Santa Barbara Tourist Attractions
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General LocationSanta Barbara lies 92mi/148km north of Los Angeles (about two hours traveling time) and 330mi/530km south of San Francisco (seven hours traveling). The U.S. 101 passes through the town.
Mission Santa Barbara
The church at Mission Santa Barbara was built in 1829 and has been well preserved. Also on site is a museum located in one of the other buildings, gardens, and cemetery.
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a Spanish-Moorish building in the style of a palace, completed after the large earthquake of 1929. The tiles lining the staircase are mainly from Tunisia, while those used on the arches are of Californian origin. The entrance hall on the first floor is a strange mixture of styles; the tiles and a passage way to the loggia are Islamic, the pink window is Romanesque and the archway decorated with angels is Byzantine. The County Supervisor's conference hall is entered through a double door; its murals illustrate the history of the county, beginning with the Indians watching the arrival of the first Europeans led by Cabrillo.For a good view out over the city towards the ocean, a trip up to the top of the El Mirador bell tower is in order. Located throughout the courthouse are numerous paintings by noted artists Allan Gilbert Cram, Van Cina. In the mural room visitors will find an original Grosbeck. The courthouse and the grounds are popular places for weddings and you may be lucky enough to come across one.
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is a well-regarded cultural institution notable for its collection of more than 25,000 works of art. The museum is particularly well known for its collection of Claude Monet works. Additionally, the museum has works of art from the following periods: 19th-century French, British, and American art; 20th-century and contemporary European, North American, and Latin American art; Asian art from 2500 BCE to present day along with many other items. One of the museum's highlights is the mural of the United States created by David Alfaro Siqueiros.The museum is spread out over 60,000 square feet and features a museum store, café, a children's gallery, and an extensive library containing over 50,000 titles. In addition to its permanent collection that spans over 5000 years of human history, the museum hosts top notch traveling exhibits on a regular basis.
Ty Warner Sea Center
The Sea Center in Santa Barbara is located on Stearns Wharf. The center is a cooperative venture of the Marine Sanctuary and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Visitors enjoy a glimpse of life in the Santa Barbara Channel as well as a kelp forest and touch the spines of a sea urchin. Interactive exhibits include sampling and testing ocean water, studying animal behavior, and examining microscopic marine life.This is a particularly good place for families with small children who can touch live specimens, even small sharks, in the touch pool. You can see what a tidal pool looks like from underneath through the windows of a huge tank.Exhibits are geared toward learning and hands on experiences, making it a fun place for the curious. There are both permanent and temporary exhibitions so check the calendar to see what is new or up coming.
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden showcases native California plants and trees. Paths wind their way through lush areas, providing a tranquil environment. The garden, covering 78 acres, has been in existence since the 1930s and consequently offers a selection of mature trees and plants. A portion of the garden has been labeled a Santa Barbara County Historic Landmark.Visitors can take a tour led by a docent, or stroll the paths on their own self guided tour. Some of the plants are labeled. There is also a shop on site selling books and other items, as well as a nursery where you can buy your own California native plants. In addition to being a relaxing and interesting place to visit, the Botanic Garden can be a great place to get local gardening and landscaping ideas.
Santa Barbara Zoo
Everyone loves a zoo and there is lots to love at the Santa Barbara Zoo! Located on over 30 acres, this zoo is notable for its beautiful setting that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The zoo has over 500 animals across 160 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. Here you sometimes feel as though you are walking through a botanical garden as the property is laid out with formal gardens, open spaces, native plants, trees, and cacti.The zoo first opened its doors in August 1963 and has evolved over the years. Programs like the Barnyard, where you can feed domesticated sheep, or the Giraffe Feeding station where you can get up and personal with a Baringo giraffe draw regular visitors and are a favorite with children. Also on site is a carousel and a zoo train for kids.
Casa de la Guerra
This U-shaped adobe Casa de la Guerra was built between 1819 and 1827 as a political and social center for the community by the fifth commandant of the Presidio. By adding more houses on the northwest and northeast sides it has been made into the El Paseo Complex, a Spanish street which was used as a copy when Santa Barbara was rebuilt after 1925.It is an example of an affluent, Spanish-Mexican style home during that period and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and open to the public, with guided tours available.An annual Spanish Days Festival is held in the square in front of this building.
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum was formed in 1994. The facility was formerly known as the Old Naval Reserve Center until 1942 when it became an U.S. Navy training facility from 1942 until 1995. The museum features changing exhibits, a couple old time fishing boats and sailboat, and the Munger Theater. The theater shows interesting and current maritime related movies and documentaries.The Maritime Museum is particularly fun for, and in many ways geared towards children, with an emphasis on learning. Staff is often engaging with children. That said, watch for special events, some of which are adult oriented.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
The Presidio (fortress), founded by the Spaniards in 1782, was badly damaged in the earthquakes of 1806 and 1812 and became of no importance at all after the American troops entered in 1846. Of the original buildings only El Cuartel, the soldiers' quarters, and the front rooms of the Canedo Adobe remain. The padre's house and the chapel have been restored.El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park is located in modern downtown Santa Barbara at the intersection of Santa Barbara and East Canon Perdido Streets.
Stearns Wharf
At the bottom of State Street in Santa Barbara is the Stearns Wharf, built in 1872 it became the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. This city landmark now features shops and restaurants, a lovely view of the harbor, an aquarium, and the mountains behind Santa Barbara.It is relatively low key, with a few shops. It can be a nice place to have a leisurely lunch while enjoying the view out over the ocean and surrounding beaches. Most visitors simply come here to walk and have a look around. Also located here is the Ty Warner Sea Center.
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Santa Barbara is considered the world's largest private holding of important original documents. There are letters by Charles Darwin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, George Washington, Albert Einstein and others. The museum has exhibits covering history, science, art, music and exploration.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
On display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History are mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, the skeleton of a blue whale, exhibits of plant life and the geology of the Pacific coast and the Channel Islands, as well as a diorama of prehistoric Indian life. There is also a planetarium with varying displays.
Andree Clark Bird Refuge
The Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara is a great place to observe gulls, ducks and geese. This 42-acre saltwater marsh is one of the largest wildlife refuges in the area.
El Capitán State Beach
There is a stairway which leads to the sandy beach and rocky tidepools of the El Capitán State Beach. The beach is located off Highway 101, 17 miles west of Santa Barbara.
El Encanto Hotel
The El Encanto is a historic landmark hotel in Santa Barbara, built in 1915 near Mission Santa Barbara. The architecture is both Craftsman-Cottage style and Spanish Colonial Revival.
Gaviota State Park
Gaviota State Park got its name from the soldiers of the Portola Expedition of 1769. The park is located 33 miles west of Santa Barbara on U.S. Highway 101. It offers visitors swimming and surf fishing.
Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum
The Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum supports a variety of visual, media, and performing arts, highlighting the work of local, regional, national, and international artists.
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is housed in three adobe houses and displays material relating to Santa Barbara's Spanish, Mexican and early American history (including documents and paintings).
Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
The Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens contains a pond and a 4.5-acre botanical garden landscaped with native ground covers, trees, shrubs and flowers.
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
The Cachuma Lake Recreation Area is located 25 miles north of Santa Barbara. There are hiking trails, campgrounds and water activities here.
Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa Barbara
The Carriage and Western Art Museum displays saddles, carriages and other equipment used by pioneer Santa Barbara families.
Fernald Mansion (Trussell-Winchester Adobe)
The Fernald Mansion is a 14 room Queen Anne style Victorian mansion from 1862. Next door is the Trussel-Winchester Adobe, a typical adobe from 1854.
