Things to do in Santa Barbara Area
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Santa Barbara Zoo
Big cats, monkeys, elephants and giraffes await at the 500-animal Santa Barbara Zoo , where you'll also find beautiful gardens. The Humboldt penguins are the current stars, and these tuxedoed show-offs seem to know it. If you're in need of a giggle, hit the 'Eeeww!' insect exhibit. Its hissing cockroaches and giant African millipedes will leave you giggling at the grossed-out kids. Or deeply disturbed. Parking costs around US$3.
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Mission Santa Barbara
Established in 1786, California's hilltop 'Queen of the Missions' was the only one to escape secularization under Mexican rule. Look for Chumash artwork inside the vaulted church and a moody cemetery out back.
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Santa Barbara Museum of Art
These downtown galleries hold an impressive, well-edited collection of contemporary California artists, modern masters like Matisse and Chagall, 20th-century photography and Asian art, with provocative special exhibits. Sundays are pay-what-you-wish.
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Lotusland
Book ahead for Lotusland, the legacy of eccentric Madame Ganna Walska; two-hour walking tours take in rare botanical species.
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Channel Islands National Park
The Channel Islands is an eight-island chain lying off the coast from Newport Beach to Santa Barbara. The four northern islands - San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz and Anacapa - along with tiny Santa Barbara island 38mi (61km) west of San Pedro comprise the Channel Islands National Park. The islands have unique flora and fauna and extensive tidepools and kelp forests.
Here you'll find almost around 150 plant and a few animal species that are not found anywhere else in the world.
On Anacapa, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa are several snorkeling, diving, swimming and kayaking opportunities among the kelp beds and sandy beaches. San Miguel and Santa Barbara are host to colonies…
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Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
The free Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum is an embarrassment of riches for history nerds, science geeks and music lovers. Filled with historical written artifacts from the private collection of David Karpeles, a Santa Barbara real-estate investor, it's a true SoCal treasure.
One of just eight Karpeles manuscript museums in the country, this branch houses the original proposed draft of the Bill of Rights, an Emancipation Proclamation Amendment signed by Abraham Lincoln, and Einstein's description of the theory of relativity. A recent special exhibit highlighting historic women contained writings from Lucretia Borgia, Catherine the Great and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Lots…
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Museum of Natural History & Gladwin Planetarium
While the permanent exhibits lack the 'hands-on' sparkle of many children's discovery centers, the Museum of Natural History boasts a few noteworthy gems and typically stages excellent special exhibits. Bug buffs should check out the glass wall holding 4,000 mounted Santa Barbara insects, as well as the replica of a pygmy mammoth skeleton unearthed on Santa Rosa Island in 1994. Outside you'll find the complete skeleton of a 72ft blue whale.
Kids especially will like the Gladwin Planetarium , which has intro-to-astronomy shows for children as well as adult programs that explore current scientific theory; call for show times.
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La Super Rica
This low-slung, unmarked shack - the one with the happy hordes spilling out the door - was culinary guru Julia Child's favorite Mexican restaurant. Who are we to argue? Make your choice from the 20 meals written on the board overhead, order from the window, then join local families at the picnic-style tables for authentic south-of-the-border cooking. Avoid peak meal times, when the place gets packed and searching for a seat is an Olympic sport.
Try one of their creative daily specials, or on Friday or Saturday get their famous tamales. One downer: vegetarians won't starve, but options are slim.
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Ty Warner Sea Center
The Ty Warner Sea Center is part of the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum. This is a great place for kids: the staff here is so engaging and enthusiastic, your child will be contemplating a career in marine biology in no time. From touch-a-shark water tanks and crawl-through aquariums to whale sing-alongs, it's interactive, educational and plain old fun.
The Sea Center also has opportunities for volunteers - from a few days to a week - so if oceanography's your thing, give 'em a ring before you arrive.
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Stearns Wharf
The southern end of State St gives way to Stearns Wharf , a rough wooden pier with a few snack and souvenir shops. Built in 1872 by John Peck Stearn, it's the oldest continuously operating wharf on the West Coast. During the 1940s it was owned by Jimmy Cagney and his two brothers. Partly destroyed by a 1998 fire, it has now been restored. Parking is available for around US$2 per hour, with the first 90 minutes free with validation.
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Wine Cask
Two-story-high gold-leaf-stenciled ceilings, and elegant fish, beef, and pasta dishes make every guest feel chic. It's Santa Barbara's hottest table for serious eating. On balmy days or evenings, feast on the invigorating New California menu in the romantic garden courtyard. The wine list brags 2500 labels, with vintages dating back to 1900, but verify the price of the bottle before you let the sommelier pick a wine for you.
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Pascucci
Don't let the sight of tourists deter you from palazzo-style Pascucci. Despite occasionally spotty service, locals love the filling pastas, pizzas and paninis here, not to mention the bargain prices. For a taste of Italian heaven, try the Bellagio: smoked chicken, mushroom, red onions and sun-dried tomatoes in a roasted garlic-parmesan cream sauce over bowtie pasta. Sit at the bar for the quickest service.
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Chuck's Waterfront Grill & Endless Summer Bar Café
For someplace dressier than Brophy Brothers, reserve a table in the nautical-theme dining room or outside overlooking the sailboats. Come between 17:00 and 18:30 for around US$15 to around US$17 sunset dinner specials, such as an 8oz steak or grilled salmon. Upstairs at the publike Endless Summer, the scene is Jack Johnson-casual (and cheaper), with fish-and-chips, burgers, billiards and beer.
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Red's Espresso Bar and Gallery
With Ring of Fire on the stereo, a concrete floor underfoot and scruffy barflies at the counter, Red's is just your typical small-town bar. 'Cept this is Santa Barbara, so make that your typical small-town coffee bar with local art hanging on the very red walls. In the heart of the Funk Zone, east of the tracks, the vibe is cool and the java cheap. Live music on the weekends.
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Arigato
Out-of-towners drive an hour and a half for the swoon-inducing sushi at this bustling but breezy State St hotspot. Settle in on the sidewalk patio or grab a seat inside at the L-shaped sushi bar where friendly sushi chefs will steer you right. One can't-miss is the jalapeno yellowtail nigiri. Hot dishes are also available. No reservations, so expect a wait.
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Santa Barbara Old Town Trolley
Santa Barbara Old Town Trolley operates 90-minute guided tours in an open-sided, San Francisco-style, motorized cable car. It gives a great overview of the city's sights, and allows you to get on and off at 14 different stops. Start the tour at Stearns Wharf, or call for other pick-up points. Pay the driver directly; check online for discounts.
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Natural Café
The lunch line - stretching 10 deep from the counter - can look daunting at this beachy, mostly vegetarian bistro in the thick of things on State St. But no worries, the line moves fast. Options range from spinach salads to tempeh veggie burgers to black-bean enchiladas. Grilled chicken pitas and turkey sandwiches available for carnivores.
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Blue Bee & Blue Beetle
Find eclectic, stylin' clothes at one of the best indie boutiques in town; there's a denim shop and a men's section tucked in back. In fact, wander downtown and you'll start seeing Blue Bee specialty shops everywhere you look. Their ever-expanding local empire includes shops for kids, luxury and shoes. Also has its own line of hip jeans.
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Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Rents kayaks, teaches sailing and offers sunset cocktail cruises and guided paddling tours.
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Bouchon
The perfect, unhurried, follow-up dinner to a day in Wine Country, convivial Bouchon's bright, flavorful California cooking uses only locally grown small-scale-farm produce and meats, which marry beautifully with the more than 50 local wines available by the glass. For romance, book a table on the cozy candlelit patio.
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Muddy Waters
A yard sale's mix of cosy furniture? Check. Pool table? Check. Internet access? Check. Live music on the weekends and a kick-ass backyard patio? You got it. Seems Muddy Waters has everything required for the quintessential indie coffeehouse. And the coffee's darn good too. Great place to escape the State St hordes.
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Brewhouse
Rowdy dive down by the railroad tracks crafts its own unique small-batch beers and has rockin' live music Wednesday to Saturday nights.
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EOS Lounge
Ladies love the lighting at this trendy nightclub currently hot with SB's martini-sipping scenesters. The sexy décor - rippling waterfall, glimmering fireplace, twinkling patio - is on par with the hippest of Hollywood lounges. Small dancefloor for those wanting to get their groove on.
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La Arcada
Near Figueroa St, this historical red-tile passageway was designed by Myron Hunt (builder of the Rose Bowl in LA) in 1926. It's filled with boutiques, restaurants and whimsical public art - check out the back pocket of the window washer to see what's on his reading list.
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Sojourner Café
Vegetarians rejoice - the food is fab and the menu extensive at this upbeat, mostly veggie café, which gets creative with vegetables, tofu, tempeh, chicken, fish, rice, seeds and other healthy ingredients. Outdoor seating, too. The tempeh taco salad is delish.
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