Discover Santa Barbara.

Nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean on the Central Coast of California, Santa Barbara offers dreamy ocean panoramas paired with Spanish-style architecture. The nearby Channel Islands and wine country prompt more scenic adventure, while the charming shops and restaurants lining State Street are ideal for unwinding.

LOTUSLAND

Tucked away in the beautiful hillside of Montecito, Lotusland spans over 37 acres of lush gardens and exquisite architecture. Bask in Santa Barbaras botanical beauty, where 18 gardens house 3,000 species of plants from different parts of the world: from cacti, water lilies, aloes and lotuses as well as several extraordinarily rare botanical collections. The Garden is the former estate of opera singer and socialite, Madam Ganna Walska, who transformed the garden into thematic displays. ‘For Walska, plants were more than plants; they were colors to paint with, a family to nurture, characters to direct.’ Make a reservation in advance on their website: lotusland.org.

THE FUNK ZONE

For a contemporary twist, the Funk Zone is a a vibrant place to visit, dotted with artists workshops, cafes, wineries, museums, microbreweries and galleries. This nook where the streets meet the ocean, was was one an industrial spot, but with the arrival of new artists, it’s become a flourishing space, infused with lively, artistic, and exciting locale.

OLD MISSION SANTA BARBARA & ROSE GARDENS

The Santa Barbara Mission is an picturesque attraction completed in 1786, known as the “Queen Of Missions”. With over 1,500 varieties of roses, which typically bloom between April - November, the Mission Gardens are a beloved picnic spot for locals and visitors alike.

SANTA BARBARA BOWL

Santa Barbara Bowl’s concert season commences in April and ends in October and the venue is a beautiful outdoor amphitheater sent against the backdrop of the foothills. View their concert calendar here: https://sbbowl.com/concerts.

LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS

The Downtown farmer's market is hosted every Saturday from 8am-1pm at 119 E Cota Street. The Montecito location is open 8am-11:15am every Friday on Coast Village Road. Each week our farmers harvest a diverse and nourishing bounty from as far away as the California’s Central Valley and as near as the Santa Barbara foothills. The Old Town Santa Barbara location is hosted every Tuesday from 3-6:30 PM at lower State Street between Cota & Canon Perdido.

SANTA BARBARA MUSUEM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Founded in 1916, these beautiful grounds aim to connect people to nature, while displaying more than 3.5 million artifacts and specimens. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History provides access to one of the largest collections in the state in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, vertebrate and invertebrate biology, geology and paleontology.

BOTANIC GARDENS

The allure of Santa Barbara is hard to miss when you’re weaving through the whimsical Botanic Gardens with over 1,000 native plants and flowers. Alluded to as a living museum, the gardens offer docent-led tours for a refreshing afternoon of enjoyment spent on the Garden’s 78 acres filled with the diversity of California’s beautiful flora.

Alick Keck Memorial Garden

Once the site of the elegant El Mirasol Hotel, this downtown block is often called the "crown jewel" of City parks. Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden features a large botanical collection of 75 different tree and plant species and a beautiful koi pond.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY COURTHOUSE

The Spanish Colonial Revival style building that houses the courthouse was designed completed in 1929. Architect Charles Willard Moore called it the "grandest Spanish Colonial Revival structure ever built," as it beautifully displays Santa Barbara's adoption of the Spanish Colonial style.

Casa del HerrerO

Casa del Herrero, “House of the Blacksmith,” is a time capsule of Montecito, California in the 1920s and 1930s. Designed by George Washington Smith, the Casa is one of the finest standing examples of Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture in America. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places and maintains National Historic Landmark status, partly due to its eclectic mix of Country Place Era and Moorish-inspired gardens.

EL PRESIDIO DE SANTA BARBARA

El Presidio de Santa Babrbara State Historic Park symbolizes where Santa Barbara began in 1782. The restored and reconstructed former Spanish military fortress is a must-see on any Santa Barbara visit. And it will place you right in the heart of the charming Presidio Neighborhood made up of historic adobes, architecturally significant structures and small, family-run businesses.

STEARNS WHARF

Stearns Wharf was completed in 1872 and is now the oldest wharf of its kind in California, and the only wooden wharf that continues to be used today. It homes more than 17 shops and restaurants.

the Sacred Space

Relax with a cup of tea in the idyllic Thai Gardens of Sacred Space in the charming seaside town of Summerland. Lush plants, a tea room and a lily pond complete the tranquil experience. This truly transforming shop is brimmed with artifacts which the owners have accumulated during their travels, reflecting their vision of the human journey through time and space.

OUr favorite BEACHES

Butterfly Beach & Hammond’s Beach

There is no shortage of beautiful beach spots to surf, sun-bathe, and relax. Two of our favorites is located in the chic and enchanting village of Montecito. Butterfly Beach is beloved among locals for its idyllic sunsets and and quiet, winding shoreline. At lower tides, you can meander to Hammond’s Beach and take in views of the Channel Islands, Santa Barbara Foothills and bordering meadows.

Santa Claus Beach

Tucked away in the charming beach town, Carpinteria, Santa Claus Beach, is one of Santa Barbara’s low-key sandy secrets, where you’ll find a dreamy stretch of soft white sand and clear blue water. Enchanting slopes of sand and elegant beach homes set the perfect ambiance for unwinding.

Loon Point Beach

A 15 minute drive to Summerland will bring you to Loon Point Beach, where towering cliffs, warm golden sand and a lack of crowds make it the perfect summer spot for a beach day. As you continue down a canyon path to this secluded shoreline, you’ll discover bare, untouched California beauty.

Day Trips

Explore 200+ vineyards and tasting room in the santa Ynez Wine Country

Rooted in the heart of Santa Ynez,  and modeled on a French villa with a lavender-filled courtyard & wine caves, Sunstone Winery will transport you to Provence. As you travel the twisting country roads of Santa Ynez, you’ll be treated to vistas featuring idyllic rural life, rolling fields of flowers, grazing cows and alpacas, and waves of vines that stretch out in all directions. Nestled in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley, is the charming town, Solvang with a rich Danish heritage, charming shops and flower boxes brimming with color.

CHANNEL ISLANDS

The Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands. Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, these islands possess not only biological diversity but incredible geologic wonders such as Painted Cave, one of the largest and deepest sea caves in the world. Plan a trip to experience coastal southern California as it once was and revel in the the beauty and richness of the islands, whether it be leaping dolphins, undulating kelp or soaring bald eagles.

DOLPHIN & WHALE WATCHING

A whale watching excursion here brings together nature, adventure and a potential glimpse of the biggest mammals on Earth, as well as dolphin sighting. There is no better way of taking in ocean views than toasting the sun as it sinks below the horizon on a sunset adventure.

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM

Transport yourself to Ancient Rome and Greece at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa. Now the home of the J. Paul Getty Museum, this beautiful, Romanesque villa, featuring romantic gardens, timeless exhibitions, mosaic floors and frescoed walls in Malibu, was modeled after the partially excavated Villa dei Papiri in Italy.

HORSE-BACK RIDING

The Circle Bar B Stables welcomes riders of all levels to explore the unparalleled beauty of the Refugio Canyon, just a 25 minute drive from Santa Barbara. Traverse the trails of the coastal Santa Ynez Mountains, meander through fern-lined canyons and creek crossings, and enjoy an abundance of local flora and ocean views. Book a ride at circlebarb.com.

Hearst Castle

The former estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, the spectacular hilltop complex was designed by San Francisco architect Julia Morgan and features the Casa Grande, two guesthouses beautiful and lush gardens. Enjoy the Spain-inspired architecture and tour the lavish interiors to view paintings, sculptures, textiles, and antiquities amassed by Hearst.