36 Hours in Santa Barbara: Things to Do and See

Stop into the Arlington Street location of Cajé Coffee Roasters, the elegant new cafe of the long-running shop in Isla Vista, near U.C. Santa Barbara. The cafe’s $10 signature drinks are prepared with the complexity of cocktails: a strawberry-rose matcha tea is served in a petal-coated glass, while a chocolate and toasted coconut drink has a marshmallow that is torch-charred upon serving. Sit beside the fountain in Cajé’s lush courtyard or, on a misty morning, beside the fireplace. Then, unlock a BCycle and cruise down to the 4.5-mile-long waterfront Cabrillo Bike Path, which extends all the way from Ledbetter Beach to Butterfly Beach on a protected bike lane. Look for the rainbow umbrellas of fruit vendors selling freshly prepared mango, cucumber, watermelon and more with traditional Mexican flourishes like salt, lime juice and Tajín seasoning, and plop on the sand to watch surfers and seabirds.