20 FREE (or Nearly FREE) Things to Do in Santa Barbara

With its beautiful location on the ocean, and its lovely temperate weather, Santa Barbara is often referred to as the American Riviera.  Located about 90 miles from Los Angeles, the seaside city provides a charming combination of history, the arts, and an enjoyable pace of life.

Here are 20 FREE (or nearly FREE) experiences to be had in this beautiful city along the Pacific:

1. Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara and smell the roses in the Mission Rose Garden
2. Experience local culture on State Street
3. Enjoy the 360-degree views of downtown from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse (west wing shown in photo) clock tower
4. Play or watch volleyball at East Beach
5. Stroll Stearns Wharf
6. Check out today’s catch from the fisherman at Santa Barbara Harbor
7. Meet the artists at the Sunday Arts & Crafts Show
8. Learn about the city’s Spanish roots at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
9. Bird watching at Andree Clark Bird Refuge
10. Whale watching from Shoreline Park where you have a view of the migratory path
11. Select some fresh produce at the downtown Farmer’s Market
12. Have a Zen experience at Alice Keck Memorial Park Gardens
13. Walk, jog, or bike the Cabrillo Bikeway
14. Relax and enjoy the American Riviera Franceschi Park
15. Let history come alive at the Historical Museum
16. Hike from the San Ysidro trailhead to a gorgeous waterfall
17. Drive the scenic Highway 154 to the Santa Barbara Wine Country (and maybe find a special bottle or two)
18. Walk the nature trails at Elings Park
19. Enjoy sunset from the Douglas Family Preserve bluffs
20. Play on the Guadalupe Dunes

Source:  Courtesy of Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau

Photo credit:  tkksummers @flickr