Mission Santa Barbara is nicknamed the 'Queen of the Missions' because of its graceful, yet grand exterior. Founded on December 4th, 1786, the feast day of Saint Barbara, it is the 10th of the 21 Missions. The current Mission was completed in 1820 after an earthquake destroyed most of the original in 1812 and the interior remains almost completely unchanged. Each May, the I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival showcases beautiful chalk paintings by 150 artists.
#231 Santa Barbara Shores County Park
Santa Barbara Shores County Park preserves what the wild coast here has looked like for thousands of years. Easy trails wind to sandy beach with views of the Channel Islands while the Santa Ynez Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop. The park is also home to the Goleta Monarch Butterfly Grove each winter from November to February where thousands of butterflies come to roost. The highest amount ever recorded was 48,000!
#222 Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve contains a beautiful series of trails along the central coast. Wildflowers bloom in the spring alongside dramatic sea cliffs with a protected seal rookery. Carpinteria or 'carpenter shop' in Spanish is named for the Chumash Native Americans who built wooden canoes here and used the naturally occurring tar for waterproofing.
#208 Jalama Beach County Park
Jalama Beach County Park is a secluded beach in Santa Barbara County named after the Native American Chumash who lived here. The mountains and cliffs that drop to the ocean offer jaw-dropping coastline views. It is the perfect getaway with its sandy beaches & rocky coves and an atmosphere full of solitude.
#198 Mission Rose Garden
The Mission Rose Garden is a must-see in Santa Barbara. Located directly in front of the Mission, the garden contains more than 1,500 varieties of roses and makes for a perfect stroll in this peaceful city.
#185 Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Built in 1926, the Santa Barbara County Courthouse is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival architectural wonder. Beautifully landscaped gardens with plants from 25 countries surrounded the buildings. The grand mural room depicts California history while the winding staircase is a perfect photography moment. 7,000 visitors from 60 countries visit its Clock Tower each year and enjoy its free 360 degree panoramic views of the city.
#173 Stearns Wharf
Stearns Wharf is the most visited place in Santa Barbara named for local lumberman John P. Stearns. With the original pier debuting in 1872, it became a hub for passengers and freight arriving on the central coast and was the longest pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A restaurant was constructed in the 1940's, and the wharf transitioned from a working to pleasure pier.
#169 Santa Cruz Island
Off the Central Coast lies Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands owned by the National Park Service and Nature Conservancy. Inhabited by Chumash Native Americans for at least 10,000 years, they called the island 'Limuw' meaning 'in the sea'. Legend has it that the Chumash found a priest's staff left behind from the Spanish Portola expedition of 1769 and returned it. The island was then named 'La Isla de Santa Cruz' or 'Island of the Sacred Cross' from this friendly gesture.
Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in California and contains 77 miles of varied coastline from sandy shores to rocky coves. More than 600 plant species dot the island while eight grow nowhere else on Earth. A highlight to the island is spotting the curious Island Fox. Hikes for every skill level can be explored in this marvelous place for solitude.
#157 OstrichLand USA
OstrichLand USA is a must stop for any visit to the Danish Village of Solvang. Where else can you feed ostriches and emus and watch them live alongside beautiful rollings hills? Ostriches are the largest bird species and can run up to 43 mph making them one of the fastest animals on Earth.
#148 Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a beautiful zoo on America's Riviera Coast. With more than 500 animals, it is one of the best small zoo's in the country and has been operating since 1963. The zoo is also known as one of the most beautiful zoos with its sweeping views of Santa Barbara, the ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains as its backdrop. Botanical gardens landscape the exhibits and trails making for a wonderful visit.
