Bellosguardo has an amazing history to share with the world. It's a must see! The estate has been…read morepreserved for over 60 years and is truly a Santa Barbara landmark

Touring Bellosguardo was a wonderful experience. It was full of delights and surprises. The art,…read morefurnishings, and instruments are remarkable. I look forward to returning in the future when additional areas of the house are opened to the public.

Value add - purchasing admission to either Casa De La Guerra or El Presidio de Santa Barbara gets…read moreyou in to the other location for the same price. We toured the Presidio first, then walked the several blocks to the De La Guerra adobe. Located in the heart of historic Santa Barbara, the property still serves as a social hub. Weddings and other social functions are celebrated here in the present day, with the charm of the Nineteenth Century as a backdrop. The first time we noticed the property was several years ago. We'd parked in front of City Hall in the evening when a wedding reception was in full swing at the Casa. We wondered about the place, adjacent to El Paseo with its colorful flags and distinctive arches. Finally, during our visit last weekend while pursuing venues in the Passport 2 History, we got the scoop. The De La Guerras were an important part of Santa Barbara's social and political scene in their day. The patriarch was a merchant, importing and selling goods to other settlers. When guests would come around, they would often be hosted at the Casa, staying for weeks and enjoying topnotch hospitality. The adobe has multiple wings, with large rooms for gathering and dining. A small visitor center to the east side is where we checked in. They offer a few gift shop items. Adjacent was a rotating exhibit. The current one is a collection of serene watercolors with various historic homes by Fridolin Haass. Placards describe the location of the houses, some of which aren't around anymore, sadly. I felt a sense of nostalgia for simpler times, and the need to preserve history while enjoying the colorful paintings. Further on into the adobe rooms I was expecting more complete renditions of the furnishings of the era. What's on display is more piecemeal than that, but there are some fascinating objects. I guess your imagination gets to fill in the rest of the picture of what life was like in those dusty days. I'm glad we made the effort to stop just driving by this historic spot and actually visited it to learn about the early days of Santa Barbara's evolving history.

The woman working at the desk was extremely rude and unhelpful. I was in shock that anyone would…read moreturn away someone who is truly interested in history. She would not let me enter because I had forgotten my sticker and program from the Presidio in my car (I had just finished touring the Presidio and the unhelpful male worker there told me that the other museum was free, which is why I left it in the car. ) The rude woman said I could walk all the way back to my car in the oppressive heat to fetch the brochure. She chose not to believe a 50 year old teacher....a prime example of someone who can't see the forest for the trees.

Cute little stop , faucet of fresh mineral water and a corral with chairs to sit and take pictures…read more Something different and quirky

I'm not sure how I feel yet about the water itself. I do appreciate and love that the water has…read morebeen made available to anyone wanting it. I just recently stopped by and got some water only to realize that there is lots of debris in the water floating around when I shake it. Has anyone else seen this? I tried it when I first got there dumped out my mountain valley spring water bottle and filled it up and immediately checked and it had debris in it. Got home tried a different clear glass bottle, washed out clean and still debris in the water. If you have, does it not bother you at all?? Are we supposed to filter the water when we get home? I'm not sure if that's just all part of it being natural spring water. But anyways- just a heads up that it does have small debris particles in the water!

I like walking down State Street when in Santa Barbara. They block a large portion to vehicle…read moretraffic which is nice for pedestrians. State Street has just about any cuisine you may be looking for. They also have lots of cute shops. This is a nice place to spend the day.

Love the Old Town Santa Barbara! With its Spanish architecture and nice Mediterranean vibe! It's a…read moreperfect mix between a smaller town with a relaxed vibe and a place that has many activities to offer: lots of museums, shopping activities, a great restaurant theme, various street fairs and festivals, check out their calendar when you plan a visit! Perfect place for a day trip or a nice weekend getaway from LA! The beach is close, lots of new breweries and spots great for wine tasting! Things changed here as well over the years, some not for the best, but I always enjoy walking the streets of Old Town, discovering new places, feeling far away, yet close enough. Santa Barbara is always a great idea, lots of fun things to do and the charm of the Old Town is hard to beat!

I've been to this adobe historical park and venue a few times over the last few years…read more The grounds are clean and spacious with plenty of guest parking. They have their own parking lot and also have about a good 20 spaces right in front of the historical house area. I've been here over the years for concerts and more recently an event. This is a great lowkey space for events and I particularly like when they hold the regular concert series here in the spring and summer. Once inside the Adobe house area, it isn't too big but can be spacious enough for a couple hundred people . There are public restrooms near the front entrance and otherwise it's an open courtyard where the event promoters bring their own tables, chairs, and decor. Every time I've come here there has been sporadic seating and food/drink vendors, depending on the event. I like this venue as it's not too far from the freeway and close by the harbor for some pre-post meals.

First time at this place and I think it's a great spot for events. I went for a quinceañera. Just…read moreso reminiscent of all the fiestas i imagine, happened here when California was part of Mexico círca 1847. We had such a blast. We didn't even feel the cold! No heaters or anything just pure dancing. I'd get a bit cold and I'd hit the dance floor. I'm sure heaters could be rented to keep guests warm on chilly nights.

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.

What a lovely day walking the trails in Ojai. The town has a special feel and we so enjoyed the…read morescenic beauty and serene environment. We also looked at property and visited an open house along our trail wandering. The weather was perfect, people so kind and the scenery and natural surroundings were therapeutic. Highly recommended

I just really love and adore Ojai. It's the perfect getaway destination or easy access for those of…read moreus that live in county to feel like we are "getting away" yet from Ventura it's under a 30 minute drive. The city is charming and so are the stores. Shopping is plentiful and they have great unique stores in this town. From clothing, to art, home goods and mystical finds - there is something for everyone. The stores vary, some are reasonably priced and some more expensive to reflect the higher end vacationers but that's any city for the most part. I love the restaurant scene here as it's growing and they've got some pretty wonderful restaurants and bakery's in this town. If you like beer they've got Topa Topa and for wine there are many many options. Some of my personal favs are Ojai Roots and the Ojai Wine Company. If you aren't here to shop or dine, this is an active community with beautiful hiking and recreation areas. Plenty of places to have a more rigorous hike or simple shaded areas and parks in the town that are kid friendly. Ojai is known for its sound baths, day spas, and meditation mountain. There is really so much to do here and see for a long weekend. I get why so many people come here, it's a magical little town away from the big cities with beautiful nature and weather. I'm happy that this town is accessible to me from where I live and I love bringing people here for the day.

Naval Base Ventura County was created in 2000 bu combining Naval Air Station Point Mugu and Naval…read moreConstruction Battalion Center Port Hueneme into one combined base. It also controls Naval Outlying Landing Field San Nicolas Island and is home to multiple units and commands. Most notably it is also the home to the famed Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 aka VX-30 "The Blood Hounds" Located on the coast, the base is generally off limits unless you have business there. However, it is a fantastic place to plane spot and does have a missile / aircraft park that is just outside of the base boundary that is open to all.

Naval Base Ventura County hosts the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), which is home to…read morethe vaunted VX-30 flight test squadron. The cutting edge of naval aviation lives and flies here. If it's the newest and greatest, it's being flown here. You can often see aircraft coming and going, but to get in on the action requires years of training and innate talent. Some of the finest aviators in the world can be found here.