Located south of Santa Barbara in posh Montecito, Butterfly Beach is a picturesque enclave that’s well-suited to sunbathing, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming.

In addition to spotting wildlife, visitors come to these islands to savor the great outdoors with plentiful hiking trails, ...

Also known as the "whale superhighway," it’s an especially good spot for whale watching, as the nutrient-rich waters are a ...

There are four major beaches in Santa Barbara: Leadbetter, Arroyo Burro, West and East. While Leadbetter has the harbor, ...

Also known as the "Queen of the Missions" for its extravagant beauty, the mission grounds – which span 15 acres, are best seen through a self-guided tour. Self-guided tours, which include an audio ...

Santa Barbara's most famous avenue, State Street, is the heart of the city. It cuts through downtown for 10 car-free blocks ...

Hotels ranked on industry awards, guest reviews and hotel class ratings Unbiased content created by U.S. News editors Photo tours of select hotels by local experts Navigate forward to interact with ...

About 3 million travelers and local attendees are expected to descend upon Washington, D.C., in the next few weeks to ...

Gorgeous vineyards, delectable food and (of course) top-notch vino – these are the essentials of a wine vacation. To help you plan a great trip (where wine tours and tastings are just the start ...

The best time to visit Jamaica is November to mid-December. That's when the island's already beautiful weather (ranging from mid-70s to the high 80s all year-round) is the most pleasant and the ...

U.S. News Insider Tip: The South Rim mule rides into the canyon are typically awarded by lottery. The North Rim mule trips go into the canyon, though they don't reach Phantom Ranch. – Catherine ...

U.S. News Insider Tip: Don't miss trying the classic (and yummy!) funnel cake, a kind of fried waffle topped with powdered sugar and your choice of toppings, such as strawberries, chocolate syrup ...