Santa Barbara offers many fun things to do, even for those who are alone for the day, week or duration.
1.Rent a bicycle. Bicycles abound in Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas. Several bicycle rental shops offer delivery service to local hotels and there are numerous safe and scenic bike paths along the beaches.
2.Stroll through the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Built in 1986, the Sea Center has many exciting exhibits, including local marine life, life-sized models of whales, and the opportunity to reach out and actually touch fish in the Touch Tank aquariums.
3.Spend the day in the Santa Barbara Public Library. At the main branch, located at 40 East Anapamu Street, the library has several art exhibits on display and they're free to the public. The Edson Smith collection of historic photographs includes images of Santa Barbara residents and buildings from the 1880's to 1908.
4.Take in some classical music at the Arlington Theatre. Built in 1930, this theatre, which is still used today as a venue for movies, film premieres and concerts, was built to resemble a Spanish castle. The Arlington features balconies, arches and sweeping staircases. The exterior fountain is a duplicate of the fountain found at the castle of the Duque de Alba in Seville. The best part is inside, where in the main seating room, the domed ceiling has stars that twinkle after the lights go down, and the walls are painted and partially built out to resemble Spanish villas. This successfully creates the illusion that you are sitting outside in a courtyard watching a show.
5.See a concert at the Santa Barbara County Bowl. Though the Bowl is the largest outdoor amphitheater in Santa Barbara County, its seating is limited to 4,562. The arena is carved into the hillside and offers a view of the ocean. At night, the city lights are visible below. The Bowl is located at 1122 N. Milpas Street.
6.Catch some rays at Butterfly Beach. Across the road from the swanky Four Seasons Biltmore Hotel, this beach is literally within walking distance of many famous Hollywood stars who live in the area. Unlike beaches to the north of Butterfly, this area is relatively secluded so you can avoid the noisy crowds.
7.Take a scuba diving class. Because of the proximity of the Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, the ocean shore is relatively calm most of the time, making scuba diving a spectacular experience for the uninitiated. Visit underwater reefs and see a large variety of sea life including sea urchin, squid and the occasional shark.
8.Sit at Arigato Sushi's bar and gorge on some of the world's freshest sushi. Located in the heart of Santa Barbara at 1225 State Street, Arigato is one of California's most popular restaurants. For those who aren't comfortable going solo in a restaurant, it's not uncommon to dine alone at a sushi bar. Consistently rated for excellent service and outstanding food, Arigato is the place to go to enjoy fresh Japanese food.
9.Discover the Chumash Painted Cave. The cave got its name from the wall drawings painted by Chumash Native Americans in the 1600's. To reach the cave, which is located above town, take Highway 154 and turn right on Painted Cave Road. The cave is on the left, about two miles up a steep, narrow road.
10.Watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Because Santa Barbara faces south, you'll have a terrific view of the setting sun, particularly if you're enjoying it from atop 1,000 Steps, a staircase that descends the cliffs to the beach below with fewer steps than its name. Located at the edge of Shoreline Park, further up the coast than the main beaches, this is a secluded and quiet corner of the world. You may even see some hang gliders in the area, or whales out in the Channel.
