Santa Barbara with Kids

1. Santa Barbara Museum of Art

A visit to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is a great way to encourage a love of art in children of all ages. You can pick up a free Family Guide at the museum which will help families to explore the exhibits together in a more meaningful way; guides contain family-friendly information, gallery games, guided looking questions and sketching activities for young visitors. The museum also hosts art camps and holiday workshops for children – you can check their website to find out more. Entrance to the museum is free for children under six years and free family days are scheduled from time to time.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: 805-884-6423

2. Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is an excellent place to spend a few hours learning about California’s extensive maritime history. Probably best suited to families with older children, the museum offers two floors of exhibits about a range of maritime subjects including the Early Explorers and the Chumash, the history of whaling, shipwrecks, navigation and the discovery of oil in the Santa Barbara Channel. There are interactive exhibits where children can learn about sustainable fishing in kelp forests, virtual sport fishing and virtual diving. You can visit the museum on most days with the exception of a few holidays – please check their website for daily and seasonal opening hours.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, 113 Harbor Way, Ste 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, Phone: 805-962-8404

3. MOXI

MOXI (aka the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation) is dedicated to awakening and nurturing an interest in the sciences through interactive play and offers hours of fun for both adults and children. The fascinating museum covers three floors of interactive exhibits arranged to cover seven themes relating to science, technology, engineering, math and arts. A few of the fascinating areas you can enjoy with your children include the Tech Track, Speed Track, Sound Track and Fantastic Forces Courtyard. The exhibits change on a regular basis so even if you have visited before you will find something new every time to come to the MOXI. You can check their website before your visit to plan which of the daily activities you would like to participate in.

MOXI, 125 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: 805-770-5000

4. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center

The wonderful Sea Center at Stearns Wharf forms part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center and will thrill both adults and children as you learn about the magical world below the surface of the ocean. More than a regular aquarium, the Sea Center offers a highly interactive experience that your children will remember for ages. Visitors are invited to get their hands wet and touch several of the marine creatures in the Intertidal Wonders touch-pool and learn all about octopi and other slithery creatures in the JELLIES and Friends exhibit. You can touch a live baby shark in the shark touch pool and see life-size Grey Whale replicas on the mezzanine level.

Santa Barbara Sea Center, 211 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: 805-962-2526

5. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a great place to bring the family to learn about plants and nature. There are several interesting trails to follow which are suitable for the whole family and will introduce children to California’s diverse climatic regions and habitats. You can visit cool redwood forests and sandy deserts within a short distance of each other and aspirant gardeners can be inspired by the Water Wise Home Garden exhibit, which will show you which plants (available at the nursery) will thrive in your California garden. You can explore at your own pace or join one of the free docent-led tours which are offered on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Tired and hungry little explorers can enjoy a treat at the Garden Pantry.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, , 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Phone: 805-682-4726

Where to eat tacos in Santa Barbara: video.

6. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Children of all ages will love visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The many interesting exhibits include the Bird Hall, Mammal Hall, an enormous Blue Whale skeleton and the fabulous hands-on Curiosity Lab, where kids can learn about a range of natural topics and learn to use a microscope. The museum includes the Museum Backyard and the Nature Club House, which includes an elevated walkway, the popular Create Zone (where kids are invited to get a little messy) and the Excavate a Fossil area which offers fascinating and educational play. Children can meet a few of the resident rehabilitated raptors or join one of the fun and educational camps and classes which are offered year-round.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Phone: 805-682-4711

7. Santa Barbara Trolley Company

If you are visiting Santa Barbara for the first time the Santa Barbara Trolley Company offers a great way to get an overview of all the sights and attractions. The company has a fleet of renovated trolleys which offer visitors the chance to see and explore all the major attractions on a jump-on-jump-off basis. For families with little people who cannot walk long distances this service offers an ideal solution and children under the age of twelve travel free. You can stop off as long as you like at any of the attractions and then continue your tour when you are ready. A few of the highlights include Stearns Wharf (Sea Center), the Harbor, East Beach and the Old Santa Barbara Mission.

Santa Barbara Trolley Company, 1 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Phone: 805-965-0353

8. Susan Quinlan Doll and Teddy Bear Museum and Library

Families can spend a few happy hours exploring the Susan Quinlan Doll and Teddy Bear Museum and Library in Santa Barbara. The museum houses the largest collection of Teddy Bears in the US and one of the largest doll collections in the country. The museum recently relocated to larger premises which now boast regular revolving exhibits of beloved nursery toys alongside their regular extensive display cases. Children of all ages will be enchanted by the displays and may recognize many of their favorite storybook characters, while parents can take a nostalgic trip down memory lane to the days of their own childhood. To make the most of your visit you can request a guided tour of the museum when you book.

Susan Quinlan Doll and Teddy Bear Museum and Library, 122 W Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara, CA 9310, Phone: 805-730-1707

9. Old Mission Santa Barbara

Old Mission Santa Barbara was founded way back in 1786 by Spanish Franciscans. Today, when you explore the 200 –year old Mission you will find a thriving active parish run by a community of Franciscan friars. The property boasts a beautiful church, twelve acres of landscaped gardens, a cemetery and mausoleum and a museum and gift shop. You can explore at your own pace on a self-guided tour or join one of the decent-led tours held throughout the day on a first-come-first-served basis (free for children under four years). Children will enjoy visiting the museum where they can see vintage agricultural, weaving and blacksmithing tools as well as a 17th century kitchen recreation.

Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, Phone: 805-682-4713

10. Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf is one of Santa Barbara’s most popular tourist attractions offering family fun for all ages. You can reach the wharf as one of your stops on the narrated Santa Barbara Trolley Tour and hop off the bus to explore for a while. Everyone in the family will enjoy the child-friendly Sea Center and a variety of novelty shops selling delicious candy and ice-cream – just the thing for a happy holiday outing. If you like you can buy bait and rent tackle for fishing, take a water-taxi ride or enjoy a great lunch or dinner at one of the many wharf restaurants which serve up everything from burgers to seafood, accompanied by brilliant views.

Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101