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Peaceful, colorful and historic, the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is a locals’ favorite. Occupying a city block, the gardens feature a collection of more than 70 tree and plant species. The park is a popular spot for weddings and events as well as school field trips. THINGS TO DO AND SEE There are many things to see and do at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden. Take a self-guided tree and plant tour. Explore the butterfly garden. Meander along the walk paths. Escape to the sensory garden, which offers sensory posts and interpretive Braille signs. Or enjoy a picnic at the beautiful gazebo that overlooks a manmade pond filled with koi and turtles. A highlight of the park are the specialized planting beds for low-water species. These plants were chosen because they can grow well in Santa Barbara’s climate without the supplemental use of one of the area’s most precious resources – water. Nearly every day, professional photographers and visitors alike can be seen photographing these special plants. HISTORY OF THE GARDENS Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden has gone through many transitions since the 1860s when it was one of Santa Barbara’s original Plaza Alameda blocks. In 1904, the property was purchased by Mrs. Christian Herter, who built an Italianate-style house on the site. The house was later converted into a hotel called El Mirasol, which was demolished in the 1960s. In 1975, the property was purchased by Alice Keck Park, who gifted the land to the City of Santa Barbara and provided funds for the gardens’ development under the stipulation that the land should remain a park and not be sold to a developer. HOW TO GET TO ALICE KECK PARK MEMORIAL GARDEN Coming from Highway 101, take the Garden Street exit and turn onto Garden Street toward the mountains. The garden will be on your left between Micheltorena and Arrellaga streets. There is plenty of free parking nearby.
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Voted the best City & Harbor tour of Santa Barbara! Make a splash aboard the LAND SHARK! View one of the most historical beachside cities on a boat with wheels designed for both land and sea cruising. Experience the best of Santa Barbara in comfort aboard our Coast-Guard-approved amphibious vehicle the Land Shark for a truly unforgettable 90-minute narrated adventure! First, see all the historic landmarks and attractions in town. Then for the second portion of the tour, we’ll splash into the beautiful Santa Barbara harbor and cruise the magnificent Santa Barbara coastline. We often encounter sea lions, dolphins, and sometimes even whales! Tours depart daily from 99 West Cabrillo Blvd. near Stearns Wharf. For a current schedule and availability call 805-683-7600. The Land Shark is also available for private charters for up to 46 passengers. We offer flexible pick up and drop off locations, group discounts, and food and beverage service. It is also a great way to celebrate a birthday, special event or casual sunset cocktail cruise. Don’t miss this exciting and entertaining land and sea adventure to experience Santa Barbara!
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Santa Barbara Food Tours in The Funk Zone This food & photo tour starts on lower State Street and will walk you through the Funk Zone neighborhood where you will taste what Santa Barbara is known for from bites of fresh seafood, gastropub creations, and Mexican or Spanish foods to artisan beer, locally grown wines, & hand-crafted spirits. Along the way, you’ll get immersed in the local culture and hear interesting stories about each place you’ll visit. You’ll also learn easy-to-shoot photo tips from your pro tour guide and take your food photo skills to the next level using your smartphone’s camera app. By the end of your 3-hour tour, you’ll be eating like a local and shooting like a pro! Adult tickets: $150 Child (under 21 or non-drinkers): $150 Prices include all tastings, which are enough for lunch. To get a taste of what they’re all about, check out this teaser video!
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Turn Santa Barbara into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure. Combine the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. Play anytime during daylight hours. Start when you want and play at your pace. Save 25%- Only $36.75 for a team of 2-5 people after Promotion Code: VISITSB. Sign up online here. Your Amazing Adventure in Santa Barbara takes you on a journey from the scenic waterfront and Sterns Wharf, up State Street and through some of the most interesting parts of the city. You will visit historic theaters, courthouses, clock towers as well as quaint arcades and old Spanish pueblos. Enjoy this unique and fun way to see Santa Barbara This is a Covid-Friendly outdoor activity with no Tour guide to meet or other team members added to your group! Schedule a Group or Teambuilding event that will be the talk of the water cooler crowd. Great for birthday, bachelorette or other family events. Group discounts offered.
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Totally Cali Tours delivers an authentic and in-depth Santa Barbara experience! Choose from History, Wine & Beer Tasting or Cultural tours of downtown Santa Barbara as well as our prestigious Wine Country. We also specialize in customized tours to suit your unique interests. Our tours are thoughtfully crafted by our local guides who proudly deliver knowledgeable, down-to-Earth and fun experiences. We lead small group tours, as well as large group tours for corporate or special events. Visit our website here: http://www.totallycalitours.com On our website you will find more information on our: –Wine Country Tours Full and Half Day Available -Wine Walking Tours -Santa Barbara Craft Brewery Tour -Every Day is Earth Day Walking Tasting Tour -Cultural Tasting Tours of Downtown Santa Barbara (History, Wine, Beer and Food) -City Wine Tasting Tours in Santa Barbara -Historical Tours of Santa Barbara -Ojai Tours Wine & History -Food Tours in Santa Barbara -Custom Tours -Corporate Team Building and Incentive Tours
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anta Barbara Ghost Tours offers a variety of exciting, informative and entertaining ghost tours in some of the beautiful neighborhoods in Santa Barbara. We offer a variety of ghost tours for our guests to enjoy. View our website for wine tasting ghost tours, walking tours, VIP storytelling tours or create a special event for birthdays, anniversaries, business events, and more. OUR TOURS ARE… – family & pet friendly – meeting location provided after booking – non refundable (rain-checks for bad weather are provided) Come join us and experience both the history and mystery of Santa Barbara’s past and present! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us! (805) 905-9019 santabarbaraghosttours@gmail.com https://sbghosttour.com
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Walk the halls of history at one of Santa Barbara’s most iconic sites, Old Mission Santa Barbara. With its grand bell towers, lush gardens and views of the San Ynez mountains and Pacific Ocean, the Mission is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. Known as “Queen of the Missions” for its exceptional beauty, the Santa Barbara Mission was founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786. More than 200 years later, it is still a home to the Franciscan Friars and welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world annually. The Mission also serves as home base for Saint Barbara Parish, which operates under the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Santa Bárbara Mission Archive-Library, a separate Franciscan-sponsored non-profit, and a Novitiate program, which provides the first year of education for Friars in training from across the United States. History comes alive with a multi-language audio tour of the inner garden, 1820 church, historic cemetery and museum. Out front, you can admire the graceful architecture while exploring the rose garden, olive grove, and remnants of the old aqueduct systems and outbuildings. Old Mission Tours and Hours The Mission is open for self-guided tours daily from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors 65+, $13.00 for active military, $10.00 for youth 5-17 and free for children 0-4. Hour-long docent-guided tours are available Friday and Sunday at 12:00 pm and Saturday at 10:30 am, but are subject to change due to Masses, weddings and funerals. Private tours and school tours are available by advance reservation for groups of 10 or more. Tips for Your Visit If you’re visiting over the Memorial Day Weekend, enjoy stunning outdoor artwork during the annual I Madonnari Street Painting Festival. Artists transform the pavement of the Mission Plaza with 150 vibrant, large-scale pastel chalk masterpieces during a three-day festival that includes food, wine, beer and live music. The Mission’s cemetery and mausoleum provide interesting historical context and are worth a look. Buried behind the church tower is the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island, upon whom author Scott O’Dell based his main character in the classic children’s novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. Stroll across the street from the Mission to the A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden, a wonderland of more than 1,500 rose plants. Spring is the best time to see the roses in their full glory, although they often bloom longer because of the region’s extended growing season. You’ll also be at a great vantage point to view and take photos of the Mission’s façade or explore remnants of the old aqueduct. Note that because the St. Barbara Parish is housed at Old Mission Santa Barbara and is an active parish, the church is not open for tours during Masses, weddings, and funerals. The Saint Barbara Parish is run separately from Old Mission Santa Barbara. For Parish information and Mass Schedule, please check their website at: https://www.saintbarbaraparish.org/
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Experience Montecito as it was during the 1920s and 1930s on a tour of Casa del Herrero, one of Santa Barbara’s finest architectural landmarks. Built in 1925 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2009, Casa del Herrero is an excellent example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style in America. The 11-acre masterpiece was designed by architect George Washington Smith for the Steedman family, and is renowned not only for the grand house but also for its extensive Moorish-style gardens and collection of 15th-to-17th century art objects from Spain, France, and Italy. During your visit, you’ll be transported back to the Casa del Herrero’s heyday. Trained docents share the history of the Casa during your tour, including how owner George Fox Steedman brought his vision for the beautiful estate to life by enlisting the help of many architects, landscapers, horticulturalists and other experts. Stroll among the garden’s romantic open-air rooms, listen to the peaceful burbling of elegant fountains, peek into the tool-filled workshop and marvel at fascinating artifacts throughout the house. Casa del Herrero Tours and Admission A private residence until 1987, the estate now functions as a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the house and grounds. Docent-led tours can be booked on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. throughout the year, and are available for adults and children age 10 and above. Admission for the tour is $50 per person and is non-refundable. Advanced reservations are required and can be booked online. Tips for Your Visit On-site parking at the Casa del Herrero is limited and neighborhood parking is prohibited, so carpooling is encouraged for all visitors. While Casa del Herrero welcomes outdoor photography of the house and gardens, note that photography inside the house is strictly prohibited.
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Explore California’s unique natural landscape at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a 78-acre living museum designed entirely with California-native plants. Five miles of easy walking trails crisscross the wild-crafted gardens, so you can venture from a towering coastal redwood forest to an inland cacti-filled desert in just one hike. Take in sweeping views of the San Ynez Mountains and Santa Barbara’s Channel Islands and wander among more than 1,000 plants, trees and flowers that exemplify the diverse botanical beauty of the region.
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Explore an 18th-century historic symbol of Santa Barbara—and the many cultures that intersected here—at the site of the last Spanish fortress in California. Operated by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) for California State Parks, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park spans four city blocks and offers a diversity of on-site historical attractions, exhibits and dining options. Be transported back in time by the whitewash adobe buildings that fill the property. Two original buildings remain, including El Cuartel (soldier’s quarters), which is the second-oldest building in California. Others have been reconstructed to give visitors an immersive glimpse of life in Santa Barbara during the Spanish colonial era. The park is a short walk from several other historical museums and cultural sites, as well as hotels, restaurants, shopping and downtown landmarks in Santa Barbara’s vibrant Presidio neighborhood. History of the Presidio Built in 1782 using the labor of local Chumash Indians, the Presidio was the cultural, social and military center of Spanish rule in the region until 1830. After the Spanish and Mexican periods, Chinese and Japanese immigrant communities made their home in the Presidio. Exhibits and displays explore their diverse cultures, traditions and contributions to Santa Barbara. Visiting El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park Begin your journey at the Visitor Center, located inside the c. 1787 Cañedo Adobe. Inside, you’ll find exhibits, information about the history of the park and a gift shop, La Tienda. Pick up a tour booklet and embark on a self-guided tour of the 5.75-acre park. Along with the two original buildings, re-created sites include a Chapel, Comandancia, Padre’s Quarters, observation tower, living quarters and heritage gardens. Visitors can also see the archaeological site of the Presidio’s outer defense wall. Stroll past several more preserved buildings, including the 1920s Santa Barbara School of the Arts, the c. 1830 Buenaventura Pico Adobe and the 1871 Cota-Knox House. Though the buildings were not part of the original fortress, they illustrate different aspects of Santa Barbara’s history. Tours and Admission El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park is open daily from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (62+) and free for children 16 and under, SBTHP members and SNAP/EBT and CalFresh cardholders. Entry also includes admission to Casa de la Guerra, a nearby historical museum that is also operated by the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information or to schedule a guided tour, call (805) 965-0093. Hourly parking is available in the adjacent parking lot at 115 East Canon Perdido Street. Visitors can pay for their parking through the paybyphone.com app. Food and Drink at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park History lovers can make a day of it by visiting several on-site restaurants. Three Pickles offers subs and sandwiches as well as a cocktail bar, The Pickle Room; the businesses inhabit the former Jimmy’s Oriental Gardens, a beloved Chinese restaurant and local landmark. Zaytoon serves Lebanese cuisine that is best enjoyed on the flower-filled outdoor patio. La Playa Azul Café’s margaritas and happy hour are popular among locals. And Panino offers gourmet, Italian-inspired sandwiches and salads with or without meat, making it an excellent lunch stop for vegetarians.
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