A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Santa Barbara for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit New Bern or Santa Barbara? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

New Bern

New Bern is a charming, laid back, and quaint town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a wealthy, opulent, and pristine coastal town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

New Bern and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Santa Barbara is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while New Bern is more popular for its small town charm. Santa Barbara is more touristy than New Bern and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. Also, Santa Barbara is famous for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara and New Bern. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Santa Barbara offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Santa Barbara? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Santa Barbara makes for a great culinary experience. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Santa Barbara has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is well known for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, New Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

New Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its historic old town. However, New Bern does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Barbara to see the historical old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

New Bern does not have a historic old town.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

People visit Santa Barbara specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Santa Barbara makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

New Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is well known for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a very popular coastal town for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

New Bern is not popular with students.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Barbara is a popular place for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Santa Barbara, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is well known for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Santa Barbara. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Santa Barbara than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

Families should spend more time in Santa Barbara than New Bern. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Barbara, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Barbara than New Bern. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Barbara that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than New Bern if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Barbara.

One day in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

The beautiful coastal town of Santa Barbara offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Santa Barbara is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Barbara, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Santa Barbara is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Santa Barbara?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Bern Expensive? and Is Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Santa Barbara, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit New Bern or Santa Barbara?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit New Bern or Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Santa Barbara. The summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Santa Barbara. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Santa Barbara in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

New Bern usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, New Bern is much colder than Santa Barbara. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 52°F (11°C).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and New Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.

In April, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

New Bern usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and New Bern