Many of us first became familiar with it as a college town for students of the University of California at Santa Barbara (even though the school is technically in the city of Goleta). Santa Barbara’s main train station also happens to be one of my favorites; built in 1902, it’s designated as an official city landmark and its wooden ticket booths and benches and hulking metal light fixtures will transport you back in time — you’ll swear you’re hearing the echoes of someone yelling, “All aboard!” in an old-timey voice.

The Funk Zone, an area next to the Amtrak station that’s bustling with boutique wine and beer tasting rooms, cafes, galleries and shops, has become one of the city’s most-visited spots. Relax with a nice rosé at Santa Barbara Wine Collective, a martini at the elegant Pearl Social or dine on the patio of Shalhoob, a favorite of local foodies. Across the street from the station is MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation that merges science, technology and arts through interactive exhibits. Or, if you want to broaden your exploring, hop on the Santa Barbara Trolley Tour that will take you on a 90-minute tour to popular spots including the Santa Barbara Zoo, Museum of Natural History and the historic Santa Barbara Mission.

Of course, you can’t leave Santa Barbara without seeing the ocean, so take a short walk to a long pier and check out historic Stearns Wharf that’s home to a collection of nostalgic shops, restaurants and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Sea Center.

Note: When booking your trip to Santa Barbara, you may have a choice between the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight. The Coast Starlight is an overnight, long-distance train that travels between Los Angeles and Seattle. It offers the benefit of a traditional dining car and a Sightseer Lounge (a car with floor-to-ceiling windows), but ticket prices are often at least $20 higher.