Discover Santa Barbara Scavenger Hunt
Discover the American Riviera with a scavenger hunt across Santa Barbara. Stand before the Old Mission known as the Queen of the Missions, climb the clock tower of the Spanish-style County Courthouse, stroll the palm-lined State Street and walk out over the water on Stearns Wharf. Santa Barbara mixes red-tile roofs, Pacific beaches and the Santa Ynez Mountains into one of California's prettiest downtowns, made for a great group photo wherever you look.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
-
1
County Courthouse
Navigate to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on Anacapa Street and check in in the sunken garden or courtyard.
-
2
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Travel to the Old Mission Santa Barbara on the hill north of downtown and check in on the plaza in front.
-
3
Stearns Wharf
Walk down to the waterfront and out onto Stearns Wharf at the foot of State Street, then check in.
Challenges (17)
Santa Barbara kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Santa Barbara backdrop (a red-tile roof, a State Street arch, palm trees against the sky) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: County Courthouse
Navigate to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse on Anacapa Street and check in in the sunken garden or courtyard.
Courthouse tower view
Climb the free clock tower (El Mirador) of the County Courthouse for a 360-degree view over the red-tile rooftops to the sea and mountains. Take a group photo from the top with the rooftops behind you.
Trivia: Courthouse rebuild
Santa Barbara rebuilt its downtown in a unified Spanish Colonial Revival style after a major earthquake destroyed it. In what year did that earthquake strike?
Answer: 1925
Checkpoint: Old Mission Santa Barbara
Travel to the Old Mission Santa Barbara on the hill north of downtown and check in on the plaza in front.
Queen of the Missions pose
The Old Mission, known as the Queen of the Missions, has twin bell towers and a classical stone facade above a long lawn. Take a group photo with the team on the lawn, the mission facade behind you.
Trivia: Mission founded
Mission Santa Barbara, the tenth of the California missions, was founded by Spanish Franciscans on the feast of Saint Barbara. In what year was it founded?
Answer: 1786
Checkpoint: Stearns Wharf
Walk down to the waterfront and out onto Stearns Wharf at the foot of State Street, then check in.
Stearns Wharf walk
Stearns Wharf is the oldest working wharf in California, reaching out over the harbour. Take a group photo on the wharf with the boats, the ocean or the mountains behind you.
Trivia: Stearns Wharf built
Stearns Wharf, the oldest working wharf in California, has reached out over the Santa Barbara harbour since the 1870s. In what year was it built?
Answer: 1872
State Street stroll
State Street is the palm-lined main artery of downtown, full of arches, tiles and pedestrian sections. Take a group photo down the middle of State Street with the team posing in the street.
Red-tile roof hunt
Santa Barbara is defined by its red-tile roofs and white adobe walls. Find a especially photogenic stretch of red tiles and arches and take a group photo framed beneath them.
Santa Ynez Mountains view
The Santa Ynez Mountains rise dramatically behind the city. Find a spot where you can see the ridgeline above the rooftops and take a group photo with the mountains behind you.
Santa Barbara foodie classic
Find a local favourite (a Santa Barbara-style fish taco, fresh uni or ceviche at the harbour, a wine-bar pour, a guacamole tasting) and take a group photo with everyone tucking in at the same time.
Harbour and beach pose
The palm-fringed beach and harbour line the bottom of the city. Find the sand or the harbour breakwater and take a group photo with the Pacific behind you (sea lions and pelicans are a bonus).
Local Santa Barbara tip
Convince a local Santa Barbara resident to share a tip about the city (a beach, a wine bar, a sunset spot). Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Santa Barbara finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Santa Barbara spot (Stearns Wharf at sunset, the Courthouse garden, a palm-lined beachfront) and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the American Riviera!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers State Street, the County Courthouse, the waterfront and Stearns Wharf at a relaxed pace. The downtown core is flat and walkable; the Old Mission sits on a gentle hill about a mile and a half north, so most groups rideshare up to it and walk the rest.
State Street downtown is the natural starting point. The Courthouse, the shops and the restaurants are all there, parking is easy in the city lots, and State Street runs straight down to the beach and Stearns Wharf. The Old Mission is a short drive or a scenic uphill walk away.
Yes. The route works for any age. Kids love climbing the free Courthouse clock tower, walking out over the water on Stearns Wharf and spotting sea lions and pelicans along the harbour. State Street is flat and the beachfront has plenty of room to regroup.
After a major earthquake destroyed much of downtown in 1925, Santa Barbara rebuilt under strict design rules in a unified Spanish Colonial Revival style of white walls and red-tile roofs. That is why the Courthouse, State Street and the Mission all share the same look. Several hunt challenges play on those red tiles and arches.
Yes, and it is free. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse, dedicated in 1929, has an observation deck in its clock tower (El Mirador) with a 360-degree view over the red-tile rooftops to the ocean and mountains. It is one of the best free viewpoints in California and a key stop on the hunt.