Going to be in Santa Barbara around Christmas and New Years for a few days. Any ideas on what to see, do, places to go? Never been there. Thanks!

Walk around on State Street. There are lots of shops and restaurants.

If you want a really good meal with great service, eat at Bay Cafe on Anacapa Street.

There is an art museum on State Street you could check out.

You can go to Goleta and check out the UC Santa Barbara Campus.

You could take a side trip to Camarillo to shop at the outlet mall.

Take a long walk on the beach. Skip the restaurants on the pier and walk down State street. I am sure other fodorites can list some excellent restaurants for you.

You can drive to Solvang, although it may be slow in winter.

You really should go to the Santa Barbara Mission and the arboretum.

Mission Sta. Barbara is called the "Queen of the Missions" and is really pretty and historic. If you like wine, head up to the wine country near Santa Inez---lots of nice wineries. Walk out on Stearn's Wharf and look back to the city. There are often art fairs on the coast road. The Wine Cask restaurant is one of our favorites---great selection of wines and pretty patio for a nice day lunch. Sta. Barbara is very festive at Christmas.

Thanks for all the info. I'm looking forward to a mission tour. Glad to hear it is festive in Dec. I'm used to East Coast holidays.

Sundays there is a big art show at the beach. You can also rent the 4-6 person quadcycle thing and just peddal around. Maybe take a jaunt to Catlina island for the day.

Do check out who is playing at the SB County Bowl, intimate outdoor concert venue.

Go to the beach in front of the Biltmore (Fess Parker owns this) where the dolphins usually swim for a day in the sun or for brunch.

Ask some locals about Red Rock, worth the hike.

Catalina Island is way too far for a day trip. Maybe the previous posters was thinking about the Channel Islands.

Spend an evening at one of the grand dame movie palaces like the Arlington or the Riviera. A nice change from the multiplexes that you find everywhere else.

Bring warm clothes. The first time I was there I was expecting weather more typical of Southern California....wrong. It does get chilly there even though the skies are bright. Bring clothes for cool days and nights. I found SB magnificent!

One thing, yet unmentioned, is checking out the view from the top of the Courthouse in SB. Rather awesome. I've got some pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/bookhall . Check out the first album.

Incidentally, for food recommendations, visit chowhound.com and go to the California board. A lotta good foodies post there.

I'd suggest taking a drive over the mountains into the Santa Inez valley to do some wine tastings at the many vineyards there. Not a long drive at all.....an hour or so.

If you do go to the Sta. Inez Valley visit the towns of Ballard and Los Olivos. Looks like Kentucky with vineyards---where all the thoroubred race horses come from if they are "California" bred. Mattei's Tavern is very famous as is Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn (although very pricey) There's a wonderful wine tasting room in Los Olivos which allows you to taste centrally rather than travel to all the wineries. If you like Mexican, try the Super Rica Taqueria in Santa Barbara--just a roadside takeout, but the favorite of everyone in the area, including Julia Childs. I said the area is very festive during the holidays, mainly because of the Mexican influence. It's great fun, good weather generally and lots of music and bright colors. Certainly not an East coast Christmas.