We will be stopping in Santa Barbara on a cruise in a couple of weeks. I know Santa Barbara is reputed to be beautiful and we are looking forward to this stop. However, we do not see anything that really looks tempting to do while we are there. We prefer to see scenery outdoors, rather than spending time in a museum or another indoor activity. We are thinking of renting a car to drive the coastline. Do you have any suggestions of something outstanding to see in or around Santa Barbara?

A fascinating place in adjacent Montecito, reserve in advance:

http://www.lotusland.org/

There's Mission Santa Barbara, of course. Santa Barbara also has a very good, small zoo.

With 8 hours, you don't really have time to rent a car and drive someplace.

Santa Barbara is walkable. I'd just take off on foot and see what you can see. The Mission, the downtown area,,or stay by the water. We had a wonderful lunch at a beachside cafe, just a bit north of the marina, as I recall. Sorry, that's not much help!

You could rent bikes and ride along the beachfront.

Ride the Santa Barbara trolley/bus up to the mission. Spend as much/little time as you wish there. http://www.sbtrolley.com/historic-to...a-schedule.php
From there walk down State street until you get to the pier.
There are a couple of good restaurants out on the pier.
I also had a good breakfast at Joe's on State street.
I was not aware that cruise ships docked at Santa Barbara.
I enjoyed the zoo as well.

Thanks for the information. We may do the bike rental thing...that sounds fun. Tomfuller, we will be on the Star Princess, which begins in Vancouver and ends up in Los Angeles. I believe Princess only does this itinerary a couple of times in the spring and a couple of times in the fall. I think we tender into Santa Barbara.

Tomfuller, this year Princess added regular coastal cruises from San Francisco, we're taking one in October.

I posted a GTG in Long Beach for those interested.

You will probably come right into the harbor area- Rent bikes and ride the bath, go to the beach or walk down the beach. (North from the Harbor - check tides and walk at low tide to get further up the beach) You can also rent kayaks from Channel Island outfitters and kayak the harbor and up the coast. It's beautiful! If you are there on a Sunday, they also have an art show along the harbor sometimes.

Hello!

If you truly only have eight hours, I would take a taxi to Montecito and go to the restaurant at the Four Seasons (formerly the Biltmore)... sit outside and enjoy the views while having drinks. Maybe walk along the path of Butterfly Beach and just soak of the atmosphere. Santa Barbara is beautiful and has many things to do outdoors but it may be a bit chaotiic... especially with your other shipmates all swarming around that same general area of the pier and lower State Street. The four seasons also has many plants, trees and blloming flours around its property that are breathtaking.

Whstever you do, please do not "walk down State Street." It is dirty, ugly and has many homeless lying around. It is a problemm and certainly not the "best of the city."

Renting kayaks and all of the other suggestions would be great too, if you are up for that! I just wanted to present a place to " hang out" and enjoy the best views!

"please do not "walk down State Street." It is dirty, ugly and has many homeless lying around. It is a problemm and certainly not the "best of the city."

Hogwash.

State Street's OK once you get up around El Paseo Nuevo, heading toward the Mission. Lower State, I agree, can be dicey at times. But it's a lovely street with all the brick paving, plantings and water features.

Here are some things to see in Santa Barbara.

http://www.santabarbara.com/points_of_interest/

And my favorite, the Moreton bay fig tree.

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/sbtree.html

You definitely SHOULD walk or drive down State Street ... a beautiful street ... in a very beautiful town.