Exhibits and friendly volunteers help residents and visitors learn more about the local area and Santa Barbara County in general.
Neal Taylor Nature Center
Santa Barbara Wine Country
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
MOXI
18.99 MILES
This next-gen science museum is an interactive treasure trove of exhibits and experiences related to sound, technology, speed, light and color that are…
Rancho Sisquoc Winery
23.1 MILES
This tranquil gem is worth the extra mileage, not just for the award-winning small-batch reds and whites, but for the delightfully rustic tasting room…
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
18.05 MILES
Built in Spanish-Moorish Revival style in 1929, the courthouse features hand-painted ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers and tiles from Tunisia and Spain…
Old Mission Santa Barbara
16.99 MILES
California's ‘Queen of the Missions’ reigns above the city on a hilltop perch more than a mile north of downtown. Its imposing Ionic facade, an…
Santa Barbara Zoo
19.95 MILES
Small (so it's perfect for young kids) Santa Barbara Zoo has 146 species covering all creatures great and small, including several not found in many other…
Stearns Wharf
19.19 MILES
The southern end of State St gives way to Stearns Wharf, a rough wooden pier lined with souvenir shops, snack stands and seafood shacks. Built in 1872, it…
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
19.28 MILES
On the harborfront, this jam-packed two-story exhibition celebrates Santa Barbara's briny history with nautical artifacts, memorabilia and hands-on…
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
16.5 MILES
Take a soul-satisfying jaunt around this 40-acre botanic garden, devoted to California’s native flora. Miles of partly wheelchair-accessible trails…
Nearby Santa Barbara Wine Country attractions
1. Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
0.62 MILES
Fishing, boating and wildlife cruises (look out for bald eagles in the winter) are all popular at this artificial but pretty lake.
2. Kalyra Winery
8 MILES
Australian Mike Brown traveled halfway around the world to combine his two loves: surfing and winemaking. Try his full-bodied red blends, unusual white…
3. Sunstone Vineyards & Winery
8.06 MILES
Wander inside what looks like an 18th-century stone farmhouse from Provence and into a cool hillside cave housing wine barrels. Sunstone crafts Bordeaux…
4. El Capitán State Beach
8.96 MILES
Head down from the low cliffs to enjoy swimming (confident bathers only), surfing and fishing from this pebbly beach, overlooked by native sycamore and…
5. Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard
9.58 MILES
Bordeaux and Rhône varieties do well in the sun-dappled limestone soil at this friendly winery best for wine-tasting neophytes and dog owners. The…
6. Beckmen Vineyards
9.85 MILES
Bring a picnic to one of the pond-side gazebos at this tranquil winery, where estate-grown Rhône varieties flourish on the unique terroir of Purisima…
7. Lincourt Vineyard
9.97 MILES
Respected winemaker Bill Foley, who also owns Firestone Vineyards in Foxen Canyon, founded this vineyard in the 1990s on a former dairy farm. Today, the…
8. Refugio State Beach
10.06 MILES
Fishing, swimming (lifeguards on duty) and enjoying the views out to the Channel Islands are the best things to do at this narrow beach, 20 miles west of…