Santa Barbara Off the Beaten Path: Neighborhoods to Explore

The best way to discover a city isn’t always through its well-known sites and attractions. Sometimes the best way to truly get to know the local vibe is by getting out and exploring its different neighborhoods. Such is the case with Santa Barbara, located on California’s beautiful Pacific Coast.

Visitors to this cozy beach town must visit State Street for its incredible shopping and trendy bars and restaurants. The beach is also impossible to miss. The city’s Funk Zone, a neighborhood home to a burgeoning art community, grows in popularity among the city’s visitors. A must-see area, it is a fascinating place to walk through the 10-block neighborhood to visit art galleries, grab a bite to eat and view some incredible street art.

To get off the beaten path, however, head to one of the lesser-known neighborhoods to discover Santa Barbara the way the locals do. A great place to start is Mesa, a neighborhood just minutes from downtown. This quiet neighborhood offers great food and open spaces like Shoreline Park, where you can relax and enjoy the sunshine and sea breeze. One of the neighborhood’s most spectacular features is the incredible views of the ocean from its vantage point high above the beach.

To get a feel for what it’s like to live in this beautiful town, be sure to spend some time exploring San Roque. This residential neighborhood may not be home to many tourist attractions or direct beach access, but it is the heart of daily life for many locals. With great shopping, fantastic restaurants, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and access to hiking trails, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a day in this extraordinary town.