Santa Barbara – CA

Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County in the U.S. state of California. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara’s climate is often described as Mediterranean, and the city has been promoted as the “American Riviera”. Santa Barbara is a year-round tourist destination renowned for its fair weather, downtown beaches, and Spanish architecture.

The Santa Barbara County Courthouse: It’s located at 1100 Anacapa Street, in downtown Santa Barbara, California.

This Spanish Colonial Revival style building was designed by William Mooser III and completed in 1929. This courthouse is not only historical and beautiful, but still a functioning one. The working Superior Courthouse has around 8 Courtrooms.It’s beautiful and well worth taking the time to sign up for the free tour while you are enjoying the lovely downtown, Santa Barbara. What a beautiful historic landmark and going up to the top deck to get a roof top view of downtown and the ocean is so special. You can easily spend an hour here and I think it’s a must see when visiting Santa Barbara, which is why it can be a little crowded, especially on the weekends. We were pleased to learn that it was open to the public on a Sunday, no admission fee and free street parking nearby.

Mission Santa Barbara: It’s a Spanish mission founded by the Franciscan order near present-day Santa Barbara, California.It was founded by Padre Fermín Lasuén on December 4, 1786. From the expansive rose gardens out front to the historic mini-museum within the Mission offers a poignant view into California’s complex religious and cultural history. Lovely gardens, classic California architecture and sunny gardens make this a worth-it stop if you’re in the area.  There’s no better way to experience the history and grandeur of this old Magnificent Santa Barbara church, other than coming here to experience it for yourself. The friars built this mission on a gorgeous and scenic hill.13 acres to be exact overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Mission grounds include the beautiful Mission church, Historic Cemetery and Mausoleum, a nine-room museum of historical artwork and artifacts, and multiple lush gardens, including La Huerta Historical Garden, which features authentic and ancient Mission-era plants and trees.

Shoreline Park: It’s a long, narrow ocean-side strip of land on top of a mesa, is located in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Facing the Pacific Ocean, Shoreline Park is one of Santa Barbara’s most popular parks. It is a nice walk/run on a bike path that runs along a cliff overlooking the Pacific ocean. Once you get to the end of shoreline park, you have an overview of the Santa Barbara coastline. It is a fantastic place to walk/run and to see the sun-rise.The kids playground is a giant sandbox with swings, slides and fun stuff to climb on. There is also tons of grass everywhere for picnics. For the most part, you’re walking next to a gate because you’re on a cliff, but there is a staircase that leads down to the ocean. It’s a short walk down to soft warm sand and the waves.State Street: One of our focal points of our trip to Santa Barbara is shopping at State Street and the downtown area. Along this palm lined street, you will find many types of shops, restaurants, theaters, the Museum of Art and boutiques.

We were told that we need to try McConnell’s Ice Cream while we are in Santa Barbara, so we just went there. This is a cute place. They’re super nice and let you try as many ice cream samples as you want. Stearn’s Wharf: Old wharf with lots of history. Definitely worth a walk or drive on it. Lots of seafood restaurants and a Sea Center. Best place to see the sun-rise. Nice place to hang out for a weekend. Good views of the boats in the ocean, and the Santa Barbara coastline.There is a sailing center close by this pier where they rent the equipment for Kayaking. It’s just $19 for an hour.

Botanical Garden: This is not a manicured garden with exotic flowers. It’s an authentic representation of the native plants found in different parts of California. You really feel like you’re in a different place when you come here, it’s so quiet and scenic.My wife and I went for a small Hiking inside the Garden where you cross 5 different terrains (Desert, Rivers etc), the Redwood trees and Meadows.Arroyo Burro Beach:  Great beach for walking and spectacular views. Parking available although the lot is pretty small. Great place for a walk and sun set watching. Near the top of the beach, there is a grassy recreational area with picnic tables and barbecue grills. There even is a restaurant and sports bar next to the parking lot.Museum of Natural History: Probably the most impressive thing about this museum is the whale skeleton in front of the place. Great place to walk around. Highlights: The planetarium, insect station with live insects, bird room, and room dedicated to early life in the Santa Barbara area. There is a scenic drive that you can go for. It is around 15-20 miles loop starting from Shoreline Park, Arroyo Burro beach, Mission Santa Barbara, Palm drive and Stearn’s Wharf. The gorgeous city of Santa Barbara, which sits along a south-facing curve of California, has so much to offer visitors. Coastal views with a backdrop of the mountains, old Spanish style architecture throughout the town, a bustling and thriving culinary scene, luxurious resorts and spas, trendy art-filled neighborhoods, and so much more. Come here once and I guarantee you’ll be leaving with your second visit already planned. Santa Barbara is a perfect destination for families, couples, and even solo travelers of all ages and backgrounds.