Planning for a family trip in the year 2020 may seem daunting but it is still possible, especially to Santa Barbara County. Since COVID-19 pandemic is still around, traveling safely has become top of mind when picking our family fun spots. For those of you who need a quick getaway with the kids, we want to share with you all the best family friendly spots we recently visited on our two day trip to the Santa Barbara area(s).
Where to Stay
If you’re looking for a place to stay on your trip, you might want to consider Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground. This site allows pets and is great for families. We decided to reserve a Ranch Cottage during our time here and really liked it. Knowing that eating out at restaurants would be hard, it was ideal to have a place that has its own kitchen to cook our meals comfortably. Make sure you bring your bikes here because there were plenty of space to ride around the grounds, which was a lot of fun for the kids.
When you’re in the town of Buellton, find some time to try their famous Split Pea soup. For some great donuts when you wake up in the morning, check out God’s Country Provisions nearby featured below.
Flying Flags: 180 Avenue Of The Flags, Buellton, CA 93427
God’s Country Provisions
When on vacation, hitting the best donut spot is a must. God’s Country Provisions has some of the best unique donuts in town and is a great way to start off your day’s adventures. We were able to sample some unique and exciting donuts here on our first morning in Santa Barbara County.
Some of our favorite donut flavors that we tried here are Lemon Drop, Blackberry Syrah, Maple Bacon, Fruity Pebbles and an Oreo one! They were all amazing but the kid’s favorite was the Lemon Drop. They even got into a little tiff over the last piece of donut since it was so good! For me personally, I thought the Maple Bacon donut was the best thing ever! The combo of sweet and salty was surprisingly spot on. They also have donut decorating kits that you can order online to mail to your house should you miss or crave these donuts when you return home.
God’s Country Provisions: 252 E Highway 246, Suite C. Buellton, CA 93427
Nojoqui Falls
Ten minutes away from our lodging is a short, shaded trail located inside Nojoqui Falls Park that can be completed in less than half an hour. This is a non-strenuous hike that ends with a view of a beautiful 80 ft. waterfall. When we were there in July, Nojoqui Fall was at low flow but still looked stunning. To see a full waterfall, Spring would also be a good time to visit. Entrance and parking at this park is free and is open from 8:00A.M. to sunset. If you finish the trail early, you can also check out blueberry picking nearby during the appropriate months.
Nojoqui Falls Park: 3250 Alisal Rd, Goleta, CA 93117
Ostrichland USA
You can meet magnificent Ostriches and Emus at Ostrichland USA. When we were there, it felt like we had a Jurassic Park experience. Meeting ostriches felt like meeting the dinosaurs of old!
Although I thought I’ve seen them at a zoo before, nothing compares to seeing these animals up close! I knew for a fact that I’ve never seen ones like these. The big ones are huge, powerful and just crazy looking with their long necks and reptile looking feet. When they ate, it’s not gentle pecking but they pound the food, “hungry-hungry hippo” style! We saw their gigantic eggs too!
It was a wild and amazing experience. We definitely recommend visiting when you are in Solvang/Santa Barbara area.
Ostrichland: 610 E Hwy 246 . Solvang, CA . 93463
Solvang
A trip to Santa Barbara is not complete without a visit to this adorable Southern Califonia Danish Village. When you’re at Solvang, you must take a picture with one of their many windmills.
This is a great place to walk around and enjoy all the cute shops and restaurants. We want to highlight trying the delicious Solvang Hot Chicken Sandwich featured below from Peasant Feast (@PeasantsFeast). Huddlebee friends have also suggested trying Aebleskivers at @SolvangRestaurant, ramen from @RamenKotori, and pancakes at @PaulasPancakeHouse.
Peasant Feast
This is our takeout spot for the best Hot Chicken Sandwich we’ve ever tasted. We loved our Solvang Hot Chicken and side of crispy potatoes. The buttermilk fried chicken was perfectly crispy. It was a really nice touch with the shredded cabbage, pickled red onions, and the toasted bun. You can request for non spicy, but it’s really delicious just the way it is.
You’re going to have to open your mouth really wide for this chicken sandwich because it’s huge! Warning, it can get messy. When you’re exploring Solvang, this is a great spot for lunch!
Peasants Feast: 487 Atterdag Rd, Solvang, CA 93463
East Beach
If you’re looking for a beautiful family friendly beach to visit, we recommend checking out East Beach! All parents of small kids would agree that beach trips can be overwhelming because of all of the preparation and things to bring. This is why a convenient beach like East Beach helps so much! This beach is close to the parking lot and has clean restrooms that are also close by. You don’t have to walk much to enjoy a memorable family time in the sand!
If you’re like me and always forget something in the car, it’s comforting to know that your car is nearby for all those back and forth trips. We had a drive-by beach trip here on our route back to LA/OC and it was just perfect!
East Beach Waterfront Parking lot: 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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