The best things to do in Santa Barbara

13 things to do we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

Browse another shelf: all of Santa Barbara’s best · Restaurants · Bakeries & Sweets · Antiques, Thrift, & Vintage · Arts & Culture · Home & Garden · Nightlife · Beauty · Hobbies, Books, & Crafts · Pets · Shopping · Sporting Goods

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Entertainment · 13 places · showing the latest additions first

Santa Barbara Golf Club is our laid-back muni with a well-kept course, a driving range to fix that slice, and Mulligan’s Cafe & Bar when…

3500 McCaw Ave

Santa Barbara Golf Club is our laid-back muni with a well-kept course, a driving range to fix that slice, and Mulligan’s Cafe & Bar when you’ve earned a bite. Ladies Learn & Play is on the calendar this week, so nudge a friend and make it a thing.

From the Santa Barbara newsletter, August 7, 2026

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Tours and lessons focused on kayaking, cycling and surfing in Santa Barbara.

736 Carpinteria St

Tours and lessons focused on kayaking, cycling and surfing in Santa Barbara.

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Members-only facility featuring a private golf course.

1941 E Valley Rd

Members-only facility featuring a private golf course.

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Golfing destination offering a restaurant and practice facility, plus event space.

405 Glen Annie Rd (Goleta)

Golfing destination offering a restaurant and practice facility, plus event space.

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Cozy theater showing current films & featuring discounted tickets on Bargain Tuesdays.

618 State St

Cozy theater showing current films & featuring discounted tickets on Bargain Tuesdays.

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Montecito Club

Entertainment

Country club featuring a golf course, fitness center, and elegant spaces for events.

920 Summit Rd

Country club featuring a golf course, fitness center, and elegant spaces for events.

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Cozy theater showing current films & featuring discounted tickets on Bargain Tuesdays.

371 Hitchcock Way

Cozy theater showing current films & featuring discounted tickets on Bargain Tuesdays.

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Cozy theater with Spanish-style exterior showing current films with discounts on select matinees.

8 W De La Guerra St

Cozy theater with Spanish-style exterior showing current films with discounts on select matinees.

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Sandpiper Golf Club

Entertainment

Waterfront 18-hole course, founded in 1972, with a casual grill & an onsite shop.

7925 Hollister Ave (Goleta)

Waterfront 18-hole course, founded in 1972, with a casual grill & an onsite shop.

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Enchanting garden featuring 5.5 miles of paths, authentic Japanese tea garden, redwood grove & more.

1212 Mission Canyon Rd

5 miles of paths, authentic Japanese tea garden, redwood grove & more.

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Private country club offering a golf course, tennis, and dining.

4015 Via Laguna

Private country club offering a golf course, tennis, and dining.

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Movie theater with a curated film selection and occasional visits from directors and actors.

2044 Alameda Padre Serra

Movie theater with a curated film selection and occasional visits from directors and actors.

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Golfing spot with a range plus a 9-hole course, alongside lesson available from staff.

6034 Hollister Ave (Goleta)

Golfing spot with a range plus a 9-hole course, alongside lesson available from staff.

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