The family and I spent a terrific day exploring and experiencing all the fun, interactive, STEM at…read moreMOXI. We had a 4 year old and a 7 year old in our group, but I think their dad had the most fun of all! The activities were designed to be developmentally appropriate to include all the members of our group in their range of engagement. Parents interacted with their children and staff was on hand to make suggestions, monitor, and prompt us to better delve into the "science" we were playing with. They seemed well-trained on how to lead us to deeper learning without slowing our explorations. Thanks to the staff and designers who allowed us to spend such a beautiful family day!

Fun, hands-on museum in Santa Barbara, but I think it's better suited for school-aged kids than…read moretoddlers and preschoolers. We visited MOXI with our 4-year-old and under-2-year-old. The kids had fun exploring, but I personally found it a little underwhelming for their ages, especially considering the price. There are definitely some great interactive and creative spaces, but I think older kids would get much more out of the experience. One thing that was pretty disappointing was finding out after we arrived that the entire third floor was closed for a private event. We had driven about 70 miles to get there, so it would've been nice to know ahead of time, especially since admission wasn't exactly cheap. Parking was also a little confusing, although there is some street parking and public parking around downtown Santa Barbara and the transit area. There were definitely some highlights. They have a craft/building area where staff were helping kids with projects and doing little workshops. The current theme was marble runs, but kids could also draw, color, build, and make whatever they wanted. Staff were really hands-on and supervised things like glue guns and scissors, which I appreciated. I can see this being a really fun and worthwhile area for older kids who are creative and enjoy building and STEM-type activities. For younger kids, there is a small crawl/play area on the second floor, plus a quiet "cave" or calm room where kids can take a break if they get overstimulated. I thought those were nice additions, especially for families with toddlers or sensory-sensitive kids. We went on a Monday and it wasn't very busy, which made for a pretty relaxed visit. I could see the experience being much better for our family in a few years, so I wouldn't completely rule out coming back when the kids are older. If your kids are school-aged and enjoy interactive, hands-on learning, building, and STEM activities, I'd definitely say it's worth checking out. For younger toddlers/preschoolers, though, I would temper expectations--the admission price felt a little high for what we were able to do. One thing that could make it a much better value is the ASTC Travel Passport Program. MOXI participates in the program, which can provide free general admission at participating science and technology museums around the world if you have a qualifying membership. There is a 90-mile restriction, though--the museum you're visiting generally needs to be more than 90 miles away, measured "as the crow flies," from both your residence and the museum where you have your active membership. Overall, a nice museum with some genuinely fun interactive spaces. I'd recommend it at least once, but for our family, I think we'll wait until the kids are a little older before making the trip again.

The staff are the best! Always very helpful, and incredibly intelligent. They certainly know their…read morestuff. It's not a huge aquarium, but you can learn a lot and view a variety of sea life creatures in a small space. Great for adults and children. Always excited to go back!

Went to Santa Barbara for a bachelorette weekend and of course walked Stearns Wharf after brunch…read more Super cool that you can drive onto the pier, with lots of little shops and restaurants. We stopped at the aquarium, and regular tickets felt pretty pricey for how small it is, but thankfully CalFresh/WIC tickets are only $5. We spent about 20-30 minutes inside, mostly touching the sharks and starfish, which was honestly my favorite part even as an adult! If you were to take your time, maybe you could spend an hour in The older gentleman at the ticket counter was also super friendly. Cute little experience with a great view right on the pier!

What an amazing experience we had we rode horses for an hour and a half. The horses were all so…read morebeautiful and well taken care of everyone was so welcoming and helpful during the full experience. Our guide was Jimmy he was so great told us stories and some background of the horses and the ranch. After we went to their bar and had some drinks, they were a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some fun or romantic experience. Thank you so much :)

Went horseback riding for a friend's birthday on Saturday and it was wonderful! Driving to the…read moreranch felt like entering a fairytale! The road was filled with streams, shady trees, birdsong, and gorgeous green countryside. We brought produce for the horses to snack on and got to feed them! We did the 1.5 hour trail ride and there were only 4 of us in our group, making it comfortable with fun conversation. It was such a beautiful day and beautiful trail. Our guide was funny and kind, and helpful when some of the horses were going a bit slow (shout out to Tot and 530, the horses!). Every cowboy we encountered were also funny and kind. We truly had a wonderful experience and wish we could've stayed the whole day just hanging out at the ranch!

This place is poorly maintained and not built for kids. The single-occupancy bathrooms have doors…read morethat stick and are difficult even for an adult to open without considerable force. My 7-year-old daughter went to use the bathroom and was gone for an unusually long time--when I went to check on her she was screaming and having a panic attack because she had been stuck in the bathroom for 10 minutes, pulling on the door with no luck. She vomited from the anxiety. Is this company a "passive income" scheme where the owners neglect day-to-day operations and leave everything in the hands of one teen worker? I tried 1) calling and 2) messaging on the company website to get a response on this issue and a refund for our visit but never received a reply. No one answers the phone and no one replies to messages. They have my name and contact info, maybe now that this is up on Yelp they'll reply. It's really disappointing to get this kind of treatment because we've reserved this place twice for birthday parties and deserve more consideration as loyal customers.

We came here on a Sunday from Santa Maria and it was worth it! It was surprisingly empty so my kids…read morehad the whole place to themselves. I liked it because it was clean and did not feel dirty, like most places do. It was very affordable I believe the special was $15 per kid. Worth the price for sure. You can tell management tries their best here. We hope to come back soon.

An excellent playground for smaller kids. The ship themed playground equipment is well designed and…read morefree of the high drop off points some playgrounds have. There are interesting ocean themed decor such as large concrete whales and fish to climb on. The park overall is well maintained with nice plants and a comfortable squishy floor under the playground equipment. Great for 2-5 year olds.

If you need a playground for some free fun, come to shipwreck! The playground is a good size with…read moretwo structures, one for the littles and then another for the bigger kids. Plenty of street parking, and right across from the beach. The bathrooms are clean!

I like this zoo because, while much smaller than the LA zoo, there are fewer crowds and you have…read morethe opportunity to see more animals up close. There's also a petting barn area, and you can pay extra to feed the giraffes. It takes approximately 1 1/2 to 2 hours to see everything. Admission is $39.95 for adults, $29.95 for kids, and $11 for parking. Or, if you're lucky like me, go with a friend who bought an annual membership that lets you bring additional people to the zoo for free, and parking is free too! There are different membership prices and levels depending on the number of people in your family. Cost ranges from $139 to $299. There are also places to buy drinks and snacks and a large play area for kids!

Visited the Santa Barbara Zoo and I thought it was a decent size. It wasn't too small or big. There…read morewas a good variety of animals. I thought most would be hidden or tired because we went on a hot day, but surprisingly a lot of animals were pretty active and visible. My favorites to see were the flamingos, frogs, kangaroos, and giraffes. There is an area where you can walk along the kangaroos on a path. The staff is in the area, should you need assistance, but I thought that was pretty cool. The zoo has a small train ride that takes you around the zoo for about $6 per person. There is also food and beer sold throughout the zoo, and if you want a fun souvenir, they have some photo booths with cool backgrounds for your photo strips. Parking is $11 but if you have a handicap placard, parking is free.

Shoreline Park is a gem for anyone seeking peaceful surroundings . The park offers stunning views…read moreof the ocean, with plenty of grassy areas perfect for picnics or lounging. I love coming here for walks and soaking up the panoramic views of the coastline. Benches are stationed throughout the park to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, some areas have been gated off for safety reasons due to the foundation of the hillside. If you want to venture down to the beach, just look for the wooden archway. The stairway will lead you down to the shoreline. Occasionally high tides won't allow you to venture down, so just be aware of that. The beach itself is rocky, and sometimes full of debris so bring comfy shoes! This spot is ideal for families, walkers, and even solo relaxation. I recommend bringing a small bag for special sea treasures that you may find during your visit. I always enjoy looking for sea shells, sea glass and heart shaped rocks. The rock formations here are always breathtaking during low tides so be sure to bring a camera or have your phone fully charged. Overall, Shoreline Park is my top favorite in town and a must-visit for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. It's also a dog friendly park, so bring your fur baby as well.

Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara is a 15-acre coastal bluff park known for its panoramic ocean views…read moreand family-friendly atmosphere. Perched above the Pacific, it offers a long, narrow stretch of green space with paved paths ideal for walking, jogging, and soaking in vistas that include the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Channel Islands, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

While in Summerland last weekend we passed by this place and stopped to see what it's about…read more Omg.... So many birds. Beautiful and colorful. So this is a non profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and provides a home for unwanted abused and orphaned parrots. They offer walk in tours for $15 for adults and $10 for kids. My husband and I enjoyed meeting the parrots one by one. Some of them speak and made our experience very entertaining. It's a great place to visit with kids also. Educational and fun .... Love supporting a great cause.

My daughter's best friend's mom, who volunteers here, invited us to visit the bird sanctuary…read more Although it appears smaller from the outside, the sanctuary offers a large, beautiful, and green space full with birds. Some of these birds are even talkative, making it a fun experience. Additionally, we noticed that some birds are for sale, along with items like food, cages, and toys. It's definitely a place worth visiting at least once.

Saul and Saul- Thank you for a wonderful experience and so much interesting information on glass…read moreblowing history. My husband and i will be back and we'll be bringing our loved ones so they can experience the joy you put into your work. Just excellent!

Saul Jr. is a wonderful instructor! He's very patient, kind and knowledgeable! I surprised my best…read morefriend from FL with this experience when she came to visit me for my birthday. You could say we're rather "classy" ladies as we both love to take art and craft classes. Hands down this was the best class and finished product either of us has ever made! Thank you Saul, Jr!!

This is a perfect park for families. I like that all the features are close to one another so it is…read moreeasier to keep eyes on multiple kids. Accessible courts for pickle ball including a multi-tiered basketball hoop which I've never seen. The playground looks new and is adjacent to a skatepark that's for kids 12 and under (for skating and skateboard only but there are plenty of littles who ride their bikes). Lots of shade with tables. A walking and bike path. What a cool find! We did come early on a Sunday morning - 945am - because I read that parking can be difficult. There were 2 spots left in the lot and street parking, because it is shared with apartments, was non existent.

This a small very clean park with brand new equipment. They are still building the other parts of…read morethe park. Looks like there are multiple basketball options, ping pong table, skate park, tennis court, handball court, and splash pad area. Restroom nearby