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.
#236 Inspiration Point
Inspiration Point on Anacapa Island is a treasure of the Channel Islands. This volcanic island separates into a chain of carved islands creating a jaw-dropping vista that drops to the ocean. A 2 mile round trip hike takes you across the tiny island to the viewpoint.
#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!
#229 Avila Beach
Avila Beach served as the main port for San Luis Obispo when its first wharf opened in 1855. Today, it serves as a relaxing beach town on the Central Coast. Its charming small downtown feels like a piece of Americana with its architecture, shops and restaurants while a stroll on the pier will take you back to a simpler time.
#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.
#218 Embarcadero
Morro Bay's Embarcadero takes you back to a simpler time along the Central Coast. Galleries, inns, shops and restaurants line the streets with iconic Morro Rock in the background while seals swim along the boats of the harbor. This charming and friendly village will invite you to stay for a day or a lifetime.
#214 Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on Big Sur's Highway One is a jaw-dropping stretch of coastline. Julia Pfeiffer Burns was a pioneer woman of Big Sur and provided early tourists with food and lodging. The 80 foot McWay Falls drop directly to the beach and is one of the most photographed spots on the Pacific Coast.
#210 Surfers Point Park
With its swaying palm trees framing the scene, Surfers Point Park is a great place for a beach stroll in Ventura. Between the Pier and Emma Wood State Beach, it is an inviting place where surfers flock and everyone is welcome.
#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.
#204 Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Founded in 1772, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was the fifth of the California Missions. A successful hunting expedition of grizzly bears to feed the Spanish and Native Americans at the mission in Monterey nearby led to the founding of this mission with the nickname 'Mission in the Valley of the Bears'. Abundant food & water, a mild climate and friendly Native American Chumash allowed the mission to thrive.
