Shopping in Santa Barbara

Shopping in Santa Barbara is more than beautiful shops brimming with quality merchandise. The stores include national and international retailers, one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries, trendy hot spots, and outlets. But this gorgeous natural setting, permeated by ocean air and year-round sunshine, is part of the pleasure. So are the shop-lined cobbled walkways and paseos that meander into courtyards brilliant with bougainvillea and calmed by softly splashing fountains. Yes, shopping here is truly a sensory experience.

Following are a few of the most popular shopping areas, beginning with downtown on State Street and continuing north to the largest local mall in the neighboring city of Goleta.

Downtown

Paseo Nuevo - Paseo Nuevo is one of Southern California's favorite get-away places. Here you'll discover a picturesque world of Spanish-style courtyards, winding paseos, gently flowing fountains and lush tropical flowers. Paseo Nuevo includes Nordstrom, Macy's, and more than 50 specialty shops.

El Paseo - Historic El Paseo, California's first shopping center, was built in the 1920s and features a variety of unique gift shops, jewelry stores, galleries and restaurants nestled amid romantic gardens and Spanish courtyards.

La Arcada - On the north end of the downtown State Street shopping district is La Arcada Court, a Spanish paseo and courtyard with exotic plants, trees, tiled fountains and an amazing collection of life-like bronze statues. La Arcada has a variety of interesting shops, galleries, restaurants and Cafes.

Upper State Street

La Cumbre Plaza - One of Santa Barbara's largest shopping malls is La Cumbre Plaza, located on the 3800 block of upper State Street. Serving shoppers since 1967, it includes two department stores, Robinsons-May and Sears, and more than 60 shops, restaurants, services and lots of parking.

Goleta

Camino Real Marketplace - Camino Real Marketplace introduced "big box" shopping to Santa Barbara county. Includes giants such as Costco and Home Depot. In addition to several stores, the complex features ten restaurants and a first-run movie multiplex with stadium seating.