Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Santa Barbara was a bucket list stop for my girlfriend, and we booked the 2:00 p.m. trolley tour…read morehoping for a well guided introduction to the city's history and landmarks. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the more disappointing parts of the trip. The seating is tightly packed. I understand maximizing capacity, but at 6'6" it was not comfortable. We moved to the front right side where there is a sideways bench behind the driver, which offered more legroom. That felt like a smart move until we realized most of the sights being pointed out were on the left side of the trolley. It felt like about 80 percent of the tour was oriented that direction, which meant we were constantly twisting around and still missing details. If you book this tour, sit on the left side. The narration also felt disorganized. The driver mentioned he was reading the traffic flow incorrectly and ended up doing much of the route "backwards." Because of that, he would introduce a historical figure or landmark, then later circle back and partially repeat the same information when reaching his usual talking point. There was noticeable repetition and filler instead of a smooth, cohesive storyline. Midway through the tour, there is a stop at Mission Santa Barbara for about 15 minutes. While it is nice to get off and stretch your legs, 15 minutes is nowhere near enough time to meaningfully experience the mission. You can walk through the courtyard and take a few photos, but that is about it. The mission deserves more time than a quick pass through. In practice, the stop felt more like a checkbox than a real opportunity to explore. Another frustration was departure time. The 2:00 p.m. tour did not leave at 2:00. The driver waited past the scheduled time to see if additional passengers would join. When you are visiting from out of town and carefully stacking your schedule, those extra 10 to 15 minutes matter. Overall, for about $30 per person, I expected a more polished and better organized experience. We both left disappointed. If you want a meaningful introduction to Santa Barbara, you may be better off exploring key spots on your own at your own pace.

This was a decent ride around a small part of the city. My driver was Joe. He seemed knowledgeable…read moreabout the history and landmarks. We stopped at a church to take pics and had sufficient time to snap other photos along the tour. This was especially perfect for a warm, sunny day.

I had the pleasure of visiting both the Hermitage Museum and the botanical sculpture gardens…read more It's unbelievable that all of this is on one man's property in the hills of Santa Barbara. The museum is filled with fun pieces of art, some of it interactive. The giant sculptures on the property are remarkable, with the sheer quantity of them amazing. I loved the themed areas like the zoo. The vegetation is also a wonder, especially seeing rare specimens, some of them hundreds of years old. I can't wait to go back and spend more time appreciating all the detail that went into the place!

One of the most interesting and numerous place to visit. Vigorous walking up and down the hillside.read more

Knowledgeable, interesting and full of visuals and well planned stops. Really enjoyed meeting Craig…read moreand felt the walking tour was very worthwhile. Good timing to grab breakfast and get lunch suggestions (and wine tasting coupons) as well. Cheers!

What a great tour! My husband, two teen kids and I were in Santa Barbara for the day. We signed up…read morefor the tour and were pleasantly surprised by the fun stops and interesting stories about the history of this beautiful city. A great way to spend an afternoon!

What a fun tour! We got to learn about some SB history and learn about tiles from both an artistic…read moreand historical perspective... we got a bunch of free swag with our Tile Spotter Premium tix-- a hand stamped Journal and tote featuring tile art from our tour guide, Roger Buster! I loved the energy, the pace, and all of the amazing information we received-- and I especially loved the "tile spotter" card that came with the tour-- it was like a scavenger hunt and walking tour all in one!

The tile walk was amazing! I learned a lot about the unique and beautiful tiles all over downtown…read moreSanta Barbara, including the different time periods and artistic influences. Also, we got to see a lot of beautiful local Santa Barbara architecture. Highly recommend this walking tour, whether you're a local or just visiting! Great for every one of all ages if you like learning about something new.

Had a quick weekend trip with some girlfriends and decided on the wine & chocolate tasting tour. It…read morewas the perfect weather, Melissa was very knowledgeable about the history of Santa Barbara, provided lots of recommendations. Very pleased with our tour!

Melissa was a fantastic tour guide who went above and beyond to make sure me and my boyfriend had…read morethe most amazing weekend in Santa Barbara - so much that we are seriously considering moving out there one day! She took us to 2 wine tasting spots - Riverbench & Cebada Wine Tasting - and 1 beer tasting spot - Night Lizard. Each wine tasting gave us 4 to 5 wines to taste and the brewery gave us a flight with 4 glasses! We started our tour at the train station, walked all throughout State Street, and finished our tour in the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Melissa carried so much historical facts and knowledge about the city, from the architectural design, past earthquake effects and the rebuilding process, the city's Old Hollywood vibes, significance of museums and historical landmarks, and all the delicious food spots to visit! She was so kind as to give us recommendations on places to visit as we made our own personal stop to Solvang the next following day. We couldn't have asked for a better tour and tour guide! We love the city of Santa Barbara and we enjoyed learning its history and greatly admired how the city has successfully preserved its culture, architectural traditions & vibrant patterned designs! We will see you soon!

This was hands down one of the best tours I've ever had of any city. My father and I took a private…read morewalking tour of Santa Barbara with Ellen, owner of Santa Barbara Walking Tours. Originally slated for 90 minutes, the tour lasted a full two hours. What's more, Ellen was perfectly willing to keep on going. We only stopped because my father and I were worn out and hungry, our brains full while our stomachs were empty. Ellen showed us no shortage of historical and cultural and artistic sites while narrating a bevy of fascinating back stories, from a park that was originally the site of a hotel, to a church that had been rebuilt and moved, to a gorgeous old historic movie theater with an auditorium built to simulate the inside of a mission, to Charlie Chaplin's sometime residence. And so much more. And did you know Santa Barbara had literally no trees at all when the Spanish missionaries first arrived? Ellen also offers customized tours tailored to particular interests (e.g. the Sue Grafton murder mystery tour). Next time you're in Santa Barbara, be sure to reach out to Ellen through her website (http://www.santabarbarawalkingtours.com) to arrange a walking tour of this awesome and beautiful city.

Cute and funky tours of Santa Barbara... a bit of art and history (but keep in mind this isn't an…read moreancient European city by any means ;). I spent a couple decades in SB growing up yet saw and learned many new things I had no clue about which was cool. Quirky, funny and informative guide.

Jacob was professional, efficient, friendly. Everything you could ask for as he navigated shuttling…read moreguests at our party. The van was comfy and clean. I highly recommend this company!

By far the best tour company in town! Great day horseback riding and visiting the spectacular wine…read morecountry. If I could give them 6 starts I totally would :)

My partner and I were looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday in town. We have already…read moreexplored much of what the Central Coast has to offer so we decided to revisit an attraction. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum came to mind after noticing their Project Fiesta exhibit was going on. It also just so happens that Yelp's "Travel Like A Local" campaign is going on simultaneously, so the timing was impeccable. This museum is a hidden gem somewhat off the beaten path. It is a few blocks from downtown State Street and two from the historic Presidio. Most tourists unfortunately miss it. Yet, this beautiful adobe building with a humongous boat anchor in front is worth visiting. Heck, there's no reason to not enter since it's completely free to the public (donations appreciated)! Upon entering, to the left is a gift shop with many local books and souvenirs. Yet it's easy to be distracted by the gorgeous central courtyard with a water fountain as its focal point. This is a popular venue for weddings, dances and other celebrations. Be sure to get a photo of an original Camino Real Bell, the marker used to connect the California Missions. There is also the Glenhill Library here. Many don't know that if you sneak out the back gate, you can step back into time with dirt ground, lush fruit trees, and La Casa Covarrubias. The museum also features a permanent exhibit called The Story of Santa Barbara. It's the perfect introduction to the Central Coast's long history of the native Chumash people, the influence of Mexico and the Spanish, the 1925 Earthquake and more. Upon my most recent visit was an unexpected discovery, an exhibit on Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community. I knew of the historic Mattei's Tavern, Inn and Stagecoach Stop after it was recently renovated and became part of a new luxury Auberge Resort in Los Olivos. Little did I know that he became a well-known artist. His first free-sketch was of Leutze's 1851 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at only 15 years of age! Prominent guests of the Tavern recognized his skill and sponsored his studies in San Francisco and New York. To this day you can see his art on the walls of the Tavern, but also here. Another current temporary exhibit is of Old Spanish Days/Fiesta, Santa Barbara's pride and joy. 2023 is its 99th anniversary! I had no idea that Fiesta was originally started to celebrate the opening of the Lobero Theatre. To this day, it remains the oldest running theater in California. The photos of almost a century caught by camera and shared at this exhibit are spectacular. All in all, whether it's your first visit to Santa Barbara or you're a life-long native, a visit to this museum is a must!

I've likely been to Santa Barbara 100 times over the last 30 years. Never knew that this charming…read moregem of a museum existed until yesterday when thumbing through the Passport 2 History book. We already knew we'd be visiting The Presidio of Santa Barbara and Casa De La Guerra, but didn't realize that the Historical Museum was close by, and well worth seeing. So glad I dug deeper into the list of venues! We arrived around 3:45 PM. The sunlight hitting the exterior of the building was getting to that golden-glow stage of the day. The whole building seemed to be quietly basking in the light. Native plantings, wildflowers and aloes are featured in their gardens. While not profusive, they still highlight and soften the grounds. Once inside, we paid in the gift shop, then headed in to see the exhibits. The first feature was a colorful multi-media presentation celebrating Santa Barbara's long-running Fiesta. The video on the main screen in the center of the room was bizarre in it's Hollywood Anglo take on the Spanish / Mexican heritage of the event. (Before the days of political correctness and cultural sensitivity.) Stars of the Golden Age of Tinseltown (like Ida Lupino and Robert Taylor) were present for Fiesta festivities back in the day. Behind that gallery lay a watercolor collection of all 21 California Missions by artist Edwin Deakin. The display was subtle, and beautifully lit. To the left is a large wing dedicated to what I assume is the museum's permanent collection. I was really impressed with their presentation of so many varied objects. They've embraced the concept of layering their displays, creating dimensional spaces where there's texture and depth from ceiling to floor. They even have their own hall of mirrors effect, with the reflections showing off more of the historic pieces. Victorian-era gowns mix with furnishings and accessories, accented with artworks of many kinds. The eye doesn't know where to look first. So many beautiful things to see! The lighting is dramatic, which draws you in to the next space and the next. Placards describe the displayed items, while others give historical tales of local residents who provided extraordinary roles to the development of the Santa Barbara we see today. All I can say is, "Well done!" Back though the gift shop, another wing lies. I wouldn't have realized it, except Dear Hubby pointed me that way. The museum counts itself lucky to have many works by Western artist, Edward Borein. During his career he was a working cowboy in various parts of the American West, and even internationally. He then became a renowned artist, drawing and painting scenes from the life he lived on the frontier. He hobnobbed with luminaries like Will Rogers and Walt Disney. Spending the last third of his life living an working in Santa Barbara during his productive artist period, they consider him a native son. While the facility isn't very large in comparison to bigger city venues, it's a perfect place to sample several hundred years of Santa Barbara history, plus some very special artwork. We spent a little over an hour there, and could have lingered longer. I learned a bit about Miss Pearl Chase. Turns out that after returning to Santa Barbara from a trip out of the area, she alit from the train and was dismayed to see her town "dusty, drab, with untended buildings, and scarcely any landscaping". She took it upon herself to nudge the city officials to adopt the Spanish Mission-style architecture as a unifying theme. She also advocated for public gardens and general beautification of the town with a botanical flair. She's credited with urging the lush look of the city we enjoy today, taking advantage of it's Mediterranean-like climate to full, colorful advantage. Highly recommend this charming museum!

Love the Old Town Santa Barbara! With its Spanish architecture and nice Mediterranean vibe! It's a…read moreperfect mix between a smaller town with a relaxed vibe and a place that has many activities to offer: lots of museums, shopping activities, a great restaurant theme, various street fairs and festivals, check out their calendar when you plan a visit! Perfect place for a day trip or a nice weekend getaway from LA! The beach is close, lots of new breweries and spots great for wine tasting! Things changed here as well over the years, some not for the best, but I always enjoy walking the streets of Old Town, discovering new places, feeling far away, yet close enough. Santa Barbara is always a great idea, lots of fun things to do and the charm of the Old Town is hard to beat!

We strolled through State Street because a portion of it is blocked off for just pedestrians. Nice…read moreto take a walk and see some eateries stores and get gelato at Tondi. Felt safe in the no car zone. Bicyclists are a bit in a rush though.