Santa Barbara, CA – Attractions

 

Gray Whales can be seen in the ocean off of Santa Barbara during their southward migration from about mid November through January. They can also be seen heading north during February, March and April. The Museum of Natural History sponsors whale watching boating trips. More information can be obtained by calling: (805) 682-4711.

The Phone Number for general information about Santa Barbara’s waterfront is (888) 248-9637.
 

Hope Ranch Residential Area is well worth seeing. We highly recommend this scenic and relaxed drive. First of all it is a nice escape from the crowds of State Street, the roads are a bit wider then the ones in the hills above Santa Barbara, and the homes are very nice. This is a very exclusive neighborhood – they even maintain their own neighborhood security cars which patrol the streets. Beautiful Spanish villas overlooking the water that we could move into in a minute. Take Las Palmas Drive from the 101 freeway and then drive on some of the smaller residential streets across from the La Cumbre Golf and Country Club. Las Palmas is the main boulevard through the Hope Ranch area and it is lined with palms dating from the early 1900’s.

We enjoy driving on Las Palmas Drive to Marina Drive to Cliff Drive, and then to Shoreline drive. This drive is a bit longer then driving directly to State Street but you avoid the crowds and you see some beautiful scenery, homes, and vistas of the ocean. From Shoreline Drive you can take Cabrillo Blvd which passes right in front of lower State Street.

 

Lobero Theatre is located at 33 East Canon Perdido Street. The Theatre is a Spanish style building. Jose Lobero was an Italian entertainer and he opened an opera house in 1873. This is California’s oldest continuously operating theatre.

In 1923 the opera house was destroyed and the current theatre was built. Over the years it has served as home to some notable performers including Sergei Rachmaninoff, Clark Gable, Ingrid Bergman and more recently Kathy Bates, Tracy Chapman and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Today it holds plays, concerts, lectures and other events and his home to the Santa Barbara Film Festival and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra among others. Phone Number: (805) 963-0761. Website: www.lobero.com
 

Mission Santa Barbara – Click Here
 

Moreton Bay Fig Tree is the largest tree of its kind in the nation. The tree is located near lower State Street near the railroad tracks. It is located at the intersection of Chapala street and the 101 freeway close to the Amtrak train station. This tree was planted in 1874 by a girl who was given the tree by sailors who brought it over from Australia. In 1877 it was transplanted to the girl’s front yard.

The span of the leaves from one end of the tree to the other is 160 feet and it provides over 21,000 square feet of shade. This is a huge tree. Some of the roots grow on the surface and they are a few feet tall. Recently a small iron fence has been constructed around this tree so you can no longer climb on the large roots and in the tree itself. This is good for the tree, but not as enjoyable for all the children!

This was a popular spot for the homeless to hang out in years past and they even tried to use “moreton bay fig tree” as a street address. Incidentally, we’ve met a number of homeless people in and around the fig tree – and we must say the homeless population in Santa Barbara are among the friendliest homeless we have met in any city, anywhere!

With the renovation of the train station nearby, this tree doesn’t seem to attract as many homeless people anymore. This area is about as bad as a Santa Barbara neighborhood gets. I say this ‘tongue in cheek’ because this really isn’t that bad of a neighborhood – but when compared to most of Santa Barbara’s neighborhoods, its not quite as “opulent”!

 

Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show is where about 300 Santa Barbara County artists display their works. This is held on Sundays from 10am until sunset.

This show has been held every Sunday since 1965. Spread out along Cabrillo Ave near the waterfront with part of the show in front of Chase Palm Park at 236 East Cabrillo Blvd., just east of Stearns Wharf. For more information call Phone Number (805) 963-0611, ext. 4530. Website: www.sbaacs.com

 

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is located in the hills east of the city of Santa Barbara not too far from the Mission. Visit: www.sbbg.org

The roads in the hills above Santa Barbara are quite narrow and sometimes stop signs are missing from where you think they should be. Use caution. The Botanic Garden is located at 1212 Mission Canyon Road. The garden is situated on 65 acres with 5.5 miles of hiking trails. The trails wander among different California native habitats.

These habitats range from desert, Sierra Nevada, the southern mountains, to the off shore islands. You can view cactus, redwoods, wildflowers and many other species of plants. We have visited the gardens several times – wandering among the free demonstration gardens and then into the gift shop and looking through the many plant/botanical books. The Botanic Garden also maintains a library and a research facility. The garden is open from 8am until sunset.

Guided tours lasting about an hour are given Monday through Saturday at 2pm. On Thursday and Saturday tours are given at 10:30am. On Sunday tours are given at 10:30am and again at 2pm. Admission is $9 for adults with discounted tickets for seniors (over 60), teenagers (13-17) and students with a current valid ID. Many classes and events are given almost every day. Their Phone Number is (805) 563-2521.

 

Santa Barbara County Courthouse is well worth seeing and in our opinion is the most beautiful building in the city of Santa Barbara. Often weddings or other events will be held on its surrounding lawns. This is an extremely large building surrounded by lawn, redwoods (surprising considering this southern location) and exotic plants. The architecture is Spanish and Moorish style.

Some of the highlights are the specially designed windows, staircases, balconies, turrets, and the ornately carved doors and archways. We recommend parking on Santa Barbara Street, which borders the courthouse. Note that several of the side streets around the courthouse are one-way streets. Murals and Tunisian tile decorate the interior. The 70 foot clock tower offers great views of the city and the coast and can easily be reached by taking the elevator across from the little information center (or climb 144 steps to the top).

Free guided tours are given Monday through Saturday at 2pm. They are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. They are closed Christmas. Weddings are often held at the courthouse.

Please visit Dave’s Santa Barbara Weddings Page for more information. The main courthouse phone number is (805) 962-6464.

 

Santa Barbara Harbor is well worth your visit. The boat slips are not actually open to the public, but we have been in here many times. The main gates are secured via strong electromagnets. Enter on Harbor Way and park in some of the free 90 minute parking spots immediately to your right.

Some sizable fishing boats and other yachts are berthed here. Aside from the boat slips, the general public can visit the main part of the marina which includes the informative Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, several shops, and an excellent marine store and some restaurants. Take the elevator just inside the entrance to the maritime museum up to the 4th floor and get out.

A small terrace features visually stunning views of the Marina in the foreground with all its boats – and the city of Santa Barbara directly behind that – framed by the mountains in the far background. Highly recommended!

It is also worth stopping outside of the museum to look at an old whaling harpoon and also a deep sea submersible air chamber. Website: www.sailorschoice.com/SantaBarbaraHarbor/Index.htm

 

Santa Barbara Zoo is located at 500 Ninos Drive off of Cabrillo Boulevard, east of Milpas Street. The Zoo is located on over 30 acres. Over 600 “ambassadors to the wild” are exhibited. They have breeding programs that have helped to save several species from extinction. They are open from 10am to 5pm every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tickets are sold until 4pm.

Admission for adults is $17 with discounts given to children between the ages of 2 and 12 as well as to seniors who are 60+ years of age. Children under 2 are free. There is a fee for parking if you enter the zoo. The zoo is available for private events such as group picnics and tours. Train rides are also given around the SB zoo for a small fee. A climbing wall is on site – and a behind the scenes zoo tour can be arranged. For more information call, (805) 962-5339 or visit: www.santabarbarazoo.org

 

Skaters Point Park is worth visiting to watch the prowess at work of these often talented skateboarders. This skate park was contains many jumps and difficult concrete topography. It is located along the bay slightly to the east of the entrance to Stearns Wharf. Opened in 2000 and remains a popular place for skaters (both locals and tourists alike). Concrete walls surround the skate park which provides an ideal resting place to watch the skate boarders.

Free for all skaters – those using the skate park must wear a helmet and knee pads. The park features over 14,500 feet of skate-able space. One cannot always skate so close to the beach! Parking is in an adjacent lot or along E. Cabrillo Blvd. There are no lights – opens at 8am until sunset.
 

Stearns Wharf is located at the bottom (south end) of State Street at the harbor. The entrance to the wharf is marked by the Dolphin Fountain. This is a beautiful statue of three dolphins, created in 1982 for Santa Barbara’s Bicentennial. A similar statue is present in Santa Barbara’s select other sister cities. These cities are Yalta (former USSR), Toba (Japan), and Puerto Vallarta.

Stearns Wharf is a landmark in Santa Barbara. It was built in 1872 to serve cargo and passenger ships. In the 1930’s it was the departure point for people boarding floating casinos. During WWII it served as a naval installation site. Today you can visit many small shops and eat at restaurants at the end of the wharf. There is even a small museum (Sea Center) and a fishing pier. Bring your camera when you go to this wharf. When you look back towards Santa Barbara you have excellent views of the city and the Santa Ynez mountains.

If you drive out on the wooden wharf you will pay $2 per hour for parking. Don’t lose your parking stub otherwise you will have to pay the full $10 as we once did. If you do not want to drive out on the wharf and pay the fee, you can park on the mainland and walk out on the wharf. The walk is relatively short and easy. Most of the shops are open from 10am to 9pm in the summer and from 10am to 6pm in the winter. There is an excellent ice cream shop towards the end of the wharf and late on a warm day you often see people strolling here with ice cream cones in hand. They serve excellent bubble gum ice cream but at a high price.

A cannon is also on the wharf, and is fired once a week at noon on Fridays.

Harbor Restaurant and Longboard’s Grill are located at the end of the wharf. See our Santa Barbara Restaurant section in this article for more information about these two restaurants. The last 1/4 of this giant wharf burned in a huge fireball in 1998 and we recall visiting a few months after this disaster. Today there is no sign that part of this wharf ever burned down.

For information on Stearns Wharf call (805) 564-5518 – visit: www.stearnswharf.org