Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
All the United States California Santa Barbara

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Santa Barbara

12 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Barbara, California

Updated June 11, 2025

Email
Attractions
Food & Drink
Map
Leaderboards
Stories
Hotel Deals

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

Coastal Trails and Hidden Tales: A Family Trip Exploring Santa Barbara’s Wonders

Sponsored by Land Rover Discovery

Nestled by the Santa Ynez Mountains on California’s rugged coastline, Santa Barbara is the perfect destination for a road trip. The historic city has something for everyone: amazing restaurants, a vibrant art scene, and plenty of wilderness for the whole family to explore. In a single day you might indulge your curiosity on a fossil-digging expedition, stroll through fields of native flowers at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, and split a wood-fired pizza in the Funk Zone art district. Or head down to the beach, where budding oceanographers can search tide pools for starfish, snails, and anemones, and maybe even spot a whale or a dolphin on the horizon. But whatever you do, be sure to take the scenic route, and take the time to pull over and take in the wonder the American Riviera has to offer.

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in Santa Barbara

Water Garden

Santa Barbara, California

Lotusland

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.
Front entrance to the Whale House.

Santa Barbara, California

Whale House

This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

Santa Barbara, California

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Colorful Native American paintings are hidden within this small cavern.
The tavern.

Santa Barbara, California

Cold Spring Tavern

Hidden in the Santa Ynez Mountains off Highway 154, this tiny restaurant once served as a stagecoach stop.
Lil’ Toot.

Santa Barbara, California

Lil' Toot

This nonsensical smiling boat shuttles passengers between two places they could've easily walked between.
The estate lies in disrepair.

Santa Barbara, California

Franceschi Park

The home of one of California's most important horticulturalists wilts amidst a lovely park.
Wall of Frogs

Santa Barbara, California

'Wall of Frogs'

A unique local art exhibit that has continued to grow since 1989.
The Moreton Bay Fig Tree.

Santa Barbara, California

Moreton Bay Fig Tree

The beautiful behemoth is one of the largest trees of its kind in the United States.
See All 12 Things To Do in Santa Barbara

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Santa Barbara

The tavern.

Santa Barbara, California

Cold Spring Tavern

Hidden in the Santa Ynez Mountains off Highway 154, this tiny restaurant once served as a stagecoach stop.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Santa Barbara, California

A
12
Plants 3
Architecture 3
Homes 3
Parks 2
Ruins 2
Outsider Architecture 2
Places To Stay 2
Eccentric Homes 2
Gardens 2
Art 2

Santa Barbara Leaderboard

Places Added

  1. cynthiaphung
    2
  2. Facebook1513682660
    1
  3. KirstenCunningham
    1
  4. Joseph Kerski
    1
  5. Nate Pedersen
    1
Join the Ranks!
Add an unusual place to Santa Barbara.

Places Edited

  1. Avoiding Regret
    7
  2. joeypesto
    3
  3. cynthiaphung
    2
  4. Rachel
    2
  5. ChadD
    2
Join the Ranks!
Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

  1. Zardoozy
    11
  2. andrewcoffin d5c84739
    10
  3. MFB
    10
  4. damoSB
    10
  5. kesslerelsewhere
    9
Join the Ranks!
Visit a place in Santa Barbara.

Recent Santa Barbara Activity

  • cvene7

    has been to Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

    1 day ago
  • cvene7

    has been to Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge

    1 day ago
  • cvene7

    wants to go to Cold Spring Tavern

    1 day ago
  • stephbrody31

    wants to go to Lotusland

    about 18 hours ago
  • stephbrody31

    wants to go to Whale House

    about 18 hours ago

Stories About Santa Barbara

The Secret Gardens Saving the World’s Rarest Plants

In greenhouses from Berkeley to Santa Barbara, a little-known rescue network protects endangered cycads from poachers, smugglers, and extinction.
by Julie Zigoris
June 11, 2025
After an adventurous life, this golden eagle sculpture is again on display at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, California.

The Unbelievable Life of the Lobero Golden Eagle

The sculpture had been shipwrecked, shot at, auctioned off, and lost—twice.
by Darcy Rhyno
January 6, 2023
The interior of Elsie’s Tavern, made of wood, paper, glass, assorted trash, an incandescent bulb, and acrylic paint.

This Artist Builds Tiny, Lifelike Replicas of Beloved Dive Bars

Santa Barbara's weird underbelly, in miniature.
by John Paul Titlow
October 18, 2019
The plastic-strewn sediment core was collected partway between Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands off the California coast.

More Than Half a Century of Microplastics Are Buried in Layers of Sediment, Like Synthetic Fossils

The teeny menaces turned up in a core taken from the floor of the Santa Barbara Basin.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
September 4, 2019

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.