Shopping
In Santa Barbara, shopping is more than materially rewarding - it's a sensory delight. Over a day of strolling through quaint cobbled arcades amongst bubbling fountains, towering palms, cascading bougainvillea, historic buildings and fresh sea air breezes, shoppers discover a whole new take on browsing and buying. Downtown paseos and uptown plazas make the shopping districts easy and enjoyable to explore. Wander through the pedestrian-friendly enclaves and uncover the many treasures of Santa Barbara's eclectic shops.
Day One
Morning
Begin your day at El Paseo (State Street between Canon Perdido and De le Guerra Streets), California's first shopping center. It was built in the 1920s and features a variety of unique gift shops and restaurants nestled within romantic gardens and Spanish courtyards.
Mid-day
Continue your shopping at nearby, La Arcada Court (State Street between Anapamu and Figueroa Streets), a T-shaped Spanish paseo and courtyard on State Street, spotlights a range of specialty stores and fine art. Victoria Court (State Street between Anapamu and Victoria Streets) is another quaint "village" of stores located near the landmark Granada Theater. Its more than 30 shops, restaurants and vendors are connected by winding paths and courtyards. For your own Personal Shopping experience, visit Saks Fifth Avenue (State Street on the corner of W. Carrillo).
Afternoon & Evening
Paseo Nuevo (State Street between Canon Perdido and Ortega Streets) is a great place to end your day. A sprawling Mediterranean-style structure complete with large airy courtyards ornamented with colorful tiles, umbrellas, red-tile roofs and lush landscaping, it is shopping central in Santa Barbara. Anchored by Nordstrom and Macy's, the center was originally the site of a thriving puebla and now houses 50 boutiques, jewelry and designer clothing stores. While here, stop by to pick up your Downtown Organization's Shopping Incentive Tote Bag (vouchers for the bag can be obtained from your hotel). All that shopping is sure to make you hungry, so don't forget to grab dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants, and then stay late to hear the live music offerings.
Day Two
Morning
La Cumbre Plaza is a premier shopping destination in Santa Barbara. Its architecture was influenced by missionary settlers and an Arts & Crafts styling. The main breezeway with its water fountains, benches and flowering landscape suitably fits the area's laid back casual lifestyle. Get away...relax...and experience a unique selection of popular stores and restaurants, including: Tiffany & Co., Ruth's Chris Steak House, Pottery-Barn, Williams-Sonoma, J. Jill, Ann Taylor, Talbots, Talbots Petite, Janie & Jack, J. Crew, Coach, lucy, and Marmalade Café. Check with Guest Services for Tourism Packages that suit your needs.
Mid-Day
Outside the city limits, you'll want to set aside time for a visit to upscale Montecito. The unique, diaphanous, elegantly ultra-comfortable designs at Wendy Foster are only one of the attractions here. Coast Village Road is famous for its designer boutiques (from haute couture to tot couture), home furnishings shops, and jewelry stores. The Upper Village is the city's other shopping hub, offering clothing, jewelry, antiques, books, and more.
Afternoon & Evening
Carpinteria and Summerland are renowned for their antique shops, but the cities' location right on the beach ("Carp" has been a mecca for surfers for decades) has also given rise to a selection of retailers of beach and casual wear.
Day Three
All Day
Make your way to Solvang, a quaint Danish Village just north of Santa Barbara. With close to 200 stores offering unique treasures, visitors are sure to find something they like, it might even be a culinary delight found in one of the dozens of restaurants and bakeries. Favorites include: aebleskivers (light and airy pancake balls dusted with powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam), frikadeller (meatballs), medisterpolse (sausage), rodkaal (red cabbage), and the smorgasbord (buffet). Many of Solvang's bakers are 3rd and 4th generation Danes, preparing traditional treats such as pastries, kringles, marzipan, almond rings, cakes, cookies, tarts and breads.
Solvang is part of the Santa Ynez Valley, home to dozens of wineries. Here you can pick-up a bottle of locally made wine or specialty products to bring home as gifts, or, better yet, keep for yourself.
Santa Barbara Locally Made Products
Santa Barbara is a hotbed of entrepreneurs, innovation, originals and "firsts".
Food & Beverage
- Over 130 Wineries
- Olive Oil
- Santa Barbara Gift Baskets
- Bacara Resort Gourmet Products
- Adrienne's Gourmet Foods
- Chocolats du CaliBressan
- Firestone-Walker Brewing Co.
- Jessica Foster Truffles
- Cornucopia Gift Baskets
- Honey
- La Tolteca Tortilla chips and salsas
- La Nogalera Walnut Oil
- Ostrich Land
- Santa Barbara Chocolate Co.
- Santa Barbara Olive Co.
- Santa Barbara Pistachio Co.
- Santa Barbara Roasting Company
- Telegraph Brewing Company
- Robitailles Candies
- Santa Barbara Biscotti
Clothing & Apparel
- Big Dog
- Deckers / Simple Shoes / Green Toe
- Lucky Brand Jeans
- The Territory Ahead
- Magellan's
- Channel Island Surfboards
Other
- "Sideways" DVD
- Orchids
- Santa Barbara "Snow" Globes available at Saks Fifth Avenue
- Santa Barbara Coffee Table Books
- Art
- Flower Seed Packets from Lompoc
- Books by Santa Barbara authors (TC Boyle, Sue Grafton, Chicken Soup for...)
- Scent-Sational Pampering Products
- Santa Maria BBQ Beans & Seasonings
- Clairmont Lavender Farms
For more shopping highlights, contact the Sales Department at:
Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission
p: 805.966.9222
Sales@SantaBarbaraCA.com
