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    Santa Barbara Zoo

    4.1 (849 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

    Santa Barbara Zoo Photos

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    Regina C.

    Spent Valentine's at Santa Barbara and of course, our first activity was the zoo! We made our 10 am reservation online days prior and made sure to come on time to avoid a huge entrance line! Right when we entered, we made our way to the Giraffe area in order to get in line to feed them! We waited about 20 minutes and was around the fifth group in line. The giraffe feeding was definitely the highlight of our day. It was fun but wow, the pricing is expensive. It's $8 per 2 lettuce pieces that's broken into four small pieces. My boyfriend kindly got me two feeds since I was really excited about the activity but I don't think we'd do it again. It was way too short (probably less than a monite for three feeds) and so expensive for what it was. We went to a few zoo talks like the penguin and australian walk but other than that we walked the entired zoo independently. There were a few things that made us dislike the zoo (and we LOVE zoos). The sea otter exhibit was lacking water, it was really sad to see. Most animals were traded with other zoos and breeded in the zoo (none were rescued). There were little to no information whenever we read the plaques. The zoo was a bit underwhelming for what it is.

    Atsuko O.

    I love Santa Barbara zoo!! I live more than 1 hour away, but try to visit once every two months to see their animals, but mainly Asian small clawed otters. Perfect size and well maintain. Their light up event is very nice too.

    Kathi Y.

    My husband and I have visited a lot of zoos in various states and by far this is our favorite! The zoo grounds are extremely beautiful and well kept. All the animals seem so happy, well maintained and content. Every animal was out so you could see them. This is not the same in other zoos. You go to the zoo and see maybe 60% of the animals. Others are in their habitat or non-visible. I have never gone to a zoo and seen 100% of the animals. This is a smaller zoo where you can see everything within one day. One neat feature was an area where you could feed the giraffe. Also there was a walk about area where you were walking right next to kangaroos!! Everything here was so fantastic!! We are looking forward to our next trip to Santa Barbara Zoo.

    Pedro G.

    A core memory to my childhood, the Santa Barbara Zoo will always help me reawaken my inner kid. Spent my Saturday afternoon at the zoo, boy was it a blast. Parking was a bit of a hassle since there was an event going on, but it wasnt a pain. If you have children I'd highly recommend visiting this zoo. Although small in size, this zoo has been one of the best zoo experiences to date, not only was it extremely interactive children, the animals looked happy to be there. With a variety of exhibits on display I'd say my favorite had to be gorilla and penguin exhibit. There are plenty do food vendors found at the zoo. Their gift shop too has an assortment of gifts. I would definitely recommend

    Andee Clark bird refuge/nature preserve. View from the zoo path.
    Lillian W.

    Santa Barbara has a zoo! It's located in the downtown area near the beachfront. The parking is $11 and admission is $35 adults (yikes) , $25 child (2-12), and FREE for kids under 2. But if you buy online and not in person, that you'll save you $7 on each admission. Plus if you get there early enough, there may be free street parking immediately outside of the lot. The lot is smallish and can fill up quickly on the weekends. Public paid lots are about .3 miles down the street. They allow you to bring in food and non alcoholic drinks. That's good considering the admission prices. My review is hecka long and mind numbing... read further for nighttime reading. You've been warned. The zoo exhibits are in most part grouped by geographic area. The footprint is 30 acres in total. The grounds are beautifully landscaped with gorgeous plants, blooms, and trees. In the children's area, there was with outdoor art adding touches of whimsy. "Great art picks up where nature ends." Mash of nature meets Alice in Wonderland. For the adults, there is a coffee cart, concession stand, and a beverage stand selling beer, wine & cocktails. If you can't stay dry for zoo time, they got you covered. The zoo has activities for the kids such as sing n dance with the puppets. I so happen to pass by that area which is next to the zoo train and gardens. I caught a performance, those tunes are catchy and yup got me swaying and just keep the good vibes flowing. The zoo train is carnival type ride vs large passenger train. Perfect size for the kiddos to feel big, and big enough for adults to ride without feeling smushed (parents, you know what I mean). It goes around the perimeter of the zoo. It's a super cute train with the bells n whistle and fun living conductor. Memory maker for sure. $7 adult, $6.50 kids. Unlike the admission, there's no discount if you pay online vs in person. Lions, Cheetah, Gorillas, Penguin, Alligator, Giraffes ... oh my. Follow the paths and visit ALL the animals. The lion exhibit has a male and female. There was a glass viewing wall. I was able to see them both sleeping right in front of the glass. They were less than 24 inches away with just glass separating us. Wild. The cheetah though had a walkway right up next to the glass. He/ she walked back n forth several times. That excited the crowd, it did me. The penguin colony was viewable from ground level and then they had an underwater viewing through glass. It was neat seeing them swim from that angle. They were a noisy bunch, they have a squeaky melodic voice. Who knew that they are a social bunch, party animals. Giraffe- rest in peace to the famous Gemina, the crooked neck, giraffe. She passed in 2008 and there is a memorial plaque honoring her. She was an icon; a very popular pop culture referenced animal of her time. Anyways back to my visit, the viewing balcony to feed the giraffe will cost you $8. The regular balcony was set back about 8 feet and was close enough to see these lash fantastic beauties as they came up to the balcony to feed from the feeding baskets. Goat interaction-free to get up close and personal to pet and brush the mini Nubian and dwarf Nigerian goats. Outback Walkabout- it's an enclosed double gated area you walk through with free roaming kangaroos and wallabies. Folks have to stay on the path. Keep to the path or you may find yourself in a boxing match. Just kidding or am I. The animals stayed far back against the perimeter walls sitting together in the shade and just looking back at us humans. I suppose we may be their entertainment. Bird walkthrough exhibit was insane. I walked in and I was right there with them. Yikes. They flew about and hollering. One big, plump, spectacular colorful bird (might I add with a noticeable beak) sat on a nest that was eye level. The branch was next to the only exit/ entrance. He/ she was giving everyone the side eyes. Then a bird did its business while flying about. Too much up close n personal nature for me, I left asap after that. Plump bird was still on that branch. Probably laughing inside at us all. (Fun fact: birds pee and poop while flying).

    Monopoly Santa Barbara style cool
    Stacey L.

    If I were you I'd just get the annual pass. You get accommodated parking, unlimited visits that you can book online, bringing an extra guest and fun times looking at the animals grow. They just recently finished an area by the penguins that you can check out reptiles inside. You can actually book events here like a wedding, night events, leave your child here for their outdoors licensed preschooler school, volunteer and donating in so many ways here. You can support by donating to for example plant new trees for animal habitats, help pay for equipment, material needs, and staffing in the field, sponsor a camper by helping low-income families in Santa Barbara County, sponsor an animal by helping for example offset the Zoo's animal food costs. Donate also for the enrichment experiences program that supports natural animal behaviors, sponsor a class to help economically disadvantaged/at-risk students learn about animals and conservation, sponsor an event to support and promote your business while helping the Zoo. And the most popular one in Santa Barbara is the planned giving to leave a legacy by making a planned or estate gift. You can also donate your green waste, by calling (805) 403-5303 for more info and be aware that those donation with deliveries are by appointment only! For a list of edible plant materials including leaves, shoots, bark, green waste non-toxic branches, leaves from specific species of trees, shrubs, such as bamboo and grape vines access this list: https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2995/website-complete-browse-list.pdf https://www.sbzoo.org/donate

    keeper talk times for our day
    Jenny S.

    an incredible zoo, probably the best in socal north of San Diego. they make really good use of their relatively limited space and seem to have excellent facilities; the care they have for and knowledge they evince about their animals is inspiring. do yourself a favor and go to the keeper talks! we attended pretty much all of them and it really made our day getting to hear specific details about all the animals. we spent all day here but most people should probably allot at least three hours for a visit. specific recommendations for the australian walkabout, rainforest passage, and wings of asia. make sure to appreciate the california condors and remember that at one point, the four in the SB zoo would have represented around 18% of the entire species' population. conservation works and needs your support!

    Lions
    Bethany R.

    This has to be the most Beautiful zoo in the United States, I get it's small but it's stunning with ocean views, crisp gorgeous landscape with plants and flowers, animals that are beautiful and healthy, and perfect Santa Barbara weather and architecture/design. I can keep going. I know it's "expensive" but if you buy tickets online it saves you $7 a ticket and you can park on the street to save on parking. We also picnic so that saves food money. We did bring cash and paid for the giraffe feeding experience and the train but you could use card for the train. We love the kids play area/park, the dance party on the stage, the train ride, the kangaroo walk through, and feeding the giraffes, it was the perfect family outing with toddlers. We got here at 9:30 and We wrapped up at noon for nap time but could Have stayed longer to play/do more if time allowed. I love this zoo!

    Penguins during feeding
    Rebecca X.

    Always love this zoo and it was a really fun day trip. Parking is $11, but there are plenty of places around that are cheaper or even free in exchange for a 5-10 minute walk. We came on a random Thursday, but there were still a good bunch of people. Handlers and staff were all super friendly and willing to chat about their work concerning animal diets, ages, and etymologies which was pretty impressive since we saw the same few people all over the zoo. They run a pretty efficient ship! We accidentally became flies on the wall for like 5 minutes during the capybara experience and had no idea what was happening, but learned a lot about the zoo's mission and partnerships. But every week at a specific time and date, for a few hundred dollars they run close up animal experiences! This really is the zoo of add-ons, if you want to feed the giraffes I think it's $11? (Everything is like $3 cheaper if you're a member though) There's roughly 2 places to eat, a food counter at the entrance and a food stand near the back. I saw there's also a coffee truck now! Didn't actually visit and see what they were offering but it seemed like your normal flash fried zoo food with energy drinks and sodas. One thing that's a little negative is because there's few staff, some inconsiderate people do tend to let out their wild side. We quickly passed by the gorilla because a group of middle aged adults were hooting, hollering, and hitting the walls to the enclosure to the gorillas. There are multiple viewpoints to see the gorilla that require no such hitting and hooting. Gorillas see eye contact as aggression. Please do not cat call the gorilla. I do enjoy that most of the animals have some spaces to hide, it was fun circling back to see if they had moved. Gifts store is still very expensive, but they do have small knick knacks from $1+ if your kid desperately wants to take something home. I really enjoy their trading cards, which come in 5 in mystery bags for $5. If your kid is too excited by moving animals to read the placards while in the zoo, these cards have the animals' names and information on them. We came around 12:30 and spent 2 hours looking at everything at an intentional pace, which was good because the zoo closed early that day (3:30 vs usually at 5) for an event. Lots of play areas for kids and the zoo does have a clear intention towards kids with shorter viewing areas available, playground equipment scattered around, and lots of shade. I don't use either but I'd say it's relatively stroller and wheelchair friendly, though some slopes are steep.

    Penguins 4-11-25
    Sara B.

    This was a nice first time visit for me and my weekend guests. We planned to visit the zoo when it first opened at 9:30am on a Saturday; which I think was a great time. It took us (4 adults) about 2.5 hours to see all the exhibits. Some animals were not currently on exhibit like the snow leopard. We did not purchase the additional train ride to save ourselves $7. Not sure if we missed out on much as TripAdvisor reviews said to skip it because all you get to see is the back of the exhibits. I think the only benefit to taking the train would have been to get a better look at the lions. The lions were sleeping closer to the back fence far away from the main viewing area but the train goes back behind the fencing. It was nice to walk through the kangaroo exhibit where they are roaming along the habitat that you are walking through. The zoo workers are very strict on making sure you don't step off the cement paths and that you are moving along and not spending too much time in the exhibit. It looks like the elephants used to be where the kangaroos are now but the elephants passed away in 2018 and 2019 and the zoo no longer has any. It was pretty cool that they have some bald eagles and a red panda. The giraffes were my favorite but they do charge $8 for non-members to feed them. Overall a nice way to spend some time with the family, get your walking steps in and also have some views of the ocean nearby.

    Tracy A.

    Santa Barbara is a great little zoo. You can see everything in an hour or hour and a half but there's a little bit of everything. There is a nice play area for the kids with a coffee truck right next door. This zoo is worth a visit.

    Snow Leopard
    Laura A.

    This zoo is fantastic. You can see the Pacific Ocean from the zoo. It has an interesting array of animals for adults and kids alike. The two highlights of the zoo are the Australian walkabout exhibit and feeding the giraffes. The staff are super friendly. You can see all that the zoo has to offer in about 2-3 hours.

    Peter T.

    So there's a problem. My family is from San Diego and my kids are 3 and 6. We hit the San Diego Zoo OFTEN. Once per month usually. Here's another problem. The San Diego Zoo is a tourist over populated trap! Yes, it's fun, but it's a two day event. So much space, so much walking. The Santa Barba Zoo is incredible. It's immersive, it's for locals, its not population dense. It's warm, it's intimate. The coolest components: you can walk with Wallabys, you can feed the Giraffes, there's a train ride that allows you to see nearly everything. While the weather was misty it didn't ruin the experience, it enhanced it. It felt like we were in some mystical fictional fantasy world. My kids had a great time, so did we. It could be more kid friendly but it's excellent. Prices of admission and food aren't too bad either. Highly recommend!

    Gorilla

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    Santa Barbara Zoo Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Santa Barbara Zoo

    Can I bring my emotional support dog. She weighs 9 lbs and she would be contained in a stroller?

    hi Nina, The Zoo's policy about dogs is as follows: Service animals are allowed if they meet ADA’s… Read more

    Is Outside food allowed?

    Hi Tim! You can bring outside food and beverages into the Zoo, with the only exception being alcoholic beverages. Enjoy your visit!

    I was told the giraffe feeding has been closed. Is it open yet? If not, When will it open back up again?

    It is open! We did it yesterday. Yesterday was first day it was open.

    Is there a way for me to edit the time for my 4 tickets I have already purchased?

    I don't think they really check the time, I went an hour or two earlier than mine.

    Are pre-ordered tickets still required or can you purchased tickets at the entrance?

    Still required according to website and as I said in my review: management said this wasn't just a Covid thing but a standard they will continue moving forward because management likes it.

    Is there nursing rooms?

    I didn't see any. I'm a fellow breastfeeding mom. I feed my baby anywhere and everywhere as soon as she's hungry I feed her ni matter location or who's around.

    Can we bring in our own lunches as to sandwiches and snacks for kids?

    YES! There's an awesome area for a picnic

    There wasn't enough slot for my party at the time so I did some for 10:30 and the other for 11:30, Do we all need to wait till 11:30 to go in together or can we go in at 10:30?

    We bought tickets for 3:30pm and 4pm. We all showed up at 2pm and got in. They don't check the ticket times. We were there this past Saturday

    Are there a lot of hills? I want to take my mom who has mobility issues.

    There are hills, yes. Mainly to get from the parking/entrance up to where the larger animals are (like the giraffes, gorillas, and lions. I have taken several members of my family with mobility issues and I found it much more pleasurable to rent a… Read more

    Is it true that their is less animals out is it worth it to go it will be my first time going don't want to get disappointed specially since I have to travel their?

    hi Alfredo! While some animals are not currently out due to construction (mainly our reptiles), the Zoo has much to offer. Besides the highly endangered amur and snow leopards, there are plenty of animals to see, including the wallabies in our (not… Read more

    Is there a grace time that visitors have when they don't make it in time for the reservation slot? I've been calling because we are running late and there is no way to get through to speak to a live person

    Yes you don't have to be there exact time it's okay if it's like 20 mins before or after it happened to me too

    Do you have options for impaired mobility visitors?

    hi Stanlee, I'm not totally sure what options you are asking about, but please see our accessibility page for more info:… Read more

    Do you offer military/veterans discounts?

    hi Yoli, We do not currently offer any military or veteran discounts. Thanks for your question.… Read more

    Are you still able to feed the giraffes?

    hi Angelique, We are currently offering giraffe feedings on a first-come, first-served basis so when you book a visit, you can buy tickets for the feeding that day. Giraffe… Read more

    Is there a capacity limit as to how many people are allowed?

    hi S B., Yes, since last June we have been operating at about 50% capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. Reservations are required for general admission and SB Zoo members,… Read more

    Hello the website says the zoo closes at 5 PM but the automated phone call says 7 PM? Latest admission available for reservation is 4 PM... Which are the correct hours? Thank you

    hi Christian! Sorry for the confusion. Our current hours are 9:30 AM (9 AM for SBZ members) - 5 PM. We will be open later starting in April but not currently open past 5. We will update our voicemail, thank you!

    Can you bring your dog?

    hi there, Pets are not allowed at the Zoo. If you have a service animal dog, please check our website for more info:… Read more

    How much does it cost?

    $18 for adults $11 for children (ages 2-12) $13 for seniors (65+)… Read more

    How much does it cost?

    I believe it's about $18 for adults

    What time does the feeding for giraffes close for the day?

    11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. weekdays. 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. and 1:30-2:45 p.m. weekends.… Read more

    View All 27 Questions

    Review Highlights - Santa Barbara Zoo

    But on this time actually the giraffe didn't eat eventhough they come very close to us so they refund our money.

    Mentioned in 287 reviews

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    Very underwhelming and much smaller than expected. My 5-year-old got bored quickly and we were in…read moreand out in about 20 minutes. On the positive side, the staff was friendly and the blue whale replica hanging from the ceiling is pretty cool. We happened to go on a free day, which was great, because in my opinion it wouldn't have been worth paying $17 per adult. Tips for parking: 90 minutes free and $4 per hour thereafter. You can also find parking on the street, but it's a bit tough (typically 90 minutes). Overall, 3 stars. Not terrible, but not something I'd recommend unless it's a free day and you're already in the area.

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    Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
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    3.0 mi

    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.

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    Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
    Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
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    3.5 mi

    Love love love! Easy to spend the day here and I recommend…read moreit. But also fairly easy to get to, so it's perfect for a meditative reset time in the middle of a busy day. This space is so special. Lots to explore. Lots to learn. Lots of care and love here. Don't want to say too much. Just go and see and be surrounded by the trees, flowers, rocks, peace, and magic. Fantastic gift shop too!

    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.

    Photos
    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Humboldt lily

    Humboldt lily

    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

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    Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    Canzelle Alpacas - Baby alpaca

    Canzelle Alpacas

    4.9(361 reviews)
    7.6 mi

    I went to visit the alpacas for my birthday on Valentine's Day, and I can honestly say it was one…read moreof the best experiences ever. From the moment we arrived, everything felt so peaceful and welcoming. Getting to see the alpacas up close, feed them, and just spend time around them was absolutely magical. They are the sweetest, most gentle little fluff balls I literally fell in love. Each one has its own personality, and being able to interact with them made the whole experience feel so special and personal. It was such a unique way to celebrate my birthday, and it made Valentine's Day even more memorable. I truly had the best time and left with the biggest smile on my face. They completely stole my heart... so now I guess I'll just have to go back and get it! I already can't wait to visit again. If you're thinking about going do it. You won't regret it!

    Amazing experience if you're in the Santa Barbara area…read more It's really just an hour of hanging out with alpacas. According to the owners, they had three different time slots, and each time slot had their own group of alpacas they could feed, so that was very thoughtful! The owners, in general, are friendly people. There's not much to do outside of hanging out with alpacas, so the owners will talk to you every now and then about the alpacas. The alpacas are very friendly but shy. Some will walk away from you unless you have food. We also got to feed a water buffalo and some goats. For a farm, this place is crazy clean too. Nice restroom. Place didn't smell terrible. One thing I was worried about was humane treatment of the animals, but honestly, the animals look very happy to be there. There is a cat roaming around freely too, so please be careful when driving to and from the farm.

    Photos
    Canzelle Alpacas - These alpacas are well loved

    These alpacas are well loved

    Canzelle Alpacas - Feeding the llama!

    Feeding the llama!

    Canzelle Alpacas - Hug an alpaca today!!!

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    Hug an alpaca today!!!

    Santa Barbara Trolley - The Court House

    Santa Barbara Trolley

    4.2(119 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Santa Barbara Trolley - Santa Barbara

    Santa Barbara

    Santa Barbara Trolley - Gorgeous shoreline

    Gorgeous shoreline

    Santa Barbara Trolley - Fig Tree

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    Fig Tree

    Santa Barbara Zoo - zoos - Updated May 2026

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