Santa Barbara doesn’t really need much introduction.  From the picture-perfect weather to the delicious food to the beautiful architectures, this place has it all.  So, it’s no wonder that it’s one of our favorite places to travel to. 

Our first visit to Santa Barbara was in October 2020.  Since then, we have been back twice – once during our Solvang trip in 2021 and again in April of last year for the little guy’s spring break.  We spent 7 days there (including travel days) and it was the perfect amount of time to soak in all the beautiful scenery and enjoy time relaxing.  I just shared a recap of the outfits we wore in Santa Barbara two weeks ago.  Today, I am so excited that I finally get to share the first part of our road trip with you.  In this travel diary*, I share highlights from day one to three of our weeklong vacation including where we stayed, what we did and where we ate.  

(*Side note: I am breaking up our road trip into two different posts, so it’s not information overload.)

Where we stayed

For this trip, we stayed in 2-bedroom rental house in downtown SB and the location was perfect! It was about a 10-minute walk to many restaurants and shops we visited.  Aside from the location, the house itself was perfect for the 3 of us.  I do think the rooms might be a little dated, but it was cute, clean and had everything we needed for a longer stay – washer/dryer, dishwasher, and full kitchen!

On top of that, it also had a large backyard that we enjoyed every day.  We sat outside for a couple of hours in the afternoon just relaxing.

What we did

Day 1

Santa Barbara is about 5-hour drive from where we live, and we arrived in the late afternoon.  

After arriving at the house, we explored the property a bit, unloaded the car, and then headed to dinner.  

Our first dinner out was at Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar, and it was an easy choice since everybody in our family loves Thai food.  They are located at Santa Barbara Public Market which was a quick walk from where we stayed.  Though the food menu isn’t super big, we really enjoyed the food that we got.  We loved their Pad Thai’s and the beef one was to die for! I’d come here if you are looking for a quick, easy family friendly meal without the bells and whistles*.  

(*Side note: The SBPM has a variety of food places to choose from and a great place to go to when you can’t decide on what type of food to get.  Though keep in mind the ambiance is essentially more like a food court in a mall.  You simply go up to the window, order your food and find a place to seat.  Additionally, we were starving, and inhaled our food before my brain could register to take a picture to share with you! #mybad)  

Then, it was time for bed.  After traveling all day, we were all too tired to keep our eyes open.  

Day 2

Day Two we started the morning with breakfast and then headed out to walk State Street.  This area is great because you don’t necessarily need a plan, you just walk around and enjoy the scenery and pop into different spots.  

Afterwards, we headed to the South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta*.  

While there’s not much to see or do here, in my opinion, it’s still worth a visit.  The location is beautiful and apart from the $2.50 train ride fee, the admission is free.  All in all, there is one model train car to see, one building that houses three historical exhibits, a gift shop, and a miniature train to ride on which was such a treat for all of us.  Yes, adults can ride too! The ride covers the entire property, and for only $2.50 per ticket, you can go on as much as you’d like.  On top of that, the staff in the ticket office and on the train were all friendly and welcoming which made me like this place even more.  

(*Side note: The train museum is only open on the weekends so make sure to plan accordingly.)    

From there, we went back to downtown Santa Barbara for lunch and decided on Bibi Ji.  We got the papri chaat to start and they were phenomenal.  The flavors were outstanding and unlike anything I’ve ever tasted! Then, for our main meal, we ordered and shared the baingan bhartha and butter chicken.  We also received the coconut curry as a complimentary meal because the server got one of our orders wrong.  Everything was yummy! 

Shortly after lunch we made our way out to M.Special Brewing per hubby’s request for a glass of beer.  I am not a beer drinker, but I really enjoyed the view from their outdoor patio.  It’s a great spot if you want some views of the city and people watching.  

After that, we went back to the house and spent the rest of the afternoon in the backyard getting in some R & R.  

Dinner was tri -tip courtesy of hubby and his superb grilling skills! 

Day 3

The next day, we decided to go to Cold Spring Tavern in Santa Ynez.  If you haven’t heard of Cold Spring Tavern, it used to be a former stagecoach dating back to 1886 that is now a restaurant that serves American food.  

This was our first-time trying Cold Spring Tavern, and it did not disappoint.  We arrived a little before 11:30 am when it opens, and I was surprised how quickly it filled up with people.  We chose to sit in their outdoor area called Blisshaven Garden and the scenery was incredible.  

For starters, we ordered their onion rings, and it was perfectly cooked and extra crispy.  Yum! As for our main meal, the hubby and I had the tri tip sandwich and the little guy had chicken tenders.  Like the starters, everything was cooked to perfection and no, they did not skimp on meat.  After eating here on a whim, I was really impressed.  If I were you, I’d add this to your lunch spots on your next trip to Santa Barbara! This is a hidden gem that is a must visit even if you just come for the view.  

From there, we drove around Santa Ynez and ended up at Gainey Vineyard.  We purchased a bottle of one of their white wines and sat outside in their terrace.  We loved the ambiance, and the views are breathtaking! It’s a great place to enjoy some downtime.  

Original Outfit Post

And with that, I’ll stop here.  In Part Two of my Santa Barbara Travel Diary, you’ll get to come along and see all our photos from Day 4- 7!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my travel page for more tips and vacation ideas!

*Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).  

**Additionally, some items linked above are not the exact item shown because it is either old or sold out, but I linked similar items for those that are unavailable.