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.

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!

I absolutely LOVE Santa Barbara and this wharf/pier area. We have been coming here for years and…read moreenjoying the beauty and tranquility of the ocean and its surroundings. My son and I came here yesterday around 5:30pm and found street parking about a 10-15 minute walk away from the entrance. It can get very crowded during the day with no parking spaces available, but luckily we found one. Even the walk there was beautiful, with the ocean in the distance and the smell of seawater in the air. There are restrooms right at the entrance which were pretty dirty, as expected from a beach restroom. Once you walk up the pier, there are several shops, restaurants and relaxation areas where you can just chill and enjoy the stunning views of the ocean. You can come here solo, on a date, with your kids, dogs, anyone! It's a perfect place for anyone who enjoys the beach/ocean. We didn't see anyone swimming, but there were plenty of people walking around. After some walking around and chatting with fellow tourists ourselves, we went to the back corner of the pier where we watched the sunset. It was such an extraordinary sight to see, right on one of my favorite beaches. I forgot to mention you can of course park on the pier itself. The first 90min are free and it's $4 per hour after that. Thank you, Santa Barbara, for another beautiful trip.

When in Santa Barbara I always enjoying strolling down the pier at the Stearns Wharf located at…read moreState Street and Cabrillo. The pier provides a relaxing stroll to enjoy the ocean, beaches and amenities on the pier. On the pier you can find multiple restaurants (although maybe over price), an aquarium, seafood stand and more. Plus there is parking right on the pier for those who do not want to walk. The first 90 minutes of parking is free. The cost after the 90 minutes is per an hour and is a minimal cost-$4.00. Best to go during non peak season to avoid the crowds. I like early mornings and after or during big storms to see the waves. Cheers!

Cutest museum ever! There were so many different types of dolls and various bears posed in the most…read moreadorable scenes :) The lady working was extremely kind and very knowledgeable about everything in the museum! This place is a hidden gem.

I came here with an LA based doll-club and we had a really great time seeing all the displays. I…read moredidn't really know what to expect before coming in, but it was different and more interesting than I had imagined it would be! I pictured teddy bears lined up in cases like you might see in a natural history museum, and while there was some of that, most of it was really a mix of the dolls and teddy bears together, so the bears seemed more like an accessory project and not overwhelming. (as a doll collector I appreciated this, if you are a teddy bear lover it might be less appealing to you). I liked how the first room was dedicated to California (dolls and artists) and had a progressive history of dolls going back to indigenous people and working up to modern day. I was also surprised to see large collections with themes, such as fantasy dolls, dolls whose characters started in books, and similar. There were displays for Harry Potter and LOTR dolls, and two very impressive Avatar dolls, as well as a log of vintage and antique dolls. The woman at the front desk was SUPER nice and gave our group a brief tour not only once but at least 2 or 3 times as our members showed up at various different times. The museum also has a gift shop full of interesting doll stuff, and for the most part it's not modern new stuff but older stuff, and the pricing was all very fair. Not your typical downtown SB pricing craziness. Reasonable admission price (which is currently half off as covid-related time) and there is a little area in the front with tables and chairs to sit in (if you bring someone who isn't coming into the museum with you or like us some of us toured the displays and then waited in front for the rest of our group to tour (not due to limitations on size, just due to some of us being late lol). There were stacks of doll magazines on the tables and the proprietor let us know they were free if we wanted to take some. We enjoyed flipping through the books and getting ideas for our own doll projects. Some of the dolls in the magazines were dolls present in the collection too! Proprietor was VERY knoweldgeable about the collection and I got the impression it was her own collection, so it was very cool to talk to her and share doll stories and information and listen and learn from her!

What a fantastic museum!…read more First of all very informative, clean, and taken care of with pride. This is perfect to learn about Santa Barbara history, the maritime history, and cultural history too (ie: surfing!). It's really curated with immense care and has numerous interactive elements that are perfect for kids. All in all can't say more great things about this place and highly recommend going here and getting a bite to eat nearby after. As a complete side note you can buy art there as well with proceeds going to the museum. If I had a bit more cheddar I'd buy it all! Really fantastic art work in there. We walked here so I can't comment on parking but there are lots all around the marina! It's probably only a half mile from downtown so definitely walkable with a nice pathway to the harbor! (Just go to the water by heading west on State Street. Once you hit the pier take the walkway on the beach to your right)

Very underrated museum, in my opinion. We used a Groupon and paid $10 for two adult tickets, but…read moreeven at full price ($12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6-17, and free for 5 and under), it would still be worth it. The museum is really beautiful and interactive, with a few activities that are great for little kids, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to go through. I learned a lot about Santa Barbara's history, and my 5-year-old really enjoyed it. The virtual fishing experience was especially fun and actually feels like you're trying to catch a real fish. The harbor views from the 4th floor are amazing too, and that area is free to the public. Parking is free for 90 minutes, but depending on the time of day, you may need a little patience to find a spot since it can get crowded. Staff and volunteers were also very friendly and welcoming.

So much to love about these 10 blocks of Shopping, Wine, Beer, Coffee, Restaurants, Art, Museums…read moreand Culture, Hotels, and more Shopping. And all nestled nicely between Highway 101 and Cabrillo Blvd, and between Garden Street and State Street. Can't even start with what my favorite spots are, I find a new one each time I visit. Usually plenty of street parking on the weekdays, and on the weekends definitely need to use one of the assorted public parkling lots in the area. You'll also find Live DJ's, Karaoke, Trivia Nights, Live Music, Bingo, Happy/Hoppy Hours . . . and sometimes dancing in the streets.

This is a truly funky place to explore. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants, unique shops,…read morewineries, breweries, coffee, antiques, and more. Parking is challenging on the weekends. We've been there when it's busy and it can be festive-- pop ups in old vintage rv's or outside beer halls can appear; bands playing in several spots, etc. Experiences can be hit or miss. We visited a winery called Area 51 which sounded fun, but the wines were just okay. But Pali Wine had very good wines, a relaxing patio, and cool live music. The stores vary from very pricey threads to affordable knick knacks; succulents to vintage records to original artwork. Many spaces occupy previously owned old businesses that give it a nostalgic feeling. A few top name wineries have spaces here (i.e. Fess Parker). Definitely worth checking out in looking for a unique time in Santa Barbara.

GETTING HERE:…read more Navigate here to the address listed on Yelp. If you're knowledgeable about DTSB, I am sure you'll have a better suggestion on where/how to park. But, I found street parking at first 90-minutes free, so I took advantage of that opportunity. Yay! #Winning. REVIEW: When I was a kid, I wanted to be an art history major. There has always been something that caught my eyes and ears when I hear the words, "Art". Now, I don't know anything about art, nor do I know which was is up. I just know that I live near an incredible venue and hadn't yet attended or reviewed! So many things I am updating in 2026. Here is the 1st one: I walked across the main drag and up the front stairs to the museum. There were a few docents (I assume) sitting at the front desk area that took my payment for entering. Thankfully, I didn't have (unrealistic) expectations on what to expect as this was my first art museum experience. It appeared there was a bit of development/construction going on as some of the areas were closed or marked off. After I paid the entrance fee, they handed me a map and I was on my way. It would have been nice to have had some interchange with any of them, as I told them I was a first-timer. Oh well. Such is life in 2026. I took a lot of pictures, and truth be told, as I said before, I don't know which was is up or what I was looking at most of the time. I just know that visually speaking, the entire visit was beautiful! Being able to look around at my own pace was very nice. Although, TBH, it would have bene nice to have bene able to ask someone a question or two, but alas, that didn't break my trip or overall experience. I was hoping they had a gift shop where I could have bought some bookmarks or some art pictures. There wasn't one, unfortunately. I cannot wait to go back! Highly, highly recommend a visit!

We enjoyed the special exhibition "impressionist revolution". We returned with visitors from out…read moreof town. On our return visit (a Monday) we were surprised and embarrassed by the rudeness we encountered. The young supervisor (?) granted us late entry, saying he "supposed he could let us"? enjoy additional galleries before we entered the special exhibition. (He was white, 30-40, with long brown hair.) The cranky volunteers working admission, on both our visits, were exasperation that we didn't have QR codes on our e-tix (because they weren't included), and grudgingly asked to examine our e-tickets and looked up the order name for admission. It wasn't hard; it wasn't our fault, and the content of our e-tix wasn't our responsibility. Why the rudeness, treating visitors like petty thieves? It's a hard job, dealing with the public, and technology-challenged volunteers might feel defensive and blame-y when hiccups occur, even if caused by the museum. So maybe they should staff lower-pressure positions, instead of being the first to greet visitors? Perhaps enlist paid staff for special exhibitions? Nice that there was one younger woman with long dark hair who was exceptionally helpful to us and her tech-challenged coworkers. I have no beef with inexpert help at a museum. It's likely accompanied with warmth & courtesy. We were polite and patient, so the leap to "No" was confounding. No, you can't enter, No your tickets aren't valid, No, you can't visit other galleries. Who needs this? I had hoped to share my local museum with pride. I recommend heading south when in the area, and visiting LA museums and the charming little Santa Paula Art Museum.

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.

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!