a park, making it a well-liked selection for these searching for one of the best of two pure worlds.
It has nice amenities and offshore winds that are perfect for kite browsing.
Finally, when you’re searching for probably the most picturesque seaside in Santa Barbara, attempt Arroyo Burro Beach.
It is surrounded by tall bluffs and is well-known for its excellent pure magnificence.
Santa Barbara’s Rich History
Santa Barbara has a wealthy and numerous historical past that’s effectively value exploring.
Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara, a lovely construction that comprises a church, historic cemetery, gardens, and mausoleum.
This is a lovely relic constructed within the 18th century and it’s the solely mission with twin bell towers, making it a singular vacation spot to discover.
Entry costs $17 per person for a self guided tour.
After a morning within the Old Mission spend your afternoon in El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park. Founded in 1782, it is a 5 1/2-acre park that preserves the positioning of the final Spanish fortress within the area.
This will allow you to discover 2 elements of Santa Barbara’s wealthy historical past in a single culture-rich day.
If you like slightly extra creative tradition, then discover the Santa Barbara Museum of Modern Art.
With over 4,000 items of artwork starting from fashionable to historical, you’ll discover examples of Asian, American, and European artwork right here.
This is a broad and complete assortment that gives a tremendous introduction to the artwork world, but in addition has unbelievable items that may attraction to established artwork fanatics.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit.