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    Lotusland

    4.4 (145 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Services - Lotusland

    Community Service/Non-Profit

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    Joan W.

    There are over 20 different style gardens! My favorites were the Japanese and water garden with its lotus flowers. This place exceeded my expectations. Lotulsand is up there with the Huntington Garden and Filoli in terms of impressiveness and fabulousness. Unlike the other two they are a bit more restrictive with visitors. It's open only 9 months out of the year and there are 2 sessions. Each session is 2 hrs., either 9:30-11:30 or 1:30-3:30. They also are restrictive on parking and cannot accommodate late arrivals. You can go on a tour or wander the garden at your leisure. I think the tour is better if you really want to know the history and information on the plants. I don't think it's as good if you have specific places you want to see and and have to move at someone else's pace. For a tour, 2 hrs isn't enough time to get through everything especially if people in the group have a lot of questions. For a list of other Japanese gardens check out my list: https://bit.ly/3CLXWV9

    Victoria S.

    Beautiful gardens, we were lucky to see some lotus blooming (June-Sept), you can easily see everything in 2hrs. I recommend getting there 20min before your time slot to allow time to check-in, park, etc. I would try to visit the water garden first (lotus) before the crowds so you can take pictures. It was bit pricey $60, but it's a nice place to visit once. We decided to do the self tour so we can pace ourselves & take pictures. They don't allow tripods but I don't see why not, especially if there's no one around you. It didn't feel crowded, they limit the number of tickets per day. Make sure to reserve your tickets at least 3 weeks in advance, it comes with parking for 1 car.

    On the right path.
    Richard A.

    Lotusland is quite the treat!! Hidden among beautiful houses in this gorgeous neighborhood. It was clean, quiet, serene and very beautiful. It's a loop trail of many beautiful landscapes, plants and trees from across the globe. I was there on a Friday morning at 9:30. It seems like they keep the entry numbers down and that helps a lot for the peacefulness of it all. You can do a guided tour or self guided tour. Parking was easy, the restrooms were very clean and there's a small gift shop. $60 may be a bit pricey, but it's worth it to keep this treasure alive. Lots of spider webs, so be aware. The spiders love this place too!! It's truly amazing that this use to be a residential property. Stop by for a visit and bask in the tranquility of it all.

    Ryna D.

    Ganna Walska Lotusland is often touted as one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in America. Some would even say in the world! I've wanted to visit for some time now so when a friend was visiting town, I decided to get tickets for us. The grounds and gardens are definitely exquisite. It is most certainly worth your time if you enjoy visiting gardens. That said, in my opinion, it's overpriced. I say this relative to other famous botanical gardens in Southern California. For example, Huntington Gardens is bigger, has more to see especially when you include the library and exhibits, and yet not only is it cheaper, they offer free admission on certain days. So if you are trying to decide which garden to visit, I'd say prioritize Huntington over Lotusland.

    Jill T.

    Lotusland should be on the bucket list of anyone coming to Santa Barbara. It's like nowhere else in the world. Truly magical. Get a guided tour if you can since there's much to learn about the history and plants, but non-guided is fine too if you want to linger on your own. It's worth every penny but reservations are required and sometimes needed weeks in advance.

    Entrance for docent tour
    Julia R.

    Lotus land is such a hidden gem. I had heard about it online and could never get a reservation but my mom and I lucked out and were able to book a docent led tour ($75 each) one week ago. It was an amazing experience and our guide Lyn was AMAZING. She was incredibly knowledgeable and patient answering all of our questions and showing us every garden on site. I am now planning on getting a membership so I can go next season because it was so beautiful and peaceful. The tour lasted about 2 hours and it was about 2 miles of walking, though you can do self guided tour reservations and go at your own pace and explore any area you want. Highly recommend for a day date or a girls trip!

    A bee in the cactus garden
    Patricia B.

    The most amazing gardens I've ever toured. The docent tour is well worth the cost. I was glad we had someone knowledgeable to lead us around and tell us the stories about the various rare plants and gardens on the property. Since you are limited on your time there you certainly want to make the most of it and I am not sure we would have been able to on our first visit without a docent. The gift shop is small but has lots of lovely jewelry, fragrances, and other items. Worth stopping in before you leave. I bought our tickets months in advance of our trip and I'm so glad I did because this really was the highlight of our long weekend in Santa Barbara.

    My happy place, just refreshing coming from the desert! Did the docent tour and well worth the two hours, must have done 10,000 steps and enjoyed learning every step of the wa

    Japanese Garden
    Zan L.

    One of the most beautiful botanical gardens that I have ever been to. There are many different eco zones that you can walk through either in a self guided or docent lead tour. This was my first visit so we chose the self guided tour and honestly I didn't see any other people until towards the end, aside from a few staff members that are there to answer any questions that you may have. You're allowed to be in the gardens for 2 1/2 hours which is plenty of time to stroll through the entire property and really take in the beauty of everything. My favorite part was the cactus garden. It is a bit expensive, being $50 per person, but it's definitely somewhere that everyone should go at least once. In fact, I drove up from Los Angeles specifically for this place. Getting reservations ahead of time is necessary because the spaces fill up and they have a limited amount of people that are allowed in each time, which is nice because it never gets too busy. I definitely plan to go again in the future and this would make a amazing date or special occasion location.

    Wine in the garden
    Lindsay W.

    I won tickets to LotusFest 2023 and took a few friends to enjoy the gardens and try some wine. I didn't realize my day would be so much more! The beauty of this place along with the history and facts about all the plants swept me away. Hidden in Montecito, the minute you step on the the first path you are taken almost literally to a different place. The best surprise was the white lotus still blooming in September when they typically go only into July. All the staff and volunteers guided us through the gardens and answered any question we had. The wine at the event was superb. New favorites include Summerland Winery and Bien Nacido. The ticket prices were reasonable since you spend the afternoon in the garden while allowed to drink and be merry along the way and listen to live music. I can't wait to visit Lotus Land again, perhaps early on a foggy morning for the still and silence!

    beautiful gardens. some plant types i have never experienced before. because they limit the number of people who can enter, i recommend make a reservation at least 45 days out. only 200 people per time slot can enter and those spots go fast. 2 hours is enough to see almost everything.

    Lotus flowers and giant water lilies
    April A.

    Lotusland is a wonderful place. The ponds with lotus flowers and giant water lilies and the Japanese garden are magical. There's a lot of friendly and knowledgeable docents available to answer any questions you may have. Entry fee is $50/pp. You have to make reservations for the 2 time slots offered - 9:30 or 1:30 and you only get 2.5 hours to tour the property. This is the reason I gave 4 stars because of the short limited time you get to go through the entire expansive property. I felt a bit rushed and could have used another hour to truly appreciate the garden. I know I missed things and at $50/pp it's disappointing. It would have been nice to sit in the Japanese garden and listen to the waterfall and admire the beauty but had to keep moving. Even with this limitation I still recommend visiting Lotusland.

    fabulous docent!
    Hanna S.

    Lovely gardens. Lovely events. Reserve to visit with a member. Interesting history of the grand dame who created this treasure. It once has peacocks roaming but now local birds, exotic and native specimens. The docents are lovely, happy and knowledgeable.

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    4 months ago

    Beautiful garden and well kept, not sure it's worth such a high price though. The staff was super nice.

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    11 months ago

    We enjoyed our docent lead tour with Marcia. She was very knowledgeable and delightful to spend two hours with.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Lotusland

    Are dogs allowed?

    I don't believe so. It is not a park, but a botanical garden, and these usually don't allow pets of any kind.

    Do you need to make a reservation?

    Yes, reservations are required.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Lotusland

    Back in the 1940's a rich and eccentric lady named Ganna Walska decided to build a garden in the hills of SB.

    Mentioned in 14 reviews

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    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    (369 reviews)

    We found this botanic garden because it's dog friendly and made a reservation for Sunday afternoon…read more You need a reservation because they want to limit the amount of people who come in each day plus parking is pretty tight. In the springtime, this garden is really beautiful with all the wildflowers and redwood forest. It can get pretty hot and sunny in certain areas so sunscreen and a hat can be helpful. Overall, it's a beautiful place to explore with your dog :)

    My son and I have been here to this Botanic Garden twice before about 10 years ago and decided to…read morerevisit it this morning on our trip to Santa Barbara. We headed over around 11:30AM, right after checking out from our hotel. They are celebrating their 100th Anniversary. WOW!! Admission is $25 for adults and a bit pricey for what you get, in my opinion. It's definitely a beautiful place full of nature, greenery, fresh air, peace and zen. I was a little disappointed at the lack of flowers in the whole property. There were only some poppies on the meadow where you walk in and that was it. I also didn't like how there are literally no rangers or anyone to help you around the trails. I understand you are just on your own, but it's dangerous that there's no one to help you if something goes wrong. No First Aid Kit, either. I also remember them having a big, beautiful waterfall on the trail and it wasn't there this time. Why? They have free parking and there are some restrooms at the entrance and we saw one on the trail. They have a very nice gift shop with some snacks/refreshments, books, magnets, shirts, candles, artificially looking flowers, etc... We bought few gifts that my son and I liked. Got a nice fresh, clean scented Mango/Pineapple candle, ($25), an organic rose water spray to splash all over your body ($17), an interesting cooler can with crystal water that keeps your water cold in the fridge ($8). A 16 oz. can & a tiny white heart shaped magnet ($5.20), insanely expansive! I may or may not revisit in the future.

    Seaside Gardens - Lotus in the Asian Garden

    Seaside Gardens

    (132 reviews)

    $$

    We stopped by for my bday last year and it was such a charming experience. It's one I recommend…read moreduring these gorgeous spring months for plant lovers and nature seekers. Despite growing up around here, I somehow never stumbled through these grand entrance gates until recently. This gem of a garden isn't just my butt's savior now on long drives up from LA, but it's a sliver of paradise found--and sanity regained. Just walking around here for 15-20 mins. and you'll feel your blood pressure drop a few notches to a pleasant state of calm. You can explore the themed areas, take in the vegetation around you, and get landscaping tips just from strolling around their property. The plant things are grouped in various climate/hemispheres and it's nice to see them taking root and being incorporated in a seamless design (and it's nice shopping experience too). I was impressed with the selection and bought a few small air plants and succulents that are still thriving with offshoots. Prices are reasonable. For pros looking for inspo, I think this place that can offer Interior Designers & Landscapers creativity with plants. Or even the DIY Weekend Warrior looking to revamp their current landscaping or add a little something new to it. They have a wide variety of exotics, California natives to indigenous to Australia, and every other tree, shrub, and greenery in between. Since it's the year of the (hobby) horse, I'll be sure to get my butt up here more often in 2026.

    As a store there's all sorts of different plants and gardening items that you'd need. I like to…read morestop by solely for the botanical gardens in back. It's a nice small excursion if traveling to LA. What a wonderful concept to put a botanical garden on the property, it could show what you could do with the plants that they sold. It's tranquil to walk around and explore yet it is right next to the 101 so the freeway was loud. They really packed a lot of diversity into this small area. There were plaques for each different garden. Plaques I noticed (though there might be more) were South African Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Grassland, Cottage Garden, Native Garden, Succulent Garden, Central/South American garden, Australian garden, and Asian garden. My favorite was the Asian garden because it had a pond with koi fish.

    Moxi - MOXI's sandcastle-inspired building is LEED certified, and located walking distance from the Amtrak station and Stearn's Wharf.

    Moxi

    (225 reviews)

    Took the kids here today and it was 100% worth the 1.5 hour drive from LA. MOXI is super hands-on…read moreand perfect for kids to just explore and play without getting bored. Every exhibit actually keeps them engaged not just looking, but doing. The interactive tables (like the spinning drum and dice games) were a hit. My kids didn't want to leave and kept going back to the same stations. It's also really clean, organized, and easy to navigate even with little ones. Pricing was reasonable for what you get abbout $25 for adults, $20 for kids, and under 2 is free, which is nice. Staff was friendly and everything felt well-maintained. You can tell they designed this place with kids in mind but adults still have fun too. Definitely a solid family day trip spot from LA. Would come back again

    I literally planned a trip to Santa Barbara just because my toddler wanted to go back to the Moxi…read more We have a kids museum in our city but she kept saying no the one with the parachutes. I figured out it was the Moxi. I guess it make quite the impression on her last year. The museum had some new exhibits this time around. They added a fun ball launcher that I also enjoyed as well. The water exhibit could use some love. Some of the hydraulic levers was either not working or you had to really work at it. My toddler was not strong enough to use them. One thing I like is that we were able to leave and come back after lunch. We got to make the most if our trip. I'm sure we'll ge back next year.

    Mission Santa Barbara - Another heavenly day in Santa Barbara.

    Mission Santa Barbara

    (361 reviews)

    My trip to Santa Barbara's mission was unexpected but well worth it. They offer self guided tours…read morethat cost $17 per individual. The tour gives you access to the mission grounds which includes the beautiful church, historic cemetery, sacred garden and mausoleum. QR codes are accessible that provide in depth descriptions of whatever section you're in. I thought it was a great experience. The tour can take you anywhere from half an hour to an hour, depending on how interested you are. If you enjoy taking pictures, there's plenty of picture worthy shots. I definitely recommend you check it out! At the end of the tour you do get access to their gift shop. PS parking is free.

    Mission Santa Barbara is a historic California landmark that also doubles as a museum. They even…read morehave actual mass in the mission, as well as Sunday service. It is a beautiful space filled with so much historic value. It was founded in 1786!! We got there around 3pm and purchased the Self Guided tour for $17 per person, which was a little high in my opinion. You walk through the museum and Mission grounds at your own pace and enjoy it on your own time. There are QR Codes that provide information to go along with your tour. We checked out the museum, garden, mausoleum, and even sat in the church for about 30 minutes just enjoying the beauty and peace. There is a gift shop you exit through that sells some lovely items such as shirts, sweaters, magnets, artwork, sculptures, candles and so much more. We bought a nice sweater with Santa Barbara written on it, a beautiful candle in a glass, and a small bookmark with a prayer symbol on it. They even have snacks/refreshments. They close at 5pm but sell their last ticket at 4pm. Parking is also free, which is always a plus. This was our third time here over the last 2 decades, and I'm not sure it's necessary to come back again. Once you've seen it, you've seen it.

    Mission Historical Park

    Mission Historical Park

    (20 reviews)

    One of my fav places in town. If we have guests, we always suggest grabbing a blanket and packing…read moresome wine and snacks or food to go and enjoy at sunset at the Rose Garden. The kids love rolling down the hill, climbing on the trees, or wandering the little paths on the side. Plus, you learn all the fantastic rose names when you simply take a walk around the pattern of colors.

    I have overlooked this park for many years, but today when visiting the mission today I took the…read morechance to walk across the street to see this park and rose garden. Most of the park is a large lawn, and very popular with picnickers and sun bathers on the weekend. But I was lucky to be here on a weekday, and found the rose garden part to be much more than I expected! The roses are sequestered toward the neighborhood side, and doesn't look like much from a distance. However, walk into them and the world changes. There are many beds of roses, most of them 5 to 6 feet tall it seems! The blooms were plentiful on this visit, and the aroma of roses was amazing! Every where I went I smelled the roses, one of my favorite scents. The roses are grouped by variety, and there are labels with the common names, should you wish to track down a variety that caught your attention. And there are benches around here and there so you can just sit and admire the blooms - when in season of course! If you ARE in the area when they are blooming, take the chance for a leisurely stroll through the beds - you'll be amazed at the potential of a rose garden brought to reality.

    Lotusland - gardens - Updated May 2026

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