Destination Guides: Santa Barbara, United States - Family Fun

Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1130 State Street
Santa Barbara CA, 93101
805-963-4364
Fax: 805-966-6840
Tues-Sat 11:00am-5:00pm, Fri 11:00am-9:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-5:00pm
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art, one of southern California's finest art museums, features nationally recognized collections and special exhibitions of international importance. Highlights of the museum's remarkable permanent collection include antiquities; 19th century French, British, and American art; 20th century and contemporary European, North American and Latin American art; Asian art; photography, and works on paper. Recent special exhibitions of significance include Nam June Paik: Video Art Pioneer, Copy Work: The Dictionary Pages and Other Diversions by Gilles Barbier, and The Jefferson Suites: An Audio-Visual Installation by Carrie Mae Weems. Museum visitors will also enjoy the interactive children's gallery, the café and the Museum Store.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon Rd.
(805) 682-4726
Mon-Fri 9 - 4
Sat; Sun 9 - 5
Admission charged. Children younger than 5 are admitted free.
The 65 acres that make up the Botanic Garden provide a superb setting for the study of native California flora. More than 5 miles of trails meander along the banks of upper Mission Creek and through the garden's meadows and canyons, which are planted with wildflowers, cacti, oak, sycamore trees and more than 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants. There's an entire section is devoted to flora found on the Santa Barbara Channel Islands as well as a forest of redwood trees and display areas on the California desert and mountains.

Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens
805-962-5339
500 Ninos Drive
Santa Barbara CA, 93103
Open every day (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) from 10 AM to 5 PM, with ticket sales ending at 4 PM. M-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm
Admission charged.
A year's family membership of $45 provides a quarterly newsletter, discounts on education programs and the Gift Shop and free admission to dozens of other zoos across the country (including the Los Angeles Zoo).
Over the years the zoo has added an impressive number of new animals and exhibits, and it continues to be dedicated to preserving a quality environment for both visitors and the zoo's permanent residents. More than 700 animals currently reside at the zoo, which hosts more than a half-million visitors every year.

Mission Santa Barbara
2201 Laguna St.
(805) 682-4713
Open seven days a week 9 - 5
Admission charged.
Known as the "Queen of the Missions" for its beauty and hilltop setting, Mission Santa Barbara was the 10th of California's 21 missions founded by Franciscan friars and is the only one that has been continuously occupied by the Franciscan order since its founding. It was dedicated in 1820. The second bell tower was added more than a decade later. Reportedly inspired by a drawing of a church designed by the Roman architect M. Vitruvius Polion in the first century B.C., Mission Santa Barbara has strongly influenced the architectural style of the city, with its thick adobe walls, tiled roof and floors, and open courtyards. Inside, rooms are preserved in the style of the 1700s, with artifacts and displays relating to early mission life. The self-guided tour includes eight rooms, the cloister gardens, the chapel, the cemetery and the beautiful Moorish fountain and courtyard. A gift shop near the entrance sells religious items and educational materials on Santa Barbara and the California missions.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta Del Sol Road
Santa Barbara CA, 93105
805-682-4711
Mon-Sat 9:00-5:00; Sun 10:00-5:00
Admission charged
Admission is free to all on the first Sunday of each month.
There is a nominal charge in addition to the museum admission fee for planetarium shows. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful small museums in the country. Founded in 1916 on the banks of Mission Creek, the low-roofed, Spanish-style structure includes several exhibit halls dedicated to the study of California and Santa Barbara County natural history.

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
705 McClelland, 805-928-8414)
Santa Maria, CA, 93454
The newly renovated museum is ideal for all ages. Through a series of interactive art and science exhibits, visitors can explore and experiment freely, engaging all their senses in a highly enjoyable learning process.

Museum of Flight
(3015 Airpark Dr., 805-922-8758)
Santa Maria, CA, 93454
The museum focuses on the area's place in aviation history. Visitors can see antique and model planes, and real aircraft used in World War II.

South Coast Railroad Museum
300 N. Los Carneros Rd.
(805) 964-3540
1 - 4 PM Wed - Sunday.
Admission is by donation.
The Old Goleta Depot, built in 1901, has been restored on this site, adjacent to the Stow House. The museum is very small, but includes railroad memorabilia, photos and a 300 foot model railroad. Movies are shown in the theater room. You can send a telegram or climb aboard the real caboose displayed on tracks outside. Loved by children, a miniature train circles the depot and offers rides Wednesday and Friday 2- 3:30 and Saturday and Sunday 1:15 - 3:45. A small museum shop sells gifts and educational materials with a railroad theme.

Santa Maria Valley Historic Museum
616 S. Broadway
805-922-3130
Exhibits trace area civilization from the Chumash Indian period to pioneer days.

Sea Center
805-963-1067
The Andree Clark Bird Refuge (1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd.) is home to water and land loving birds of all kinds. Especially interesting are the rare species of grackles and wood ducks. Observation platforms and educational signs enhance the bird watching. A walkway and bike path allow exploration. A drive through the exclusive residential neighborhood of Hope Ranch (west of the city) along palm lined Las Palmas Drive passes secluded luxurious homes, miles of bridle paths, a private country club and golf course, and Laguna Blanca, its private lake.

East Beach
1118 Cabrillo Blvd
805/965-0509
The wide band of sand at the east end of Cabrillo Boulevard is a great spot to visit! Sand volleyball courts, summertime lifeguard and sports competitions, and arts and crafts shows on Sunday and holidays make for a lively experience. Showers (bring your own towels), lockers, and beach rentals and even a weight room are provided at the Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse Next to the boathouse, there's an elaborate jungle-gym play area for children.