Where to Eat, Sleep and Play With Kids in Santa Barbara, California

Set just 95 miles north of Los Angeles, seaside Santa Barbara, California, has long been one of my go-to spots for an easy escape. 

In college, my roommates and I would drive from L.A. to spend hours wandering State Street, take rental bikes on coastal sprees and visit cheap taco stands (I never miss the chance to eat on the covered deck of the no-frills La Super-Rica Taqueria). I celebrated my 40th birthday with girlfriends at the incredible El Encanto hotel, sipping Riesling while bobbing in the property’s blufftop pool. And most recently, my 5-year-old daughter Lottie and I explored Santa Barbara at her speed, with kid-friendly sites top of mind.

All this to say that, no matter the stage of life a traveler is in, Santa Barbara is sure to welcome them with a hearty pat on the back and a big, sunny smile. Clients headed here with kids won’t want to miss the following.

Where to Eat in Santa Barbara With Kids

Santa Barbara does casual outdoor dining so well, and there may be no better place to test that claim than the walkable Funk Zone. The approximately 13-block neighborhood is set right by the beach, but instead of shells and seagulls, clients will find cafes, coffee shops, boutique stores and wine-tasting spots.

Lucky Penny is one of a few Funk Zone favorites — pizza pleases nearly every child, but Lucky Penny’s wood-fired pies win over adults, too. It’s all outdoor seating here, with picnic tables for groups and two-tops on a spacious patio; no matter the time of day, there will be kids about. They can wiggle freely and be their louder selves as their parents enjoy a slice of the Salty Surfer pie (topped with prosciutto, wood-fired pineapple, pickled Fresno chile and parm) or perhaps the Hot Girl pizza, made with vodka sauce and adorned with summer squash, squash blossoms, pork fennel sausage, lemon zest and chili flakes. Beer and wine are served, and there’s a giant skillet cookie topped with ice cream on the dessert menu.

On this visit, I also took Lottie to La Paloma Cafe, set in an old house in the historic Presidio neighborhood. From-scratch, seasonal dishes are the epitome of California cuisine, with a nod to the state’s Spanish and Mexican history. We ordered avocado toast (made on Helena Avenue Bakery sourdough), a yogurt parfait with local berries, an icy horchata and a zero-proof “mangonada” with a deliciously spicy chamoy rim. We sipped and snacked from our front-porch perch and watched over the bustling Anacapa Street below.

Any time of day in Santa Barbara, a scoop of McConnell’s ice cream is in order — the brand was founded here in 1949, and high-quality ingredients still reign supreme. Try any flavor made with seasonal fruits from Central Coast farms or, my personal pick, double peanut butter chip. There’s a scoop shop on State Street and one in the Funk Zone.

Finally, any client up with the sun — a schedule Lottie chooses for me, much to my dismay — will want to beat the crowds and arrive at the aforementioned Helena Avenue Bakery as early as possible. Since my family travels are preferably fueled with strong lattes and fresh pastries, this spot is a godsend. A poppyseed muffin with edible flowers and a breakfast sandwich with maple fennel sausage on a palm-sized buttermilk biscuit gave us all the energy we needed to tackle the day’s local adventures. 

Where to Play in Santa Barbara

On this visit, we spent hours in two Santa Barbara gems: the Santa Barbara Zoo and the Moxi museum. 

Candidly, I do not love zoos, but I’ll make a case for the Santa Barbara Zoo any day of the year. Seaside and just 30 acres, it’s a petite venue (the L.A. Zoo and San Diego Zoo are more than three times its size) that feels surmountable across a long morning or afternoon. There’s always an ocean breeze and the animal habitats are quite pretty, thanks to epic amounts of greenery that provide shade for both furry (and scaly and feathered) residents and visitors. 

RELATED: A Family Guide to San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Lottie and I waved hello to red pandas Raj and Ruby; watched otters play in their river-like exhibit; marveled at Ralph the lion and his neighbors, the Masai giraffes; and tried to stand on one leg while “sleeping” like the flamingos. Visitors with little ones should also save time for the zoo’s unique play area — the turfed hill with flattened cardboard boxes strewn about to be used as sleds is always a hit — and a ride on the miniature train that circles the property.

While I’ve been to the zoo many times over the years, this was my first time ever visiting Moxi: The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, which debuted in 2017. It’s a three-story wonderland for kids of all ages, as guests can touch and tinker with almost everything. We especially loved the Fantastic Forces Courtyard, where kids experiment with wind columns and fan funnels; the build-your-own-car and speedtrack area; and the Sky Garden, a rooftop space with incredible views and interactive water features. We also spent 30 minutes in the Innovation Workshop making a take-home periscope out of cardboard, colored tape and circular mirrors. The whole space was abuzz with curious minds and makers, and I could see how it warrants repeat visits.

RELATED: 8 Best Arcades and Game Museums in the U.S.

Other ideas to consider with kids are Stearns Wharf Pier, where you can grab an alfresco lunch and hitch a water taxi ride with Lil’ Toot Santa Barbara; and a chill bike ride along the Cabrillo Bike Path. Bike rentals are available at Wheel Fun Rentals.

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara

After more than two decades in Los Angeles — a city infamous for its gridlocked highways — I ditch my car on any vacation I can. And that’s easily accomplished in Santa Barbara, especially if travelers book a room at the Kimpton Canary Hotel, which is an easy stroll from bustling State Street. Guests might even walk to the Funk Zone and the seashore, which are about 1 mile away.

The hotel offers 97 guestrooms and Spanish-style decor, with white adobe walls and red brick and tile detailing throughout shared spaces. The property wrapped up a full renovation in 2023, so it’s looking sparkling and fresh from every angle.

The rooftop terrace and pool may be the venue’s most prized feature; from here, guests have grand views of the city and the Santa Ynez Mountains in the distance, and there’s a chic alfresco fireplace and lounge. I imagined curling up here with a good book and an even better cocktail, but that will have to happen on my next visit, sans 5-year-old.

On-site dining at Finch & Fork is lovely; the hotel’s lobby-adjacent restaurant serves fare “inspired by the bounty of our lush farms and rugged coastline.” Lottie and I had breakfast and dinner here — top picks included short rib pappardelle pasta one evening and lemon ricotta pancakes the next morning — in a window booth overlooking Carillo Street. This avenue just so happens to be the home of a very busy Sunday farmer’s market, which we were sure to stroll before heading back home, with a just-bought box of locally grown Harry’s Berries to snack on.