Yep, I'm kinda a bibliophile so this Little Cottage home with it's collection of tomes is a close…read morefriend. My absolute favvvv thing to do, is reserve books online from various, adjacent library counties and have them shipped into Montecito; subsequently I swing by and it's ready for check-out. Ta-da. Reading the Wall Street journal via iPhone is cool but a novel is mandatory in hardcover/paperback. It gives your eyeballs a rest from a computer screen, ya know. Also, the librarians are my age which is rad, bc any tech glitches and it's an easy solution. During the holidays they had a canister of cookies by the entrance which was thoughtful and sweet. Lastly, they host movie Wednesday's: it's a row of 15 seats in one of it's rooms with a vaulted ceiling and the film on a projector screen. I've been to one and found it delectable. :)

Like most things in ritzy Montecito, this is a nice library. It's got a cozy, homey atmosphere. The…read morefurniture in the reading room is comfy. The main drawback of this branch is its size. It's quite small. So, the book selection isn't vast, the computers for internet access are few, the aisles are narrow and seating is limited. Having said that, they do a lot with the little they have! The one or two staffers are helpful when asked. The selection of the books and other materials they do have are of good quality. And the place is usually quiet. Just what I look for in a library!

Not as big compared to other libraries but it offers a great variety of books to choose from. The…read morestaff is extremely helpful and will offer any books that another location may have in stock to be shipped out for pick up. Personally, having a good book on hand always comes handy.

Very beautiful exterior and a ton of outlets available. We sat right by the cliff swallows and saw…read morethem feeding their young and doing dives while doing work. Down below is a beautiful view of the ocean with rolling green hills that the community and their dogs love. WiFi is reliable and cute. Hand sanitizer and tissues available although the cafe is sadly closed. Water machine still works and was very chilled for $3.

Great library with plenty of resources. They charge to print so make sure your student ID is…read moreloaded with some cash. The books can only be checked out for a few hours (at least that was the case with my calc book) so be sure to mind the time. The library has always been open when I have showed up. The staff are friendly and there is a huge computer lab with both Mac and PC computers.

Very nice staff, nice tables and chairs, good wifi - perfect spot to get some work doneread more

It's a small little library but has great wifi. The librarians are super kind, welcoming you as you…read morecome in! They have a "take what you need, leave what you can" bin.

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.

If you have ever been curious, my dear Yelp Review Reader, in visiting a "California Spanish…read moreMission" then the Old Mission Santa Ines might be just "the ticket" you're looking for. It is listed as the 19th of 21 Spanish Missions in CA...founded in 1804 , completed in 1807. The mission contains a working Catholic Church, a chapel (closed on the weekends), beautiful gardens, cemetery, museum and gift shop. There is plenty of parking available. To take the self guided tour...enter the Gift Shop and pay the fee. Once paid, the Attendant will present you with a map and general directions and off you go! If you're there when there is a "service" in the Church, the museum door to the Church is locked so you'll need to enter the Church from its main entrance. The museum has lots of interesting items, but the collection of 15th century Vestments is stunning (a must see). The beautiful gardens have walking paths along which there are several small stone structures (Shrines) that are very picturesque and worth visiting. We spent at least 2.5 hours "taking it all in" and enjoyed this visit and the conversations it inspires tremendously. On this occasion...in this Yelper's opinion, the Old Mission Santa Ines surpassed expectations and delivered a powerful look in history past...truly earning this "if you have an interest, then take the time to see this" 5 Star Review.

Unfortunately, we were there too late to do a tour or visit the gift shop but that was okay too. We…read morewalked around the property to make the most of our time. The garden and grounds are pretty and well maintained. Since everything was closed, we weren't able to see inside any of the buildings. We'll plan a visit the next time we're there. I look forward to seeing and learning more about the mission and it's history.

La Purísima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc is one of the most fascinating and immersive…read moredestinations you can visit. It is the most fully restored of all 21 California missions. Established as the 11th mission in the chain, it is by far one of my top favorites, probably second to Santa Barbara, really! It's absolutely beautiful, as you will soon read. It was actually destroyed by an earthquake in 1812 and was rebuilt at its current location. Today, you can explore over 20 reconstructed buildings, including the church, workshops, living quarters, and blacksmith shop, that reflect the daily life of both the people who lived and worked here. The park is open almost every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, and it's perfect for both self-guided and docent-led tours. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM and provides helpful information and exhibits to get you started. I highly recommend a docent-led tour, the docents are so incredibly knowledgeable, and there's so much to learn about this historic site. On Demonstration Days, which take place several times a year, the mission hosts hands-on living history events, including blacksmithing, weaving, and candle-making. I look forward to visiting during Demonstration Days. I seriously can't wait to get back here. The grounds are large, rural, and so peaceful. There's a nearly three-mile trail loop. Parking is $6 per vehicle and $5 for seniors. I saw several dogs, but it does get very hot, and they are only allowed on the designated trails, not in the buildings, for obvious reasons. There are tons of animals, too. There were horses, steers, chickens, and more. Do not miss La Tienda, the mission's gift shop, where you can pick up local crafts, mission-themed books, and souvenirs. The local crafts are beautiful. I highly recommend this site for a half- or full-day visit! Make sure to set aside enough time for this beautiful gem. The drive alone is so beautiful and serene.

I came to this park to do some hiking and there are many trails. I would be careful because I am…read morepretty sure I heard rattle snacks in the distance though the trail path is very large you probably won't find any unless you go off the path. I recommend checking out the visitor center before doing the trails because you can get good information as well as all the different trails in the given map. Parking - I paid $6 to park on their private lot. The money goes to help them maintain the state park but if you don't want to pay I saw many people parking right outside on the street across and walking down.

When I arrived, I saw a couple taking wedding photos outside the courthouse. The setting was so…read morepeaceful and quiet, and it was easy to see why people choose this place for special moments. I liked that admission is free, and the guided tours are free as well. I took my time walking through the different floors, checking out the spiral staircase, the murals, and the glass area where you can see the clock mechanism inside. I also went up the clock tower, and the view of downtown Santa Barbara from the top was really nice. I parked at a nearby lot with 75 minutes of free parking, which was enough time to explore without rushing. I enjoyed my visit here. It's a beautiful and peaceful place to walk around, take some photos, and experience a little bit of Santa Barbara's history.

If you happen to find yourself in Santa Barbara, CA, (aka America's Riviera) carve out a couple of…read morecouple of hours to check out the County Courthouse. No, not to hang out and gawk at folks at court. But to soak in the beauty and history of the building. This place is gorgeous. Spanish colonial architecture, mural paintings, tower overlook, clock room, sunken garden, and you might catch a glimpse of a wedding or two. I saw four. I held back on wedding crashing though. Apparently you can rent the Mural room or Sunken garden terrace for weddings. Plus small wedding ceremonies are allowed in the public areas of the Sunken garden lawn, in first come first serve basis. The 4 story Spanish Moorish style building was built in 1929. It was built after the original courthouse, that was built in 1872, suffered damage in the 1925 earthquake. -Sunken garden The foundations of the original courthouse is where the sunken tropical gardens are currently. There is a big swath of lush green lawn. The multitude of palm trees that tower around the garden are from various countries. 35 specimens of palm trees. -Sandstone water fountain In the front of the courthouse building facing Anacapa Street is a sandstone water fountain "Spirit of the Ocean". It was built by a Venetian sculptor in 1929. -Free tours Step inside the building to see take a tour, a free self guided tour or join a free docent led tour. There was a huge crowd of folks waiting to get in, the crowd included an entire wedding party along with the tourists and everyday county residents. Security funneled everyone quickly through the security checkpoint. - Clock tower viewing platform I chose to do a self guided tour and took the elevator to the 4th floor to the clock tower viewing station. There was an option to climb stairs, which I choose to take going down. From that vantage point, I noticed that downtown Santa Barbara has no high rise buildings. This building was the tallest. The 360 degree views of the mountains, ocean and valley were beautiful. -Bison Schnell clock gallery display room Then I took the stairs down. On the 3rd floor was Bison Schall clock gallery. The room is a display showing the tower's functioning Seth Thomas clock timepiece and the history of classic cos and timekeeping. It's super cool to see the actual clock hammers move and strike. The room is not always open since it's staffed by volunteers. But not to worry, the glass wall allows you to view the clock and room contents from the stairwell. - Mural room and hallway I entered the 2nd floor and began walking down a hallway with huge oil painted framed murals depicting the early days of European contact with the Native Chumash. The hallways were vast with its high vaulted ceilings and arches The Mural Room is located in this floor. This is where folks rent out for wedding ceremonies. It has wooden pews. murals covering its walls and high vaulted ceilings. I didn't go in because a wedding was just finishing up. -Tiled staircase I then took the outdoor spiral, Spanish tiled, staircase to the first floor. But right next to the staircase is a beautiful mosaic tiled wall alcove. Don't miss that photo opp. On the first floor near the elevators is another set of stairs, this one is an interior set with beautiful tiles.