We suggest taking a scenic drive off the beaten path by taking a driver on Gibraltar Road as it’s not as well known by the tourists.
The drive climbs from downtown Santa Barbara to the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains on this curvy 48-mile loop with spectacular views of the Pacific oceans and of S.B.
We opted to not complete the entire loop, we drove to the top of the mountain, enjoyed the view for a while, then returned on the same road. You may find some hang glider folks waiting to catch the right wind/draft as they launch from this road.