I'm a Santa Barbara local.
The airport isn't actually in Santa Barbara, it's in Goleta which is 20 miles or so from downtown Santa Barbara. DO NOT TAKE A CAB! It's ~$80 roundtrip from KSBA to downtown and back.
Since you're only there for 24hrs.; rent a car and drive to State Street. You can park in any of the numerous city lots. Wear your walking shoes. Park near the water and walk to the end of Stearns Warf (big wooden pier at the base of State Street). Then head up State Street. You can spend ALL DAY walking around this area. Santa Barbara is second only to Manhattan in number of restaurants per square mile.
Just a couple ideas:
Lunch: Fish Tacos at the Natural Cafe. It's at 508 State Street (5 blocks up from the beach).
Dinner: What kind of per-diem are you on? Check out the Palace Cafe. From The Natural Cafe, walk up one block to Cota St. and turn right. It's better than any Cajun food I've ever had in Louisiana. If that's too pricey turn back to State and go to Joe's Cafe.
I'd steer clear of UCSB and Isla Vista. The
University of
Casual
Sex and
Booze is my alma mater. Downtown is a lot more fun.
Maybe I'll bump into you guys. I'll be the super-tan, long-haired, sweaty guy on roller skates wearing little cut-off levi's shorts with giant headphones and a parrot on my shoulder.
