#1 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Downtown Santa Barbara (Neighborhood)
Santa Barbara CA
~0.05 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#2 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
De la Guerra Plaza
Santa Barbara CA
~0.06 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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De La Guerra Plaza is a small park type area in downtown Santa Barbara, California located right next to the Santa Barbara News Press. It is best known for the activities that take place there during Santa Barbara's huge annual Fiesta, early every August. There are booths, musical performances and lots of festivities for the downtown area in De La Guerra Plaza. In the 1950s, there was always a glass blowing booth where children could buy and take home glass ornaments as souvenirs.
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#3 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Lobero Theater
Santa Barbara CA
~0.15 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Lobero Theatre, founded by José Lobero, is a historic building in Santa Barbara, California. It is at the corner of Anacapa and Canon Perdido Streets, less than a block away from the historic Presidio of Santa Barbara. Built in 1873 as an opera house, the theater was rebuilt to designs by architect George Washington Smith for the Community Arts Music Association in the early 1920s, and opened in August 1924, during a period in which civic groups in Santa Barbara were beginning to unify the town's architectural look around a Spanish Colonial style. The theatre continues to host arts and cultural events on 250 or more days per year.
Because of its live acoustics and relatively small size it is particularly suited to chamber music. The Music Academy of the West holds many of its summer concerts in the Lobero.
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#4 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Presidio Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara CA
~0.20 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California. In modern times, the Presidio serves as a significant tourist attraction, museum and an active archaeological site as part of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. The park contains an original adobe structure called El Cuartel, which is the second oldest surviving building in California; only the chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano, known as "Father Serra's Church", is older. The Presidio of Santa Barbara has the distinction of being the last military outpost built by Spain in the New World. The Presidio was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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#5 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Hill Carrillo Adobe
Santa Barbara CA
~0.24 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#6 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State St Santa Barbara CA - 805-963-4364
~0.36 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is an art museum located at 1130 State St. in downtown Santa Barbara, California.
It was founded in 1941 and currently ranks amongst the top 10 regional art museums in the United States. It is home to both permanent and special collections, the former of which includes Asian, American, and European art that spans 4,000 years from ancient to modern. The permanent collection also includes pre-Columbian sculpture, African sculpture, musical instruments, the Alice Schott Doll Collection, which includes dolls from the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, American and European paintings, and French Impressionists. The American art collection contains early portraits as well as 19th- and 20th century still lifes, landscapes, and sculptures. The Asian art collection contains art from China, Japan, Tibet, India, and Southeast Asia.
A number of artists are represented, among them are Thomas Eakins, Claude Monet, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Georgia O'Keeffe.
In 1998, the museum opened the Peck Wing. The museum now contains three galleries. Additionally, the museum is home to the Constance and George Fearing Library, which contains reference books, art periodicals, and exhibition catalogs.
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#7 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Santa Barbara CA
~0.40 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Karpeles Manuscript Library is the world’s largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents.The library was founded in 1983 by California real estate magnates, David and Marsha Karpeles, with the goal of stimulating interest in learning, especially in children. All of the Karpeles Manuscript Library services are free.
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#8 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Arlington Theater
Santa Barbara CA
~0.58 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#9 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Burton Mound
Santa Barbara CA
~0.68 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#10 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Alameda Park
Santa Barbara CA
~0.71 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#11 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Carriage Museum
Po Box 1587 Santa Barbara CA - 805-962-2353
~0.73 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Carriage and Western Art Museum of Santa Barbara was founded in 1972 and is located in Pershing Park near the waterfront in Santa Barbara, CA.
The collection consists of over 50 saddles once belonging to famous people, such as Cisco Kid, Will Rogers, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart and many others.
The many carriages you will see in the collection are mud wagons, army wagon, circus wagon, and more.
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#12 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara City College
721 Cliff Dr Santa Barbara CA - 805-965-0581
~0.74 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a two-year community college founded in 1909. It is located on a 74-acre (299,000 m²) campus right over the beach in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA. SBCC offers associate degrees in English, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, and occupational and technological training. Santa Barbara City College maintains an open admissions policy. All students, who are at least 18 years of age or hold a high school diploma, or its equivalent, are admitted. As one of the leading community colleges in California — and the nation — SBCC is known for its excellent transfer rates to the four-year colleges and universities. Currently SBCC ranks #1 in percentage of students that transfer to the University of California.
As of 2008, total enrollment of full-time and part-time students reached 19,554. It is currently led by President Andreea Serban, who was elected in 2008. The previous president was John Romo, who served from 2002 to 2008. SBCC is one of the 110 Community Colleges in the State of California. http://www.sbcc.cc.ca.us/
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#13 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
West Beach
Santa Barbara CA
~0.76 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Pros: If you're looking for the best place to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July or New Years, or you want to watch boats coming and going from the harbor, or you want to play volleyball or rollarblade, then come to West Beach. This is also where the Ka Nai'a Outrigger Club holds their Sunday lessons and where many kayaks, windsurfers, and sailboats set out.
There aren't a lot of facilities, but you are close to the Chase Palm Park and Wharf so it's not really needed. There are a number of excellent restaurants across the street. Leadbetter is about four blocks down and the breakwater is about three blocks away.
Cons: Okay - so it's not the prettiest beach in the world unless you like industrial. Call me a snob, but I don't think I'd swim here - I don't know if I've ever seen anybody swim. Come to think of it - I don't think you can swim. I'd be afraid of getting hit by a boat.
Directions: Take the Garden Street exit and turn towards the ocean. At the end of the road turn right. There is on-street parking and if you're willing to walk a bit there's parking on the wharf and parking for East Beach.
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#14 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Alice Keck Memorial Garden
Santa Barbara CA
~0.77 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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#15 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara CA
~0.91 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Stearns Wharf is an important part of Santa Barbara's character and history. It is located at the bottom of State Street and our historic three dolphin fountain marks its entrance.
At the ripe old age of 130 years old, Stearns Wharf is still built primarily of wood and has weathered wars, fires, earthquakes. It has seen the harbor transform from a bustling port for cargo and passenger ships to a home for pleasure boats, a fishing fleet and whale watching tours.
Stearns Wharf was built in 1872 to serve cargo and passenger ships. In the 1930s, gamblers boarded floating casinos at the pier, and during World War II it was turned into a naval installation. Now, the wharf has shops and restaurants and is visited by 5 million people a year, making it one of Santa Barbara's largest tourist attractions.
Please, allow us to share with you the history, the charm and the activities that make this important landmark so much part of Santa Barbara.
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#16 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Harbor
132 Harbor Way Santa Barbara CA
~1.11 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Naturally sheltered by mountains and islands on a southward facing coastline, Santa Barbara Harbor has one of the ten best climates in the world. With over 1100 slips accommodating boats from 20 feet to 150 feet long, Santa Barbara Harbor is an ideal home or cruising destination.
Come and see what our beautiful harbor has to offer. Enjoy fine dining, day charters or an island trip to one of four offshore islands. Or stop in to have your boat repaired or re-supplied. There's a lot to do in Santa Barbara Harbor. http://www.santabarbaraharbor.com
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#17 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Bowl
Santa Barbara CA
~1.12 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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For more information visit their website at:
www.sbbowl.com
Or see them at:
1122 North Milpas Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93103-2336
(805) 962-7411
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#18 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Santa Barbara CA
~1.12 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Located on the water's edge of the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum contains exciting & educational exhibits set inside of nearly 8,000 square feet of Museum space.
The Maritime Museum also offers a wide range of educational programs including docent tours, and Tall Ship tours. Admission also includes a series of films shown daily in our large screen, high-definition ?Munger Theater.
Attraction type: Museum complex, Specialty museum
museum@sbmm.org
Address: 113 Harbor Way Santa Barbara, CA 93109
Tel: 805-962-8404
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#19 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra
Santa Barbara CA
~1.13 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Santa Barbara Symphony is a part-time professional symphony orchestra based in Santa Barbara, California.
The orchestra was founded in 1953. Music directors have included Erno Daniel (1960-1967), who also taught piano at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Ronald Ondrejka (1967-1979), who taught conducting at UCSB; Frank Collura (1979-1984); Varujan Kojian (1985-93); Gisèle Ben-Dor (1994-2005); and Nir Kabaretti (2006- ). Nir Kabaretti was selected as the new director after a well publicized search.
In the 1990s the orchestra began making recordings with Music Director Gisele Ben-Dor conducting. The orchestra has released several acclaimed recordings, including CDs of works by Silvestre Revueltas, Astor Piazzolla, Luis Bacalov and Heitor Villa-Lobos. The Orchestra's recording of the Villa-Lobos earned international praise.
Typically the orchestra performs a series of about seven concerts during a season, plus additional concerts (for example, a pops concert on New Year's Eve).
In 2008, the Santa Barbara Symphony moved from its long-time venue at the Arlington Theatre to the newly renovated Granada Theatre.
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#20 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Leadbetter Beach
Santa Barbara CA
~1.20 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Leadbetter Beach (also Ledbetter Beach) is a popular beach in Santa Barbara, California, situated below Leadbetter Hill.
It is easily accessible from the Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) and the marina, and has light surf which is acceptable for learners. Because of the small surf and consistent winds, it is also a popular location for kitesurfers and windsurfers during the summer, when the wind is consistent. Of all the beaches in the city, this is one of the most frequently visited.
Leadbetter is an artificial beach, built by accident. When Santa Barbara Harbor was built, it blocked the downshore current, holding up the natural sand flow. The college is built on the original coastline's front cliffs, now about 30 yards off-shore; the original beach front lies where the current SBCC football field is located. The blocking of sand from downshore cities prompted several lawsuits against Santa Barbara.
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#21 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Oak Park
504 W Pueblo St Santa Barbara CA
~1.32 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Oak Park is a nice place to laze on the lawn under the oak trees (by Alamar St) after walking around one of the many free festivals held there. There's a wonderful new playground with a cool climby rope contraption, a big kids play structure, a toddler play structure, plus a bee bouncy. The splash pool, a shallow pool for children under 7 years old, is open in summer. The fountain in the middle of the pool is a lot of fun for little kids. Unfortunately, the pool is closed this summer (2009).
My favorite festival at Oak Park is the French Festival, which is held each year on the Bastille Day weekend (around July 14). It's great to sit under the shady trees at the center stage and listen to bands play French music. Jessice Fichot, a singer who grew up in Paris, is one of my favorites. Make sure you don't miss the awesome drag show, which is held at the end of the day on the big wooden stage. You really can't figure out if it's men or women dressed up as drag queens, and the dramatic singing and dancing is fantastic. I got such a kick out of seeing those guys do their shows! Also at the French festival is an eiffel tower, food and gifts, a can-can show, and a poodle show.
Each year is different (festival organizers get burned out!), but some of the free festivals they've held here over the years have been: Multi-Cultural Festival, Jewish Festival, Caribbean Festival, Greek Festival which has some amazing pastries made by the local Greek Orthodox Church, Mexican Festival, and Irish Festival.
All the festivals can be a bit crowded, and make kids feel overwhelmed. And the festivals are sometimes full of vendors selling stuff that isn't even related to the festival. But parts of them are fun- mostly the live music. To get away from the crowds, head over to the large beautiful lawn beside Alamar Street for a break.
This park is near Cottage Hospital and it's a nice place to come to improve your outlook if you've had to visit the hospital.
Nearby places to go include: Via Maestra Gelato, where you can treat yourself to some amazing Italian gelato; La Cumbre Mall, where there are plenty of fountains and flower baskets and kids can run around outside with no cars around; Hendry's Beach, a great family spot where tons of people bring their dogs and where kids boogieboard during the summer; and Hope Ranch,a gorgeous scenic drive through old oak forests, past hundreds of canary palms, and by panoramic ocean views. .
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#22 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara CA
~1.53 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Mission Santa Barbara, also known as Santa Barbara Mission, is a Spanish Franciscan mission near present day Santa Barbara, California. It was founded December 4, 1786, the feast day of Saint Barbara, to evangelize the local Chumash (Canaliño) tribe. The Mission grounds occupy a rise between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, and were consecrated by Father Fermín Lasuén, who had taken over the presidency of the California mission chain upon the death of Father Presidente Junípero Serra. Mission Santa Barbara is the only mission to remain under the leadership of the Franciscan Friars since the day of its founding.
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#23 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Convalescent Hsp
540 W Pueblo St Santa Barbara CA - 805-682-7174
~1.60 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Santa Barbara Convalescent Hospital has pioneered the skill of combining a residential atmosphere with essential hospital service. Accommodations are adapted to a variety of individual tastes and needs, from private and semi-private suites to “special care” units.
No substitute for experience
Santa Barbara Convalescent Hospital has established itself as a progressive leader in the skilled nursing field since 1963. We are well equipped and properly staffed to administer a program of extended or short term nursing care, with emphasis on rehabilitation in accordance with the instructions of each patient’s personal physician. Staff has been carefully screened and selected for professional ability, experience, kindness, and reliability.
High Class: Fine Cuisine
Santa Barbara Convalescent Hospital is noted for its excellent and appealing cuisine. Menus for patients on special diets are planned according to doctor’s orders by a registered dietician, and meals are attractively prepared by the dietary staff of the hospital kitchen. Careful attention is given to diabetic, low-sodium, fat free, high protein, and other special dietary needs.
High Care: Personal & Attentive
Santa Barbara Convalescent is a sixty-eight bed skilled nursing facility and a participating provider under the Medicare program. Each patient is attended by his or her own personal physician whose orders are carried out around the clock by our licensed nursing staff and medical professionals.
Reservations
Reservations can be made for long or short term care. The reservation is usually requested in advance by the patient’s physician, family, or discharge planner. Rates are commensurate with the type of care needed and accomodations desired. Families will be glad to know that the hospital cost is considerably less than comparable nursing care in an acute hospital or at home.
Although Santa Barbara Convalescent hospital is not directly managed by Kennon S. Shea & Associates, they are an affiliate. More information can be found at their official web site, santabarbaraconvalescent.com.
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#24 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Natural History Museum
Santa Barbara CA
~1.73 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is the oldest museum in Santa Barbara, California, founded in 1916. The museum is located in Mission Canyon, immediately behind the Santa Barbara Mission. Set in a traditional southern California environment, the museum campus occupies 12 acres (4.9 ha) of oak woodland along Mission Creek. It is housed in a mission-style, Spanish Mediterranean complex of buildings. The museum has 5,700 members and more than 150,000 people visit the Museum each year.
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#25 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Museum History
2559 Puesta Del Sol Santa Barbara CA - 805-682-3224
~1.80 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The SBHM offers educational programs at the Museum and outreach in the community. To make reservations for your group program or tour, please contact our Education Department at (805) 966-1601 ext 108 or e-mail education@sbhistorical.org.
Docents
Share your love of history and community by joining the Museum's docent program. Please contact our Education Department at (805) 966-1601 ext 108 or e-mail education@sbhistorical.org
Membership
Special events, exhibition openings and publications available to members and a 10% discount in the Museum Store. To inquire about becoming a member, please contact our Membership Department at 805-966-1601 ext. 110 or e-mail at membership@sbhistorical.org.
Museum Store
JUST RE-OPENED: An extensive collection of books, gifts and information on the region.
Fernald Mansion & Trussell-Winchester Adobe
Our Historic House Museums are currently closed for restoration.
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#26 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Zoo
Santa Barbara CA
~1.81 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres (120,000 m2) near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was formerly known as the Child's Estate Zoo. The zoo has been ranked numerous times as one of the nation's best small zoos. It has 600 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and red pandas, and is famous for having had a giraffe with a crooked neck. It first opened in August, 1963.
Gemina, (July 16, 1986 – January 9, 2008) the "crooked-necked giraffe," was one of the most popular animals at the Santa Barbara Zoo. A Baringo giraffe, she was born with a straight neck at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. At the age of three she developed a bend in her neck. The zoo's veterinarian said that despite her deformity, “Gemina led a very typical existence and was treated as a normal member of the herd. She did not appear to be in discomfort and exhibited normal giraffe behaviors.”
Gemina was euthanized at the age of 21 years. "Consistent with the challenges of old age," she had lost her appetite and experienced a decline in quality of life. While the results of a necropsy will not be available until three weeks after her death, her deformity was not believed to be a cause of the condition that led to the decision to euthanize her.
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#27 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Elings Park
Santa Barbara CA
~2.18 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Elings Park (formerly Las Positas Friendship Park) is a 230-acre non-profit park located in Santa Barbara, California. Situated east of Las Positas Road and south of U.S. Highway 101, the park consists of sports fields, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, wedding/special event venues, and landscaped walkways. The park is a hub for mountain biking, youth sports, paragliding, and other outdoor activities.
The north side of the park is built on top of the old, now-closed Santa Barbara City dump. The park's grand opening was in 1985, and it has changed names several times: at first it was "Las Positas Park," in 1991 it became "Las Positas Friendship Park," and in 1999, in honor of more than two million dollars given by Virgil Elings and his family, the park was renamed "Elings Park."
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#28 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Earl Warren Showgrounds
3400 Calle Real Santa Barbara CA - (805) 687-0766
~2.21 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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Consisting of exhibit and event facilities as well as equestrian facilities, the Earl Warren Showgrounds have been in existence since 1958. http://www.earlwarren.com
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#29 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon Rd Santa Barbara CA - 805-682-4726
~2.47 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a 26 ha (65 acre) garden, containing over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants. It is located in Mission Canyon, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
The purpose of the Garden is to display California native plants in natural settings. There are approximately 9.2 km (5.5 miles) of hiking trails within the garden. Mission Creek flows through the premises, and includes a rock dam which was constructed in 1806 by Native Americans (mainly Canaliños) under the direction of the Spanish padres of the adjacent Mission Santa Barbara.
The Garden was founded in 1926 and designed by noted landscape architect Beatrix Farrand.[2] By 1936 its focus had narrowed to plants native to the California Floristic Province (which includes a bit of southwestern Oregon and part of Baja California, as well as most of the state of California). The Garden became a Santa Barbara County Landmark in 1983 (the dam on Mission Creek was already designated as a State Historic Landmark).[3]
The Garden has a plant breeding program. Plant introduction include Aesculus californica 'Canyon Pink', Agave shawii, Arctostaphylos 'White Lanterns', Arctostaphylos 'Canyon Blush', Arctostaphylos insularis 'Canyon Sparkles', Artemisia californica 'Canyon Gray', Berberis aquifolium 'Mission Canyon', Ceanothus 'Wheeler Canyon', Ceanothus 'Far Horizons', Ceanothus arboreus 'Powder Blue', Eriophyllum nevinii 'Canyon Silver', Fremontodendron 'Dara's Gold', Heuchera 'Blushing Bells', Heuchera 'Canyon Belle', Heuchera 'Canyon Chimes', Heuchera 'Canyon Delight',Heuchera 'Canyon Duet', Heuchera 'Canyon Melody', Heuchera 'Canyon Pink', Heuchera 'Dainty Bells', Heuchera 'Pink Wave', Iris 'Canyon Snow', Lessingia filaginifolia 'Silver Carpet', Leymus condensatus 'Canyon Prince', Salvia 'Dara's Choice', Salvia cedrosensis 'Baja Blanca', Salvia leucophylla 'Amethyst Bluff', and Verbena lilacina 'De La Mina'.
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#30 of 30 Things To Do in Santa Barbara
Arroyo Burro Beach
Santa Barbara CA
~2.79 miles from Santa Barbara city center
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