You already know I love discovering new Little Free Libraries around town. This one is near the…read moreStow House, Lake Carneros, and the South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta. What's adorable about the library is how the paint and design is similar to the historic train museum. There were a good variety of books, though not any for kids. I also appreciated that this library wasn't stuffed too full. So grab a book and go for a read by the lake.

Best store in SB!! The vintage clothes by Sarah are amazing!!!! Her stuff is in the back of the…read morestore to the left!! Her selection is always amazing!! Men's jackets women's jackets and so much more!!

Kindly suggest they improve Customer Service, this was a local shop I'd be happy to support but…read morewhat I felt when I asked the woman behind the counter a simple question was chilling , The look on her face, dry answer , it's a no thanks not a friendly place for everyone, it makes sense she didn't acknowledge us when we walked in, i thought she was just distracted with a customer she was engaging with and didn't hear the "good morning " Before the interaction I was excited for what I wanted to buy then suddenly everything just felt unwelcoming and awkward. Seems they display items from few different vendors but I didn't have the chance to ask .. there is parking on location

**February 2024: Saturday Afternoon Visit**…read more This Goodwill is tiny, but the items they put out are really good quality and the prices are fair. I don't think I would go out of my way to visit this thrift shop, but if I'm in Ojai I would definitely take a peek to see what treasure it may hold. On my recent trip I bought a white puffer vest that fit me perfectly and it didn't even look like it's been used. I suppose consider the size of the store they only put out the best items so it's worth a look if you're in the area.

I love thrifting. This one is better for dropping off donations as the store is tiny and really not…read morevery good. They charge too much and don't give bargains as much as other stores. The staff are so rude every time I drop off where they don't thank you for donations but make you feel like they are drill sergeants telling you where to put your items and if you mess up they correct you fast. Iykyk how it is then you'd agree. The bins are labeled confusing so it is guessing sometimes.

While wandering Linden Avenue, it's hard to miss the Carpinteria Arts Center. We have walked by it…read morewithout experiencing its charms until yesterday evening. We'd had an early dinner, strolled down to the beach, and were headed for our car when we heard live music. Turns out that there was a live concert of rockabilly music happening. Free, too! We entered in to their courtyard and found chairs facing the band, with a dance floor set up, as well. The Rockin' Henry's were on a break, but soon returned. A nice sized crowd was on hand to enjoy beer and wine, music and dancing, in a family-friendly environment. The Rockin' Henry's are a family band with both parents, two teenage daughters, and their charming 10 year old son playing a scaled down upright base, singing lead and backup vocals, alternately, it was an event to remember. Their style is definitely rockabilly, and got people up on their feet to dance. One downside was that the sound balance was off, so that it was very hard to hear the vocals. That was a shame, as there was a lot going on in the performances. Clean restrooms inside the gallery building made for convenience. I didn't study the paintings in the gallery, though I should have, as what I could see from my courtyard seat, the art looked colorful and well-displayed. We'd look forward to attending other events at this comfortable venue, especially for music performances.

I love it here. Lots of space to enjoy looking at the art which is always great. Live music events…read morein the summer months. Well designed place. I felt welcomed there. Not to snobbish. Carp is an upscale beach town and locals are very proud of the place. It is one of my favorite places . . Art Center offers a variety of classes for children and adults. I'm an artist and a teacher so I'm really appreciate this center.

Many years ago, my boyfriend Matt B. told me about Lotusland, a beautiful botanical garden in his…read morehometown of Montecito. I assumed he had plans to take me--like why bring it up and not take your relatively new girlfriend?--but if he did, he certainly took a while to implement them. He married me first, then waited until we had two kids before buying tickets, for a Wednesday afternoon last month. I guess it used to be hard to get tickets here, and even now, you have to plan in advance, as it's only open part of the year and the hours are short and limited. Tickets are also expensive, running $70 apiece. If you're local and likely to go more than once a year, you might want to get a membership. Lotusland is a remarkable place, and I greatly enjoyed this long deferred date. The property covers 37 acres in a residential part of Montecito, where it was once just some eccentric rich lady's house (her name, a stage name, was Madame Ganna Walska). The reason the hours are so restricted is that the neighbors are Montecitans, perhaps the nimbiest clan on the planet. The location does add to the magic, I admit, the sense of quiet and seclusion as you walk the grounds. Everything was easy once we arrived. The parking lot was right by the entrance, and there were both maps and docents ready to help get us oriented. The docents were volunteers, I believe, and very friendly and helpful. One of them saw us wandering aimlessly near the entrance, searching for the stairs to the rest of the gardens, and walked with us to show us the way. The gardens were incredible--gorgeous, of course, but also vibrant and strange. A lot of the plants were fully Seussian, wild and whimsical. The water garden in particular was unlike anything else I've ever seen, with these enormous lotuses and lily pads like rimmed dinner trays. I also enjoyed the quirky swimming pool bordered with seashells and the silly topiary garden. But nothing was more impressive than the extraordinary range of plants. Pre-historic cycads and funny-looking bromeliads. Dracena trees, cousins (or maybe ancestors) to the little potted one we have in our house, allowed to grow freely into giants with clustered branches like maitake mushrooms. It took us around an hour and a half to make our way through the gardens, a bit faster than the two hours suggested for self-guided tours. (We are, to be fair, a bit younger than the average visitor, despite my husband's procrastination.) We had a wonderful time, stretching our legs and seeing some spectacular sights. Better late than never, Matt, and now I look forward to going back.

Lotus to Proceed…read more Historic (circa 1941) 37-acre nonprofit botanical garden, located in Montecito within a mostly residential neighborhood, was started and is owned by famed Polish opera singer Ganna Walska. It was named one of the top ten botanical gardens in the world by Christopher Bailes, a retired Royal Horticultural Society curator and Chelsea Flower Show judge; it is one of only two in the U.S., with Oregon's Portland Japanese Garden being the other. The Good: * Friendly staff * On-site parking * Nice gift shop * Tour options * Over 3,000 species of plants, many of which are considered rare or endangered. * Trails are well-maintained and easy enough for people of all ages to visit. * If you are lucky enough to see the eponymous lotus in bloom, you are in for a real treat. They truly look surreal. The Meh: * Due to its location and county law, the number of guests allowed per day is limited, so admission is restricted. * It is one of the pricier botanical gardens we have visited, at $70 ($85 with tour) per adult (12+) and $35 per child (3-12). * No pets. The Ugly: * They are only open from March through October, so it can be tough to plan your visit; we have tried several times only to be skunked by the time of year we were visiting the area. Conclusion: It is a really awesome garden and a fun place to visit, but I am not 100% sure it is worth the high price; I guess if you like botany and plants, then it is a must-see.

Decided to try and feed my physical media addiction while in the area…read more Upon entry I could see it was clean and orderly but a little on the small side. I spent a few minutes browsing and took my selections to the register. When the employee checked me out he didn't say anything and removed one of his two earbuds. The only words I got was my total and asked if I needed a bag. Short and sweet just like my visit.

Merchandise was okay, smaller than most goodwills and no restrooms or fitting rooms. Probably would…read morenot go back.

Cute store The staff is really friendly, I found some great…read moredeals at this place. It's down town so parking can move tricky but worth paying for a garage near by.

Not many fish options and dairy. Then again, I went later in the day. I will try to go in The…read moremorning hours next time I go.

**February 2024: Monday Late Morning Visit**…read more I've been to a number of Assistance Leagues throughout California and I really like this branches selection and layout. They have a wide selection of women's apparel and four dressing rooms. In the back of the shop are the higher quality items that are also separated by garment type. It has a very boutiquey feel to it and all the volunteers are super sweet. Prices were very fair/competitive to other thrift shops, but I scored a long sleeve and slacks for half off. The next time I'm in the Santa Barbara area I will definitely be back!

Very nice people, and good selection. Not a large store but we found some great items!read more