Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California, United States

Your essential guide to Santa Barbara’s top cultural attractions and iconic landmarks.

125 State St
Santa Barbara, CA

The highly anticipated and incredibly interactive MOXI The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation has reopened its doors to curious kids of all ages. The museum has been a hit from day one, with three floors filled with hands-on exhibits focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Seven tracks let visitors customize every visit in a fresh way, moving from Tech, Sound, and Fantastic Forces to Speed, Light, Interactive Media, and the outdoor Sky Garden.

500 Ninos Dr
Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara Zoo is known as the “Zoo with a View” for its stunning coastal hilltop location. Home to more than 500 animals representing 146 different species of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects, the Zoo is actively engaged in the global Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ conservation programs working to ensure species survival. The manageable size of the Zoo adds to the appeal of its picturesque setting and animal family.

2559 Puesta Del Sol
Santa Barbara, CA

Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) has been a destination for school children throughout the region since 1923. Peacefully nestled along a soothing creek surrounded by 17-acres of oak woodland, the location is well situated between Mission Santa Barbara and the Botanic Garden. A blue whale skeleton greets you at the entrance to the campus that’s home to 3.5 million natural history specimens—from mammals to Chumash artifacts—as well as the area’s only planetarium.

217 Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA

Stearns Wharf is an iconic Santa Barbara landmark extending over the Pacific where State Street meets Cabrillo Boulevard. It's a popular fishing spot that’s home to seafood-centric eateries, a winery, shops, and some of the city’s most epic views. One of the wharf’s top destinations is the Sea Center. Operated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the small aquarium and marine education facility offers guests hands-on encounters with animals found in nearby waters—sharks, sea stars, urchins, jellies, octopus, soft corals, and more.

Santa Barbara, CA

Any visit to the waterfront should include a stop at Santa Barbara’s working Harbor and SEA Landing. This is command central for encounters of the aquatic kind—whale watching cruises, scenic sails, kayak, and paddleboard rentals, fishing and SCUBA charters, and all sorts of oceanic goodness. Occupying the former Naval Reserve Building, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) has broad appeal across age groups thanks to the mix of dynamic exhibitions that delve into topics like tides, surf culture, marine conservation, and military history and include displays of historic photographs, gear, and historic vessels. Another perk? SBMM also offers access to the Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center which boasts one of the best views in town.

1212 Mission Canyon Rd
Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a living museum set on 78-acres in the foothills of Santa Barbara with spectacular views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Channel Islands 25 miles offshore. The collection showcases more than 1,000 native Californian plants viewable on walks along the garden’s five miles of hiking trails through thematic terrain, ranging from a desert landscape to a redwood forest. For those inspired to bring some of the natural beauty home, the Garden has a fantastic nursery.

Cold Spring Rd
Montecito, CA

Another botanical wonderland, Lotusland is a 37-acre estate in Montecito established by the storied Polish opera singer, Madame Ganna Walska, who purchased the property in 1941. It’s deservedly regarded among the top 10 gardens in the world and includes rare collections of endangered Cycads, a newly renovated Japanese Garden, prehistoric ferns, and more. The only way to experience the 25 majestic thematic gardens firsthand is on a two-hour self-guided tour.

15 E De La Guerra St
Santa Barbara, CA

You can step back in time to experience Montecito as it was in the 1920s and 1930s at Casa Del Herrero, “House of the Blacksmith.” The historic landmark estate and gardens are set on 11 stunning acres. While the Spanish Colonial Revival architecture of George Washington Smith and the meticulously appointed home filled with 15th and 16th Century Spanish artifacts are a top draw, the Moorish-style gardens are equally fascinating. In fact, the eclectic mix of Country Place Era and Moorish-inspired gardens are part of its National Historic Landmark status.

304 N Los Carneros Rd
Goleta, CA

A historic Goleta gem, Rancho La Patera & Stow House was founded by William Stow, who was legal counsel to Southern Pacific Railway as well as a Speaker of the State Assembly. He purchased the property in 1871 for his son Sherman, who planted the first commercial lemon orchard in California on the grounds in 1873. Sherman’s son went on to influence the growth of the region’s citrus industry, which still thrives to this day. Visitors can get a taste of ranch life on self-guided strolls through the gardens and delve into Goleta’s history on docent-led tours of the Stow House. The 19th Century specimen gardens feature some impressive old trees, and the redwood trees in Stow Grove Park provide the perfect shade for a picnic.

1100 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA

Considered one of the most beautiful public buildings in the country, Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a 1929 Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece designed by William Mooser III. The iconic landmark features a clock tower with sweeping city views of red-tiled roofs stretching to the sea. T

2201 Laguna St
Santa Barbara, CA

Old Mission Santa Barbara is easily the city’s most renowned landmark. The 10th of California’s 21 missions, it’s the only to be continuously occupied by the Franciscans and it’s long been referred to as “The Queen of the Missions” for its distinctive twin bell towers. You can take a self-guided tour of the mission, its gardens, cemetery, and chapel. And if you simply want to admire the exterior, it’s always accessible. The Mission Rose Garden across the street is also well worth a visit and makes for a prime picnic spot.

123 E Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA

Established by the Spanish military in 1782 as a fortress, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park became Santa Barbara’s birthplace. The 5.5-acre park anchors downtown Santa Barbara’s Presidio District and includes two historic adobes—El Cuartel and the Cañedo Adobe.

15 E De La Guerra St
Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation also manages Casa De La Guerra, which was constructed between 1818 and 1828 by Jose de la Guerra, a patriarch of the community in the Mexican era. De la Guerra served as the fifth military commander of the Presidio and his family resided in the historic adobe house, which is now a museum featuring original furnishings, rotating art exhibits, and historical displays dedicated to California’s Hispanic heritage.

136 E De La Guerra St
Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara’s entire history comes to life at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, one of the city’s oldest cultural institutions dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and sharing the community’s heritage and traditions. The signature Story of Santa Barbara exhibition starts with the native Chumash people and travels through the eras, including the Spanish and Mexican periods as well as Santa Barbara’s star turn as a film industry hub in the early 1900s. Permanent exhibits cover fascinating local history from how the city got its name to its time as an arts colony and the creation of Chinatown. The grounds also feature two historic adobes: Casa Covarrubias dating back to 1817 and the 1838 Historic Adobe.

1130 State St
Santa Barbara, CA

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA)is yet another example of the world-class caliber of Santa Barbara’s arts scene. Established in 1941, SBMA’s 27,000-piece permanent collection includes antiquities, Asian art, Latin American art, photography, sculptures, and 19th and 20th Century European, British, and American Art.

653 Paseo Nuevo
Santa Barbara, CA

The Central Coast’s leading contemporary arts institution, the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) is a non-collecting museum located on the upper terrace of Paseo Nuevo. MCASB rotates the main space exhibitions three times a year, so there’s always something new to see. The Museum’s cutting-edge roster features solo and group exhibitions of artists of diverse media, ethnicity, geography, and gender. Their mission is to provide the regional community with exhibitions and programming that encourage discovery and challenge the way we see and experience the world, ourselves, and each other. During normal times, MCASB hosts lively, engaging events.

1122 N Milpas St
Santa Barbara, CA

There’s nothing like seeing a live show under the stars at the 4,500-seat amphitheater perched in the foothills. Some of the most legendary artists and bands have graced the Bowl’s stage. It’s so beloved by musicians, many make a point to include it on their North American touring schedule even though Santa Barbara is not a big city. At just the fraction of the size of the Hollywood Bowl, it’s an incredibly intimate venue to see the likes of Radiohead, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, Rod Stewart, and Lionel Richie—to name just a handful of recent past performers.