Finding the ideal summer vacation spot is as easy as heading toward Santa Barbara. Our California home has everything you could want with the warm weather including sandy beaches, a sprawling downtown neighborhood, and plenty of local attractions. With summer so close to being over you will want to take advantage of the Labor Day Weekend. All of the summer fun will still be alive here in Santa Barbara. Take a look at how you can dive into a Santa Barbara Labor Day weekend this year.
One of the biggest attractions here in Santa Barbara is the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This museum is located on 17 acres of oak woodland along with the museum itself. Over 3.5 million objects are found at the museum and presented in interactive exhibits. Guests will learn all about the natural environment, conservation, restoration, and the natural history of the world. Many of the exhibits focus on the biodiversity found in Santa Barbara including native culture and sea life. You will find the only planetarium located on the Central Coast here at the museum too. The most popular exhibit at the museum is the Butterflies Alive! This exhibit will be up until the end of Labor Day Weekend giving you one last shot at seeing it in person. Don't forget to head over to the Sea Center at Stearn's Wharf for an interactive aquarium. The life-size models of whales truly stand out for how huge these majestic creatures really are!
When you take a close look at Downtown Santa Barbara you will notice that there are plenty of winery tasting rooms spread out. In fact, Santa Barbara has over 20 tasting rooms for you to take a look at. This is where the Urban Wine Trail got its name so you can have a planned adventure for tasting room hopping from place to place. Local winery tasting rooms that are popular on the Urban Wine Trail include Santa Barbara Winery, Carr Winery, Grassini Family Vineyards, and many more. Each of these winery tasting rooms offers flights to sample their delicious wines. Once you have found a favorite order a glass to enjoy at the tasting room or purchase bottles to go. You will find each tasting room to be inviting and offer snacks to maintain your hunger throughout your Urban Wine Trail experience.
Of course, your Labor Day escape also calls for the opportunity to explore local attractions such as the El Presidio De Santa Barbara State Park. This is the site of the original El Presidio Real de Santa Barbara and was the last Spanish fortress built in the area. This fortress was one of the reasons why Santa Barbara was settled providing it with many diverse cultures and communities. You will be able to tour a faithful reconstruction of the building including Santa Barbara's first church to see what it was like having originally settled here at the mission. Come enjoy an educational experience by touring this historic state park!
If you are looking for an attraction that the children will have an absolute blast at look no further than the Santa Barbara Zoo. There is just something special about seeing your kids' faces light up as they get to see a fascinating critter up close in Santa Barbara's Zoos large habitats. This local zoo is home to over 146 different species across its 30-acre park. You will find animals including gorillas, giraffes, penguins, California condors, and much more. Stop by one of the habitats during feeding time to ensure a playful experience as the animals are encouraged to wake up. The zoo is open every day from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm so you will not have to worry about it closing over Santa Barbara Labor Day weekend.
Make sure to start each of your adventurous days with a cup of coffee at one of the many shops in town. Helena Avenue Bakery offers some of the finest baked goods that will add a little something to your morning. Downtown Santa Barbara is especially present with the local coffee shops having local favorites such as Santa Barbara Roasting Company and Lighthouse Coffee nearby. Stop by for one of their hand-crafted espresso drinks or stick around to enjoy the ambiance of the shop.
Santa Barbara has never looked better than how it does in summer so make sure you get in one last trip over Labor Day Weekend. Book one of our 3-bedroom vacation rentals in Santa Barbara to stay nearby for a comfortable stay with all the luxury amenities you could want.
