Santa Barbara
Zoo. Get wild! Check out one of America’s best small
zoos--with lions and tigers, giraffes and elephants, gorillas and sea
lions, and the rest of the 600 animals--overlooking the Pacific. Playground,
carousel, picnic areas and miniature train rides for the kids. Daily
10am-5pm. 500 Niños Dr. (805) 962-6310. www.santabarbarazoo.org
Santa Barbara
Museum of Natural History. Eleven oak-shaded acres in the historic
Mission Canyon featuring easy nature walks, a life-sized blue whale
skeleton, planetarium, and The Lizard Lounge with live reptiles and
amphibians. Daily 10am-5pm. 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd. (805) 682-4711.
www.sbnature.org
Ty Warner
Sea Center. Enjoy the hands-on tidepool encounter. Crawl through
a tunnel inside a 1,500-gallon aquarium. Be an oceanographer for a day
and take an ocean sample, view sea life close-up through video magnifiers,
and test water quality. Daily 10am-5pm. 211 Stearns Wharf. (805) 962-2526.
www.sbnature.org/seacenter
Sierra Club
Hiking. "Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet"
with Los Padres Sierra Club half-day hikes led by locals. Take a hike
in the mountains overlooking Santa Barbara and the ocean, or into the
Santa Ynez River Valley. San Rafael Wilderness hikes are in a designated
wilderness area, and don't forget the beach for an easy hike for everyone.
Most weekend hikes meet on upper State Street to caravan to the trail
head. Check the current outings on the website lospadres.sierraclub.org/schedule.htm
Kid's World.
If your kids need some extra exercise, this 8,000-sq. ft. playground
is a community-built, multilevel big toy of your child's dreams. It's
in a two-block park with picnic areas and plenty of shade trees. Alameda
Park, Santa Barbara and Micheltorena Sts.
Stearns
Wharf. Enjoy the breeze and watch local fishermen off-load
the morning catch. Take advantage of the colorful shopping and mountain
and shore views, or fish from the end of the pier. Sample some of the
county's best wines and fresh seafood, or visit the Sea Center (see
above). See whales’ tails or dolphins in the surf (It could happen!).
Have your fortune told. Take a breathtaking parasail high above or rollerblade
along the waterfront. Located where State Street ends at the ocean.
www.stearnswharf.org
Santa Barbara
Botanic Garden. The Garden offers a number of self-guided and
docent tours among their native central California flora and fauna,
to the Mission Dam built by Chumash Native Americans, and through a
grove of ancient redwoods. Families can purchase a booklet in the Garden
Shop for $1 which offers mystery-solving activities for kids to learn
about California habitats. Open Mon-Fri, Mar-Oct 9am-5pm, Nov-Feb 9am-4pm
and one hour later on weekends. 1212 Mission Canyon Rd. (805) 682-4726.
www.sbbg.org
The Santa
Barbara County Courthouse. Called the most beautiful government
building in America, the Courthouse occupies a full square block downtown
with sunken gardens, an elevator to the 85-foot clock tower for unforgettable
views, and noteworthy architecture and ornate tile work throughout.
Free tours 2pm daily except Sunday. Additional tours at 10:30am Mon,
Tues and Fri. 1100 Anacapa St. (805) 962-6464. www.sbcourts.org/general_info/cthouse_info.htm
Santa Barbara
Mission. Even if you miss the Courthouse and the Wharf, don’t
miss the Mission for a look at the history of the city--from Chumash
land to Spanish land grants to American homeland. From the steps of
the Mission you can see a panoramic view of the city, and the rose garden
across the street is a favorite with photographers, and families with
kids and a Frisbee to throw or a picnic to eat. 2201 Laguna St. www.sbmission.org
Santa Barbara
Museum of Art. The SBMA is one of the leading art museums on
the West Coast, with a permanent collection and traveling art shows
spanning 5,000 years of creativity. Interactive art studios are great
for the family and evening events are hot happenings downtown. 1130
State St. (805) 963-4364. Tues-Sun 11am-5pm. Closed Mondays. Free on
Sundays. www.sbma.net
Lobero Theatre.
This charming Spanish-style venue features exciting and diverse modern
dance, ballet, jazz, lectures, classical music, opera and contemporary
music performances. 33 E. Canon Perdido St. (805) 963-0761. www.lobero.com
Soho.
Live music & dining & dancing seven nights a week. California
cuisine 5:30-10pm. Happy hour Mon-Fri 5-7pm. Jazz Mondays 6-10pm. Late
night menu Fri & Sat 10pm-Midnight. Patio dining available. 1221
State St. Upstairs, Ste. 205. (805) 962-7776. www.sohosb.com
Paseo Nuevo.
This charming open-air promenade with winding paseos has many eclectic
restaurants, four movie theaters, Macy’s and Nordstroms, and over
50 unique, upscale boutiques from bébé to Banana Republic,
and from Abercrombie & Fitch to This Little Piggy Wears Cotton.
State St. between Ortega and Canon Perdido Sts. Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat
10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm. www.sbmall.com
Santa Barbara
Arts & Crafts Show. Established in 1965 by local artists,
this show was inspired by the sidewalk art shows of Europe. About 250
county resident artists display their original drawings, paintings,
graphics, sculpture, crafts and photography in an informal atmosphere
that encourages visitors to talk with the artists about their work.
Stearns Wharf to East Beach on Cabrillo Blvd. Every Sunday 10am-dusk.
www.sbaacs.com
La Cumbre
Plaza. One of Santa Barbara's premiere shopping destinations,
with more than 60 boutiques and restaurants, plus Robinsons-May and
Sears. The main breezeway has water fountains, benches and flowering
landscapes for a pleasant shopping experience. At State Street between
Hope and La Cumbre Sts. www.shoplacumbre.com
