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.

This beautiful courthouse is a definite great spot to visit if you're visiting Santa Barbara!…read more It's beautiful, free, and the tours are free too! Sometimes you might see a wedding party here if you come on weekends, but that's to be expected. You can find 75 min free parking in the nearby parking garage, or find some street parking nearby. Make sure you visit all the floors for the spiral staircase, murals, and staircase leading to the glass wall with a view of the clock workings, and then climb all the way up the watchtower to get a view of downtown SB! When I came, the elevators were down, so do make sure you're able to climb at least 9 ish half flight of stairs to get up to that tower part~~... Well worth the visit if you're here in Santa Barbara

这座古老的殖民时期建筑美极了，比我想象的要大得多、高得多。非常适合拍婚纱照以及举办各种其他活动。从这里还能欣赏到该地区绝佳的景色。照片真的无法展现这地方的真实美感。…read moreAbsolutely gorgeous old colonial building. Much much bigger and taller than what I was expecting. Really perfect for wedding photos and a host of other activities. Also offers fantastic views of the area. The pictures really don't do this place justice.

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.

Was a fun roadtrip got there a bit late and it was cloudy unfortunately but it was still a…read morebeautiful sight and relaxing to sit and view with your significant other

Given it being Valentine's Day Eve, it seems quite appropriate to review a Santa Barbara gem. The…read morelocals--particularly UCSB students--know it as "Kissing Point." You don't need to use your imagination why: Simply venture here at sunrise/sunset and you'll be macking with whomever is closest to you due to the natural romance in the Californian air. It also helps that the temperature is sometimes +10* warmer since it is in the mountains. ;) History: Kissing Point is about a third of the way up (or three-quarters of the way down depending on your route) Old San Marcos Road. This was the original stagecoach route to cross over the mountains prior to the current San Marcos Pass/Route 154 between 1861 and 1901. There are a few weathered historical markers along the way but anyone will easily be impressed by the hard work put into carving out the road. How to get here?: The easiest route to reach Kissing Point is by exiting off the 101 Freeway at Patterson Rd and going toward the mountains, turn right on Cathedral Oaks, then turn left when you've reached San Marcos Rd. Kissing Point consists of only two unmarked dirt pull-offs (one now with bollards due to erosion). There is also a third and fourth pull-off much further up hill but with very limited space. What do I see?: The views are from the Santa Ynez Foothills down into Santa Barbara and Goleta Valley with easy landmarks being the Santa Barbara Airport, University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Old Town Goleta, the Pacific Ocean's Santa Barbara Channel, and almost all of the Channel Islands in the distance on a clear day (from north to south: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz--the most obviously, and Anacapa Islands). I am spoiled to have this scenic drive only minutes from my house since it offers not only some of the best aerial views (ie particularly from Kissing Point) but also a backroad option to access Route 154 that goes over the Santa Ynez Mountains toward popular destinations including Lake Cachuma, Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country, and Solvang. A few tips: - I have included the precise location on the Yelp map, in addition to GPS coordinates, in the Quick Tips. - Check out my video of the drive down this twisty road with views for days: https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select_video=OgU4LsTKlJ7Eqyh60KKdcA&userid=4DyMRBKrokax6d8LCI3GAw. - People love to drive extremely fast up and down (including myself). Be cautious of mountain bikers and motorcycles, particularly around the two hairpin U-turns toward the top. - As the signs heed, put on your headlights during the night AND day. - Please clean up after yourself. Unfortunately there is plenty of trash and glass bottles left behind. Don't be this person.

Beautiful sculpture called Chromatic Gate by Herbert Bauer in Santa Barbara. The Austrian-born…read moreartist studied at the Bauhaus under Wassily Kandinsky. Walk around the sculpture from all angles, frame yourself in a photo. This was in a park by the water. I do remember a man made fun of my polka dot dress.

I'm all for Public Art especially because it is free for everyone! I usually stop and check out…read morethe meaning of why and by whom it was created. I was checking out "Local Flavor" on Yelp and this was the first place listed. I had to go see it. It is located at the corner of Calle Puerto Vallarta & E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Cabrillo Park. At 21 feet tall, you can spot it from down the street. Plus it does stand out with it's blue, purple, red, mauve, orange and yellow colors! This gate was installed in 1991 and it had become faded and easy to miss, so it was restored! The restoration was completed in 2013. The new paint is highly durable aircraft specialty paint. Hopefully, it will last longer than the initial paint! Herbert Bayer is the man behind this art. He designed it but passed away in 1985 before it was built. This Gate is a Memorial to Herbert and his wife, Joella. You may recognize Herbert Bayer's other works. For example, Arco's red diamond shape called the ARCO "Spark" logo. And for Angelenos, we have a sculpture in Downtown Los Angeles called the Double Ascension. It is located in front of the City National Plaza (previously known as Arco Plaza) surrounded by a pool of water. He also designed the Articulated Wall which looks like a stack of French Fries, located in Denver, CO. I've seen these three in real life and with research, realized each one was created by Bayer! As stated in other reviews, this makes for a nice Photo Op and is Instagram worthy! If neither of these is your thing, then just come see it as an Art Installation. The next time I come back to Santa Barbara, I would love to see this lit at night!

Love Lotusland. We are now members because we like the ability to book a reservation before the…read moregeneral public. The Japanese garden is so tranquil. Sometimes I just sit there for the full two hours. It's so peaceful.

It's a huge beautiful garden with an insane variety of plants, flowers and trees. There are so many…read moreunique characteristics of this garden that make it an exciting place to explore. The Japanese garden was favorite as was the abalone pool. The garden is so well maintained and the staff are friendly, while strict with the rules. They have many Koi fish that are named! It was really cute to see especially the new addition. I've heard so many good things about this place, I think one visit is satisfactory because it can be difficult to get tickets.

We visited Santa Barbara recently and stopped by the Moreton Bay Fig tree, we are glad we did, the…read moretree is enormous and very interesting. It is easy to find free parking along the street nearby.

There is a humongous tree in Santa Barbara that you need to see ... IRL (in real life)! It's the…read moreMoreton Bay Fig Tree originally from Australia. It was from a cutting given to a girl who and planted it on 201 State St. in 1876. She moved a year later and her friend dug up and transplanted it here. It's been here at Chapala St. & Montecito St. ever since. In 1970, this tree was designated a California Historical Landmark (No. 837) & later was listed on the California Register of Big Trees. I heard it is the largest Moreton Bay Fig Tree in the Continental U.S.! "Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay Fig or Australian Banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the mulberry and fig family Moraceae. It is native to eastern Australia." - Wikipedia Fun Fact: In 1984-85, the homeless people who were registered to vote had attempted to establish this tree as their mailing address. They even put up a mailbox near the tree, but the Post Office refused to deliver mail to a tree. (This was from a Huell Howser interview with Dan Condon, City Arborist for Santa Barbara in 2001) The circumference of the tree was 42 feet around its base, 80 feet tall and had a branch spread of 176 feet in 2001. I wonder what the statistics are today! I saw it in 2020 when it was not as overgrown as it is today. There was no chain link fence, just the smaller black one that is still there. However, there is now a tall chain link fence around the perimeter. It is very overgrown and in serious need of a trimming. A lot of the branches have grown to the ground. This tree is now around 150 years old. I hope it continues to endure and remain healthy for years to come!

History Machine A…read moremuseum that traces its origins back to 1916 when a group of people got together to try and preserve some of the history of the area. They've been in their current location since 1923, and the location itself, to me anyway, is part of the draw. Not only is it a museum, but it's also a nature preserve, rescue aviary, and dinosaur theme park. :) The Good: * Fairly inexpensive to visit at $20/adult and $15/child * If you buy a membership ($115-450) to the museum, it also includes a membership to their sister aquarium (also in Santa Barbara), the Sea Center. * Wonderful little area in the back with some short trails, a creek, and dinosaurs for kids to explore. * If you love geology, then you'll love their geology exhibit; they have so many amazing rocks and gems on display. * Aviary with injured and rehabbing raptors * Nature art gallery was beautiful * Friendly staff * Tours available * Lots of info on animals and insects of the area The Meh: * Some of the exhibit rooms are a bit cramped, so they can get full fast even without many visitors. The Ugly: * They have a butterfly garden, but it's closed during the winter months, which just happened to coincide with our visit. :( Conclusion: Terrific museum for both young and old.

We love visiting here since it's so close to the Mission also. The entire museum is beautiful with…read moreSpanish tile, arches, with a Prehistoric Forest for big and little kids to enjoy. The Prehistoric Forest is a must-see- the life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs are hidden in the woods and were a massive hit with the kids. It feels like a mini Jurassic Park but perfectly toddler-friendly. The Best Parts: - Chad the Whale: The massive skeleton at the entrance is breathtaking. - Nature Backyard: Great hands-on outdoor play area for kids to explore. - Atmosphere: Beautiful, shaded grounds that are easy to navigate with or without a stroller. Don't really need a stroller here :) - Membership here gets you reciprocal membership to La Habra Children's Museum if you live in LA. There's a reciprocity list with the ASTC Travel Passport Program. Free parking and a great mix of science and outdoor fun. If you're in SB with a family, don't skip the dino trail.

What a great place to come and visit. You get a glimpse of how it used to be back in the day during…read morein Spanish times in this country. Bring the kids, it is fascinating.

Charming, Detailed, and Perfect for Families…read more I absolutely adored my visit to El Presidio! While the big picture history of the last Spanish fortress is fascinating, it's the meticulous, small-scale details of daily life that truly make this place shine. It's an incredibly peaceful and beautifully maintained urban park. The walk through the reconstructed barracks and the Padre's Quarters offers a tangible sense of what colonial life was like, it's sparse, but authentic. My favorite stops were the Cocina (Kitchen), which is filled with period cutlery and traditional tools, and the lovely heritage gardens. Taking a quiet moment in the courtyard, surrounded by the adobe walls and a few citrus trees, felt like a genuine step back in time. The staff at the Visitor Center were so knowledgeable, and the exhibits on the Chumash people and the later Mexican and American periods gave a well-rounded view of Santa Barbara's complex history. It's a short, affordable, and incredibly rewarding stop. Kid-Friendly Note: The scale of the Presidio is perfect for little legs, and the sight of the historic cannons and the big courtyard kept my children engaged without feeling overwhelmed by a massive museum. Highly recommend this historical gem!

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.