Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Moreton Bay Fig Tree is the largest tree of its kind in the nation. The tree is located near lower State Street near the railroad tracks. It is located at the intersection of Chapala street and the 101 freeway close to the Amtrak train station. This tree was planted in 1874 by a girl who was given the tree by sailors who brought it over from Australia. In 1877, it was transplanted to the girl's front yard. The span of the leaves from one end of the tree to the other is 160 feet and it provides over 21,000 square feet of shade. This is a huge tree. Some of the roots grow on the surface and they are a few feet tall. Recently a small iron fence has been constructed around this tree so you can no longer climb on the large roots and in the tree itself. This is good for the tree, but not as enjoyable for all the children!

This was a popular spot for the homeless to hang out in years past and they even tried to use "moreton bay fig tree" as a street address. With the renovation of the train station nearby, this tree doesn't seem to attract as many homeless people anymore. This area is about as bad as a Santa Barbara neighborhood gets. I say this 'tongue in cheek' because this really isn't that bad of a neighborhood - but when compared to most of Santa Barbara's neighborhoods, its not quite as "opulent"!

EVENTS/FESTIVALS/SHOWS

January

-Hang Gliding Festival on January 1st. Local pilots fly over ocean bluffs and demonstrate precision flying. PHONE NUMBER (805) 965-3733

-International Film Festival. Annual Event. Very popular. Premiers and screenings of U.S. and international films. Walk up and down State Street stopping at theatres showing the most popular films. Often high profile actors and actresses are honored for their film work. Workshops and seminars are also given by professionals. The Film Festival in 2009 honors: Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, and Clint Eastwood, Mickey Rourke, and Kristin Scott Thomas. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 963-0023 Website: www.sbfilmfestival.org

February

-All Breed Cat Show at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. Almost every breed of cats is represented. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-0766

-Amgen for several years now, the Amgen California Bicycle race has gone through Santa Barbara in late February. Check out: www.amgentourofcalifornia.com

March

-Whale Watching PHONE NUMBER: (805) 897-3187 This two-day festival will feature live entertainment, marine education stations, a children's carnival, food booths, and an arts & crafts show. Live music from several bands will keep festival goers tapping their feet and dancing as they stroll through the street feasting their eyes, ears, and taste buds on all the exhibitors. You won't want to miss out!! The Whale Festival coincides with the northern migration of the gray whale and promotes awareness of the 27 species of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) that have been sighted in the Santa Barbara Channel. More than 20 local and national nonprofit organizations will participate in the whale and marine education stations. This will provide festival attendees a wonderful opportunity to learn more about whales and the issues currently affecting them and the ocean. Marine organizations participating in this year's festival include the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, Center for Marine Conservation, Ocean Futures Society, Pacific Cetacean Group, Aquarium of the Pacific, Alaska Whale Foundation, Environmental Defense Center, Whaleman Foundation, Santa Barbara Channel Keeper, Earth Island Institute, Community Environmental Council, Channel Islands National Park and others. For more information about the Whale Festival, Kick-Off Party, and Flag Sponsorship Program call 805.897.3187 or visit: www.sbwhalefestival.com

-International Orchid Show PHONE NUMBER: (805) 969-5746 For more information on orchids & current dates for this annual event, visit the official website here: www.sborchidshow.com

-Easter Egg Hunt. 50,000 different kinds of eggs are hidden in Alameda and MacKenzie parks and Franklin Elementary School for children ages 5 to 9 to find. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564- 5495

April

-Chardonnay 5K and 10 mile runs. Starts at Leadbetter beach. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564-5555

-Presidio Days is a three day event celebrating Santa Barbara's birthday and multi-ethnic heritage at the historical El Presidio de Santa Barbara. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 966-9719 Website: www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

-Arts Festival. Food booths, carnival, food booths, free entertainment. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 735-8511.

-County Vintner's Festival. Sample wines from 30 county wineries plus food from the areas restaurants. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley. PHONE NUMBER for tickets: (805) 688 0881

-Santa Barbara Fair and Expo at Earl Warren Showgrounds. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-0766 Website: www.earlwarren.com

May

-I Madonnari Street Painting Festival. Over 200 local artists and children create their chalk paintings at the Old Mission courtyard. This is always a blast and we have attended many times. If the weather is nice and it usually is in May, people will come for a picnic and or just lay around on the main lawn in front of the Mission. Many of the artists are very talented and every year it is a shame their works disappear within a week or two. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 963-8654 | Website: www.imadonnarifestival.com

-Jewish Festival at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 968-1280 Website: www.sbjf.org

-Cinco De Mayo at the County Bowl. PHONE NUMBER (805) 965-8581 z Website: www.cincodemayosb.com

-Annual State Street Mile takes place between Islay and Ortega on State Street.

-Day of Music is the cities biggest one day music festival. More then 30 groups play from noon until midnight. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 962-3575

-Santa Barbara City College Jazz Festival is a competition from junior high through college levels. Concerts also given by world class jazz artists. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 965-0581

June

-Summer Solstice Parade. Music Festival in Alameda Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 965-3396 Website: www.solsticeparade.com

-Santa Barbara Writers Conference is a week long creative writing workshop. Afternoon and evening lectures by best selling authors at the Miramar Hotel. Many lectures and classes given throughout the year. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 684- 2250 Website: www.sbwc.org

-Lompoc Flower Festival (Approx 50 miles north of Santa B.) The Festival includes a downtown parade with floral floats, marching band and horses. Flower field tours are also given. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 735-8511 Website: www.flowerfestival.org

-Santa Barbara Irish Festival is held at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. For more details please call PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-4343 or view latest dates here: www.santabarbarairishfestival.com

-Scandinavian Festival. At Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 966- 5843

-Live Oak Music Festival is a three day concert and camping event held every year on Father’s Day weekend in the hills above Santa Barbara, California. 100% of Live Oak proceeds go to support a local public radio station. Visit: www.liveoakfest.org

-Beach Volleyball tournaments. Men's and women's divisions at East Beach. Admission: Free. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 965-0509

-Semana Nautica is a multi sports festival. Air, sea, land, and pool events are held throughout the city. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564-2052 Website: www.semananautica.com

- The Santa Barbara Chamber Music Festival held their first music festival in 2003. Music director, Daniel Kepl, a local Santa Barbaran has gathered an outstanding roster of professional colleagues from throughout the United States (Seattle, Houston), and abroad (London). For more details and information, please visit their website at: www.sbchambermusicfest.com

July

-The 4th Independence Day. A holiday on State Street and an arts and crafts show at the Mission. Dave's recommendation for the best place to watch the fireworks is down by the harbor near Stearn's Wharf. The "show" usually starts around 9pm as it gets dark. (805) 965-3021" Website: www.spiritof76sb.org

-French Foods Festival at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 569-1636 Website: www.frenchfestival.com

-Beachside Festival. A weekend of live music and street performers. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 962-5424

-California Outrigger Championships. 25 California teams compete in one mile ocean sprints in 40 foot long outriggers. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 965-0509

-Thai Festival at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: 564-5419

-Dog Shows. Over 6000 dogs are represented. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 963-2986

-Horse and Flower Show at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-0766

-Greek Festival is at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564-5419 (held at the end of July or early August depending on the year

August

-Old Spanish Days Fiesta is a city wide five days celebration of Santa Barbara's Spanish heritage. (805) 962-8101 www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org

-Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Wine Festival. (805) 682-4711

-Polo Tournament is the second most prestigious in the U.S. Held at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 684-8667 www.sbpolo.com

September

-Concours d'Elegance. Antique and classic car show. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 969-2667

-LPGA Golf Tournament at Sandpiper Golf Course and La

-Lawn Bowling Tournament is a 4 day all California event, the largest in the state. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564-5419

-Mexican Independence Day at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 966-9036

-Danish Days are held in Solvang about 45 miles north of Santa Barbara just off of the 101 freeway. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 688-0701

October

-German Oktoberfest is held at Oak Park. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 967-6422

-Santa Barbara Jazz Festival is at Leadbetter Beach. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 962-0800 Website: www.meifestivals.com/sba.html

-Stearns Wharf Birthday Celebration for the oldest working pier on the California coast. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 564-5519

-California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria. This is a three day festival - started in 1984 and helps benefit local non-profit organizations and promote Carpinteria. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 684-5479 x 12. For more information including, dates, events, recipes, & much more - please visit their very informative website: www.avofest.com

-Festa Italiana at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 569-1536

-Santa Barbara Art Walk is held along Mission Creek. Over 100 artists are featured. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 682-4711 Website: www.sbartwalk.com

-Fiesta City Cat Club Show. Over 225 purebred cats compete for best of show. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-0766

November

-National Amateur Horse Show is a training show for future Olympic equestrians. Located at the Earl Warren Showgrounds PHONE NUMBER: (805) 687-0766

-Annual World Music Festival highlights music and dance from Africa, the Caribbean, and Spain. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 962-3575

December

-Holiday Parade - for more information call: (805) 962-2098 ext. 22

-Yuletide Boat Parade is held off of Stearn's Wharf. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 962-2826

-Una Pastorela is a recreation of a traditional Spanish/ Indian "shepherds play" in Presidio Chapel. PHONE NUMBER: (805) 966-9719

Sambo's Restuarant

Sambo's is a restaurant, formerly an American restaurant chain, started in 1957 by Sam Battistone and Newell Bohnett. Though the name was taken from portions of the names of its founders, the chain soon found itself associated with The Story of Little Black Sambo. Battistone and Bohnett capitalized on the coincidence by decorating the walls of the restaurants with scenes from the book, including a dark-skinned boy and tigers. By the early 1970s, the illustrations depicted a light-skinned boy wearing a jeweled Indian-style turban with the tigers. A kids club, Sambo's Tiger Tamers (later called the Tiger Club), promoted the chain's family image.

By 1979, Sambo's had 1,200 outlets in 47 U.S. states. However in the late seventies controversy over the chain's name drew protests and lawsuits in communities that viewed the term Sambo as a pejorative towards African-Americans, particularly in Northeast states. Several of the restaurants were opened as or renamed to "The Jolly Tiger" in locations where the local community passed resolutions forbidding the use of the original name or refused to grant the chain permits. In March 1981, in a further attempt to give the chain a new image the company again renamed some locations, this time to "No Place Like Sam's". By November 1981, the company filed for bankruptcy. Neither the name change nor bankrupty protection reversed the downward trend, and in 1982 all but the original Sambo's at 216 West Cabrillo Boulevard in Santa Barbara, California, closed their doors.

In its last days as a chain, Sambo's was sued by Dr Pepper for plagiarizing the latter's popular television commercial in a spot Sambo's ran to promote its new senior citizen discount program. Sambo's was also sued by non-white employees and applicants who were alleging discrimination in hiring and advancement.

Battistone's grandson, restaurateur Chad Stevens, owns the only remaining Sambo's. He expresses a desire to revive the chain.

Battistone is also the original owner of the New Orleans Jazz in the NBA. He later moved the team to Utah and sold it.

Wine Cask Restaurant

LOCATION: 813 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: (805) 966-9463 Located in the heart of Santa Barbara in historic El Paseo. Guests enter through a secluded garden courtyard in to a dramatic dining room complete with hand painted beamed ceilings and a baronial fireplace. It has been regarded for years as "the most beautiful dining room in Santa Barbara." Wine Cask's chefs use regional ingredients to fashion imaginative plates of bistro style cuisine. For lunch there are classic sandwiches, pastas, fish, meats and variety of interesting salads. Dinner features plenty of fresh fish entrees, meats, poultry, pastas and nightly specials. There are over 40 selected wines by the glass as well as a 65 page wine list. Private parties and special menus are available upon request.

• Category: Californian, Seafood
  
• Hours: Mon-Thu 5:30pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-9pm
• Price: $20+
• Serving: Dinner
• Reservations: Yes, recommended

CLICK HERE for their website.

CLICK HERE for a recent LA Times Restaurant Review.

San Ysidro Ranch Named America's Best Hotel

The annual Forbes 400 list which ranks the best luxury hotels and resorts in the world has just named San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, as "America's Best Hotel." The selection was made by a board of elite luxury travelers including Peter Greenberg, Todd English and Arianna Huffington, as well as top travel professionals like Matthew Upchurch of Virtuoso, Ltd. and Benson Cowan from Butterfield & Robinson.

Forbes Traveler emphasizes the elegance of the Ranch's 41 cottages which feature stone fireplaces, four-poster king-size beds draped in the finest European linens, and large bathrooms filled with votive candles and Acqua Di Parma products. The rooms are filled with carefully chosen antiques, original artwork and each opens onto a private patio complete with hot tub and rain shower. The 500 acre property includes lily ponds, "breathtaking" gardens, along with 17 miles of stunning hiking trails in the adjacent Santa Ynez Mountains.

Today a sandstone packing house built in 1889 accommodates the Stonehouse restaurant, where Chef John Trotta cooks with fruits, vegetables and herbs grown on the Ranch's grounds in his contemporary American cuisine. The more casual Plow and Angel, located downstairs, is a local favorite for its cozy ambience - and mac 'n' cheese.

The Ranch was purchased in 2000 by Ty Warner, who subsequently invested $150 million in an ambitious 3-year renovation. On receiving his "America's Best Hotel" award, Mr. Warner commented, "I recognized this property's unique design when I was a guest here more than 30 years ago and am so grateful to be a part of its magnificent history."

Warner is no stranger to Forbes List, having landed on their ranking of The World's Billionaires and The 400 Richest Americans for more than a decade.

In addition to the San Ysidro Ranch, Warner owns other one-of-a-kind luxury hotel properties including the Four Seasons Hotel New York, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, and Four Seasons Biltmore and Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, both in Santa Barbara. Warner is also the Chairman, CEO and founder of Ty Inc., the largest manufacturer of plush toys in the world which includes Beanie Babies(TM) and TyGirlz(TM).

San Ysidro Ranch - A Brief History: The story of San Ysidro Ranch, named after San Ysidro the patron saint of Madrid, is intertwined with the history of Old California. Originally part of land titled in 1769 by the King of Spain, the Ranch served as a way station for Franciscan monks in the late 1700s, a working citrus ranch in the 1800s, and hosted its first guests in 1893. In the 1930s, Hollywood discovered the Ranch, transforming it into a hospitality haven for celebrities. Famous guests over the years range from Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx to Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis. Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married at the Ranch, John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned there and John Huston completed the script for African Queen during a three-month stay.

40th Anniversary of Massive Oil Spill in Santa Barbara

Forty years ago today, Union Oil's offshore Platform A malfunctioned and an estimated 100,000 gallons of crude flowed into the sea off Santa Barbara for 11 days.

Santa Barbara and Ventura County beaches were sullied with a gooey coating that killed seals, dolphins, birds and other wildlife in an environmental disaster that overwhelmed the Central Coast.

It was Jan. 28, 1969, when the blowout occurred on Platform A, some six miles off the beaches of Summerland.

Some 40 miles of coastline were tarred from Port Hueneme to Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands.

El Capitan State Beach Campground

El Capitan State Beach
Hwy 101
between Gaviota and Santa Barbara
805-968-1033
Web site: parks.ca.gov

This is a wonderful campground and beach that does fill up, sometimes months in advance. Make sure to make your reservations if you plan to come here. There are approximate 140 campsites for both individuals and groups.

Amenities include RV hookups, pay showers, restrooms, hiking and bike trails, a fabulous beach, a seasonal general store and an outdoor arena. Many of the sites offer an ocean view. Refugio Beach is just 2.5 miles away.

You are about a half hour from Santa Barbara.

Directions: Take the 101N until you reach the El Capitan signs. At the bottom of the exit turn left and go under the bridge. The road will take you right into the park.

Harbor Restaurant

Harbor Restaurant
210 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 963-3311

This is a great restaurant located on Stearns Wharf. They offer American food and great Seafood. They have quite an extensive wine list. Good food, Great Views, and Great Location!!!

• Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm & Mon-Fri 5pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm
• Price: $10 - $20
• Serving: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Canary Hotel

LOCATION:
31 West Carrillo
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

The Canary is nestled in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara located at the corner of Carrillo and Chapala Streets. It's 97 guestrooms are expensive at more than $300/night, but the hotel is beautiful, convenient to shopping, and the service top-notch. They offer an onsite restaurant and spa. The nicest feature of the hotel is its rooftop perch and pool where one can enjoy a glass of wine with a 360 degree view of the city.


Directions: Take Highway 101, Exit Carrillo. Turn towards downtown, hotel is on the right.

CLICK HERE for a direct link to this beautiful hotel's website.

Pet Travel Information

Santa Barbara is very pet friendly and many hotels and tourist attractions in the area allow you to bring your pet. The following is a list of places that are pet friendly and Pet Travel Information:

Hotels that allow pets in Santa Barbara

• Adobe Motel 26 E. Haley St, Santa Barbara
• Beach House Inn & Apts 320 W. Yanonali St, Santa Barbara
• Blue Sands Motel 421 S. Milpas St, Santa Barbara
• Canary Hotel 31 W. Carrillo St, Santa Barbara
• Casa Del Mar Inn 18 Bath St, Santa Barbara
• Country Inns & Suites 1455 Mission Drive, Santa Ynez
• Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara
• Four Seasons Biltmore 1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara
• Harbor House Inn 104 Bath St, Santa Barbara
• Hotel Mar Monte 1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara
• Ivanhoe Inn 1407 Castillo Street, Santa Barbara
• La Playa Inn 212 W. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara
• Marina Beach Motel 21 Bath St, Santa Barbara
• Motel 6 3505 State Street, Santa Barbara
• Motel 6 5897 Calle Real, Goleta
• Motel 6 Carpinteria 4200 Via Real, Carpinteria
• Motel 6 Carpinteria 5550 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria
• Pacifica Suites 5490 Hollister Ave, Goleta
• San Ysidro Ranch 900 San Ysidro Ln, Santa Barbara
• Secret Garden Inn & Cottages 1908 Bath St, Santa Barbara

Parks
If you're looking for an off-leash experience, the Douglas Family Preserve is excellent. It a long stretch of gorgeous water front, rustic and partially developed land where dogs are welcome to be off-leash. It is important that your dog be okay with other dogs, however, as this is a popular place for running and fetching! Other great parks for leashed dogs are Chase Palm Park, Shoreline Park, Oak Park.

Beaches
Generally, it is forbidden to have dogs off leash during the summer but if you're here in the off-season, it's usually okay. Great beaches for dogs are the Carpinteria State and Local Beach, the stretch of unnamed beach below Shoreline Park and west of Leadbetter Beach, which you can only get to during low tide, and El Capitan Beach is wonderful if you don't mind a bit of a drive.

Restaurants
Many, many restaurants in Santa Barbara have patio seating. Make sure to ask the staff, but most are more than happy to let your leashed dog hang out with you and some even provide a bit of a treat to make your pet happy.

Care Hospital - 301 E. Haley St, (805) 899-2273 - CARE Hospital is a state-of-the-art veterinary center offering advanced medical and surgical procedures for your pets.

Pacific Emergency Pet Hospital, 2963 State St. (805) 682-5120. Open nights and weekends, this emergency hospital is staffed by vets from the areas regular services. Superb with cats and dogs. Exotic animals will find hit or miss, as you never know which vet may have a unique specialty. Call ahead if you have birds, reptiles or small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs)

Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort

LOCATION:
633 East Cabrillo Boulevard
Santa Barbara, CA

Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara is an exceptional, luxury beachfront resort facing the Pacific Ocean. Walk to downtown Santa Barbara's eclectic State Street corridor. Their full-service, 24-acre Spanish Colonial style resort has something special for everyone - from tennis courts and basketball to shuffleboard and a putting green.

Light and bright Mission-influenced rooms, suites and executive accommodations feature serene mountain, garden or ocean views from terrace or balcony. High-speed wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel. We're pet-friendly and family-friendly, with a wide variety of seasonal childrens' programs, a playground and babysitting service.

Enjoy California Continental cuisine in a casual setting at the Cafe Los Arcos for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For fine dining, we invite you to savor exquisitely prepared beef and fresh seafood at Rodney's Steakhouse and sip our area's delicious wines. Let our knowledgeable Concierge or Recreation Desk assist with outings like wine country tours, sailing or fishing charters, whale watching, and horseback riding. Be pampered at our salon or spa. Need a tee time? Play excellent courses with one-of-a-kind views, like Glenn Annie overlooking the coast and historic Rancho San Marcos. Bask on the sundeck by our heated outdoor pool. Hike, bike, visit Stearns Wharf, the Mission and popular Santa Barbara attractions like the Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Courthouse and museums.

Surrounded by history, culture and recreational paradise, you'll love staying with us. For group and special events, we offer newly renovated ballrooms, elegant meeting spaces, and full banquet and catering facilities. Our impressive outdoor Plaza del Sol overlooking the Pacific can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. We also offer a full complement of business amenities, including video conferencing. We are pleased to provide complimentary transportation to and from the Santa Barbara Airport. Let our caring, professional staff make your California dreams come true. As always - our very special signature warm chocolate chip cookie at check-in.

Directions: Exit 101 at Garden Street, drive towards the ocean, turn left on Cabrillo, the hotel is on your left.

Brophy Bro's Restaurant

For the past 22 years, Brophy Bro's Restaurant is proud to have recieved every "Best Seafood Restaurant" and "Best Clam Chowder" award from The Independent and Santa Barbara News Press. Additionally, they have been recognized as the only business to have ever recieved 5 awards in one given year.

Fun, busy atmosphere with beautiful view of the mountains, ocean, and Harbor. A full length bar facing the marina where you can eat and enjoy watching the staff prepare clam bar food items! Casual dining & great seafood in one of Santa Barbara's prime locations!

The daily changing "Fresh Fish" menu is available in the restaurant area and a special menu is offered in the Clam Bar. All entrees are served with green salad or a cup of New England Clam Chowder. Prices are reasonable and the service is great.

LOCATION:

119 Harbor Way
Santa Barbara , CA, 93109
805-966-4418

CLICK HERE for a glance at their menu.

Fess Parker Winery

Fess Parker Winery
6200 Foxen Cyn. Rd.
Los Olivos, CA.
(805) 688 1545

Tasting: 10-5 daily

Fee: $8

Picnic Facilities

Wine Club Available

Although Fess Parker began his career as a well-known Disney actor, he has since become a very successful businessman in Santa Barbara county. The winery and vineyard are possibly the most accessible and beautiful of his many ventures and well worth the visit.

The wines are range from very good to excellent. Since 1989, Parker wines have won more than 30 medals in national competitions.

The Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah have proven to be particularly popular with the critics. In addition, Parker produces White Riesling and Muscat Canelli, and has a reserve program for Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

They have four vineyards that occupy 700 acres. Their total production is about 50,000 cases a year, which makes them one of the larger wineries in the county. The tasting room is one of the eleven wineries on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. The large lawn and veranda make it well suited for picnics and lingering.

Directions:
From Santa Barbara, take the 101N through Buellton. Approximately 5 miles north of Buellton, take the Highway 154 off-ramp and turn right. Proceed 50 yards to Zaca Station Rd. and turn left. Follow Zaca Station for 5 miles and the winery entrance is on the right.

Welcome To Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the only such section on the west coast, between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the sea, and having a Mediterranean climate, it is called California's "South Coast", and is also sometimes referred to casually as the "American Riviera." As of the census of 2000, the city had a population of 92,325 while the contiguous urban area, which includes the cities of Goleta and Carpinteria, along with the unincorporated regions of Isla Vista, Montecito, Mission Canyon, Hope Ranch, Summerland, and others, had an approximate population of 200,000.

In addition to being a popular tourist and resort destination, the city has a robust economy which includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and local government. In 2004, the service sector accounted for fully 35% of local employment. Education in particular is well-represented, with five institutions of higher learning on the south coast (the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, Antioch College, and the Brooks Institute of Photography.) The Santa Barbara Airport services the city, as does Amtrak. U.S. Highway 101 connects the Santa Barbara area with Los Angeles to the south and San Francisco to the north. Behind the city, in and beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains, is the Los Padres National Forest, which contains several remote wilderness areas.

Santa Barbara Trolley Tours

Santa Barbara Trolley Tours
23 E. Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 965-0353
www.sbtrolley.com

See Santa Barbara in 90 minutes! Fully narrated tours will keep the entire family smiling. All stops are convenient to shopping, dining, landmarks and attractions. Your day pass is good for Free reboarding and special area discounts.

Discover the enchanting seaside Spanish paradise known as Santa Barbara, through a unique fully narrated tour offered by the Santa Barbara Trolley Company.

Imagine the sites and sounds of the "American Riviera" aboard one of the open air nostalgic trolley cars. Visit local hot spots as well as tourist phenomena such as the SB Courthouse, El Presidio, SB Zoo, SB Museum of Natural History, Old Town, Montecito, and the Old Mission. Each of the 14 stops have been carefully selected for their exceptional entertaining, dining, shopping or historical significance.

Day passes are available for purchase through the Visitor Information Center or directly from the trolley drivers on board. Passes are valid all day and reboarding is free.

Tour Highlights

• Stearns Wharf - Enjoy unique gift shops, dining and fishing.
• Bath House / East Beach - Locals favorite for volleyball and relaxing.
• Montecito / Montecito Inn - Visit this elegant village, home of fine boutiques and eateries.
• Butterfly Beach / Biltmore Hotel - A Romantic beach for those who want to take time away from the crowds.
• El Presidio - Last in chain of four military fortresses built by the Spanish.
• Visitor Information Center - All info on fun things to see and do in the Santa Barbara area under one roof! Open daily 9am-5pm.
• Santa Barbara Zoo - View rare and exotic animals from around the globe. Open daily, 10am-5pm.
• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History - a fun time for all ages. Open daily 10am-5pm.
• Old Mission - Explore the "Queen of Missions." Self-guided tours onlu. Open daily 9am-5pm.
• Santa Barbara Courthouse - Admire the stunning architecture of the #1 most photographed building in the city!

Santa Barbara Winery

Santa Barbara Winery
202 Anacapa St.
Santa Barbara, CA.
(800) 225 3633

Tasting: 10-5 seven days a week

Fee: $5 includes wineglass

A Wine Club is available. This winery is located a block off of Cabrillo Blvd. and the beach. If you don't plan on taking a full wine-tour in the Valley, visiting this winery will at least give you a sense of what wines mean to this area.

Santa Barbara Winery is known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. They produce about 10,000 cases of Chardonnay each year.

Directions:
Take the 101 to the heart of Santa Barbara. At the Garden Street exit turn towards the Beach. Take the first right onto Yanaloni and drive four blocks until you reach Anacapa. The winery is on the corner of Yanaloni and Anacapa. You will need to park on the street and walk. There is a lot across the street that holds about 12 cars.

Goleta Railroad Museum

Goleta Railroad Museum
300 North Los Carneros Road, Goleta
805-964-3540
Wed.-Sun. 1-4 p.m.
www.goletadepot.org

The Goleta Depot was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad Co. in 1901 and closed in 1973. It was boarded up for a long time before local efforts to save it succeeded. Extensive restoration work was necessary, but Goleta Depot reopened Oct. 10, 1982, during which the building also was officially recognized as Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark No. 22.

The railroad museum with its miniature train is well-done and a treat for the whole family. Antique railroad artifacts, photographs, and hands-on exhibits are shown in the agency office and the passenger waiting room.

Directions: From the 101 exit on Los Carneros, which is about 10 miles west of Santa Barbara. At the top of the ramp, turn towards the mountains. If you continue past Calle Real, you will find the parking lot to your right.

Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf is a pier in the harbor at Santa Barbara, California. When completed in 1872, it became the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Named for its builder, local lumberman John P. Stearns, the wharf served the passenger and freight shipping needs of California's South Coast for over a quarter century.

When the railroad finally reached Santa Barbara in 1877, Stearns added an additional spur to the wharf, providing a necessary transport link to his lumberyard and the nearby Southern Pacific Depot. The spur was damaged by severe storms in the early 1900s and was finally abandoned in 1923.

The Harbor Restaurant was built on the wharf in 1941, marking an end to the shipping and transportation era of the 1800s. The restaurant proved to be the economic backbone of the wharf.

Since its beginning, Stearns Wharf has had several natural and economic disasters, from the big earthquake in 1925 to a fire in 1973 which caused its closing. The wharf stayed closed for six years until restorations were completed in 1981. Yet another fire in the winter of 1998 devastated the last hundred and fifty feet of the wharf, including Moby Dick Restaurant. Though the rest of the wharf remained open during this period, the rebuilding took over two years. The new Stearns Wharf stands today as Santa Barbara's most visited landmark.

El Presidio Real de Santa Barbara

The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California. In modern times, the Presidio serves as a significant tourist attraction, museum and an active archaeological site as part of El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. The park contains an original adobe structure called El Cuartel, which is the second oldest surviving building in California; only the chapel at Mission San Juan Capistrano, known as "Father Serra's Church", is older. The Presidio of Santa Barbara has the distinction of being the last military outpost built by Spain in the New World. The Presidio was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The current El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park site sits between Anacapa and Garden Streets on East Canon Perdido Street in downtown Santa Barbara. The main portion of the site is across the street from the Santa Barbara city Post Office, and is about two blocks from city hall, De la Guerra Plaza and two other museums, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum and the Casa de la Guerra.

Only two portions of the original presidio quadrangle survive to this day: the Cañedo Adobe, named for José María Cañedo, the Soldado de Cuera to whom it was deeded in lieu of back pay when the Presidio fell to inactivity, and the remnants of a two-room soldiers quarters, called El Cuartel. The Cañedo Adobe is currently the visitor’s center for the state park, and El Cuartel is largely unmodified. The site’s operator, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP), reconstructed the rest of the site, with the most recent construction—two rooms in the northwest corner of the site—finished in May 2006. The reconstruction is ongoing, with the construction of two more rooms in the northwest corner beginning in December 2007.

Brooks Institute

Brooks Institute is a for-profit college based in Santa Barbara, California and Ventura, California which is owned by Career Education Corporation. Brooks offers four majors and a graduate program. The Professional Photography, and Masters of Fine Arts in Photography programs are based in Santa Barbara. The Graphic Design, Film and Video Production, and Visual Journalism programs are based in Ventura.

Brooks Institute of Photography was founded in 1945 by Ernest H. Brooks, Sr. over a bakery on State Street in Santa Barbara, California. The school's first photography students were primarily World War II veterans supported by the GI Bill.

In 1952, the Brooks family acquired the Graholm Estate in present-day Montecito, California. This served as the home of Brooks Institute of Photography, as well as for Ernest H. Brooks, Sr.'s growing family.

Ernest H. Brooks, Sr. stayed on as president of the school until 1971 and passed away in 1990. At the time of his retirement as president, his son, Ernest H. Brooks, Jr. stepped into his father's shoes and served as the school's president.

During his tenure as president, Ernest Brooks, Jr. continued to expand the school. His personal passion for underwater photography inspired the underwater video and still photography courses that started in the late '60s and continue to this day.

Brooks Institute has been involved in many extraordinary projects in recent years, but this forward vision and involvement was happening even in the 1980s when the Institute was permitted to photograph the Shroud of Turin. Professor Vernon Miller, then head of the Industrial/Scientific program, led a team of photographers as they photographed the cloth for documentation and study.

The school was sold by Ernest H. Brooks, Jr. to Career Education Corporation (CEC) in 1999. Since then, CEC has expanded the school, including the acquisition of a former production studio in which to base the school's motion picture program. In 2007, the school changed its name from Brooks Institute of Photography to Brooks Institute.

Westmont College

Westmont College, founded in 1937, is an interdenominational Christian liberal arts college in Santa Barbara, California.

Ruth Kerr, owner of the Kerr Mason Jar Company, established the school as the Bible Missionary Institute (1937), later renamed the Western Bible College (1939). During these early years, Ruth and the other founders decided that a liberal arts curriculum was the best direction for the school. In 1940 Dr. Wallace Emerson, the first president, renamed the school Westmont College, envisioning a Christian liberal arts college that would take its place among the best in the nation.

By 1944, Westmont College had outgrown its facilities in downtown Los Angeles. After a failed attempt to move the campus to Altadena in early 1945 the desperate search for a new campus led Mrs. Kerr and the trustees to the former Dwight Murphy estate in Montecito with its 125 acres. Westmont purchased this property and moved to the Santa Barbara area in the Fall of 1945.

Westmont offers 26 majors. The student/faculty ratio is 13 to 1; the percentage of faculty with doctorates is 79 percent and those who are without terminal degrees are coaches who teach physical education courses. The average class size is 18.5 students. The students come from 25 states, 11 countries, and 33 Christian denominations. The graduation rate in 4 years is 87 percent.

The majors are not impacted, therefore students are able to change majors easily. Students aren't required to declare their major until the end of their sophomore year so as to graduate on time.

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) is a two-year community college founded in 1909. It is located on a 74 acre campus right over the beach in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA. SBCC offers associate degrees in English, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, and occupational and technological training. Santa Barbara City College maintains an open admissions policy. All students, who are at least 18 years of age or hold a high school diploma, or its equivalent, are admitted. As one of the leading community colleges in California — and the nation — SBCC is known for its excellent transfer rates to the four-year colleges and universities. Currently SBCC ranks #1 in percentage of students that transfer to the University of California.

As of 2004^[update], total enrollment of full-time and part-time students reached 17,000.

Santa Barbara City College’s Marine Diving Technologies Program is a recognized program in its field. It is the only community college degree program in the nation which is accredited by the Association of Commercial Diving Educators (ACDE), the International Diving Schools Association (IDSA) and the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). The program trains and certifies for all levels of SCUBA diving.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens is a memorial park located in Santa Barbara, California. It consists of one entire city block, bounded by Santa Barbara, Micheltorena, Garden, and Arrellaga Streets; it is across Santa Barbara Street from the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara, and across Micheltorena Street from Alameda Park.

The gardens, formerly the site of the El Mirasol Hotel, were purchased and donated to the city in 1975, and dedicated in 1980.

These gardens include a man-made pond stocked with turtle and koi, as well as a gazebo and many meandering walkways and paths. All the plants in the garden, some native and some ornamental, are chosen specifically to be tolerant of the low-water nature of the Santa Barbara climate.

Cold Spring Tavern

Cold Spring Tavern was established as a stagecoach stop in 1865. Originally known as the "Cold Spring Relay Station", it was a place to change horses and allow travelers to rest and enjoy a meal. It has been featured on national television several times.

The tavern serves steak, lamb, venison, duck, rabbit, and kangaroo. Controversially, it served lion for a brief period in 1998. The tavern is located 20 minutes north of Santa Barbara, California in Cold Spring Canyon, which is about a mile off Highway 154 along Stagecoach Road (in the San Marcos Pass area). Their address is 5995 Stagecoach Road.

CLICK HERE for a direct link to their website.

Santa Barbara Museum of Art

1130 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
805-963-4364

Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.
Monday closed.

Admission
Admission: Adults $9
Seniors $7
Students with ID $6
Youth 6-17 $6
Under 6 free

Daily tours are held at 12 noon and 1 pm and are included with Admission.
Cafe and Museum Store on site

www.sbmuseart.org

Founded in 1941, this is one of the nation's outstanding regional museums that features a combination of special and permanent exhibits.

Works from the permanent collection: 19th century French, British and American art, 20th Century and contemporary European, North American and Latin American Art, Asian Art, classical antiquities, photography, prints and drawings. Children will enjoy the interactive gallery.

Of particular note is the Asian collection located on the Upper Level. The works here are truly spectacular from both an artistic and historical perspective.

Directions:
Take the 101 to the Garden Street exit. Turn away from the ocean. Take Garden Street to Anapamu Street. Make a left turn onto Anapamu, then go two blocks to Anacapa Street. Turn left onto Anacapa for one-half block, then make a right turn into the public parking garage. Walk down ramp from parking garage to the Park Wing entrance of the Museum.

Santa Barbara Courthouse

Santa Barbara Courthouse
1100 Block of Anacapa St
962-6464

This magnificent Spanish-Moorish "palace" was built in 1929 and is surrounded by lawns and a sunken tropical garden that plays host to many functions through out the year. Hardly a Sunday afternoon goes by that a festival, concert or get together of some sort isn't taking advantage of the beauty of this setting.

The architecture of this building is quite beautiful and all the details are well thought out. Hand-painted ceilings, wrought iron chandeliers, giant murals, imported tiles give this relatively new building an ancient feel.

Believe it or not, this building is a fully functional courthouse where lawyers and judges actually handle judicial business!

Of course, no trip to the courthouse would be complete without an ascent to the tower, which offers 360° views of the city, mountains, ocean and on a clear day the islands. You will probably recognize the famous arches from numerous television and print shots. The tower closes early, however, so make sure to get there by 3:30 or 4 p.m. at the latest.

TOURIST INFO: Guided tours, Mon-Sat 2pm and Mon, Tues and Fri 10:30am. Open weekdays 8:00am-5pm Saturday, Sunday, holidays 10am-5pm. Tours are free except for some groups. Visitor booth: 962-6464

DIRECTIONS: From the 101 take the Garden Street exit and turn away from the ocean. When you come to Anapamu, turn left until you come to Anacapa, where you turn left again. There is a parking lot to your right where there is usually parking.

Reagan Ranch Center

Reagan Ranch Center
217 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
888-USA-1776
reaganranch.yaf.org

The Reagan Ranch Center, run by the Young America's Foundation, is a place where young and old alike can learn about Ronald Reagan and his conservative values through historical exhibits and dynamic educational programs.

Young America's Foundation Reagan Ranch Center is open for business, specifically, the business of reaching today’s young people with conservative ideas. Young America’s Foundation’s Reagan Ranch team is now occupying the Reagan Ranch Center and using this tremendous 22,000 square-foot facility in downtown Santa Barbara as a vital part of the Conservative Movement. The Center includes classrooms, a theater, meeting rooms, a library of conservative resources, Young America’s Foundation’s Reagan Ranch offices, and more. Many events for the Center are planned over the next year as they fulfill our mission to reaching increasing numbers of young Americans with the principles and ideas President Reagan so cherished.

About The Reagan Ranch

There is no better place to understand Reagan's principles, and his practical, down-to-earth manner, than at Rancho del Cielo, the "Ranch in the Sky." A much needed counterpoint to the constant buzz of Washington, D.C., Rancho del Cielo conveys the true spirit of Reagan. If you want to understand Ronald Reagan, says former First Lady Nancy Reagan, then go to the Ranch.

Just as Monticello and Mount Vernon convey the distinctive personalities of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, Rancho del Cielo uniquely communicates much about Ronald Reagan that could not be readily gleaned from other sources. The very essence of his character is found here at the Ranch—his humility, his idealism, his diligence and hard work. Since Reagan built much of the Ranch himself, The Washington Post called it the "place to see the hand of the man" and "a true national treasure."

The Reagans purchased the 688-acre ranch in 1974, shortly before Reagan completed his second term as governor of California. The Ranch, overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley and the Pacific Ocean, reflects the endless vistas of freedom and possibility that Reagan considered the fundamental elements of the American experience. At the same time, the Reagans viewed the Ranch as a private retreat—a haven from the frenzy of public life. There, in a setting both rugged and pastoral, they could spend time alone or with family and friends.

Visitors to the Ranch have been deeply moved by the property. After a private tour, Pat Perrot of Northridge, California, wrote, "All five of us in our party have traveled widely throughout the world but none of us remember visiting any place that had such an enormous impact on our hearts and spirits as President Reagan’s beloved ranch. . . From the time [we] spotted his home nestled in that magnificent valley, we were overwhelmed by the sense of presence of that great man."

Young America's Foundation stepped in to save President Reagan's Western White House in the spring of 1998 to preserve it as a living monument to Reagan's lasting accomplishments and to make it the centerpiece of the student programs. President Reagan committed himself to reaching young people with his ideas—a goal that is also central to the Foundation's mission. Preserving the Ranch and passing on the President's values and ideas is Young America's Foundation's way of thanking Ronald Reagan for all he did for our country and the world. Today, Rancho del Cielo is a place of learning, a place of encouragement, a place of inspiration for generations to come.

West Beach

If you're looking for the best place to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July or New Years, or you want to watch boats coming and going from the harbor, or you want to play volleyball or rollarblade, then come to West Beach. This is also where the Ka Nai'a Outrigger Club holds their Sunday lessons and where many kayaks, windsurfers, and sailboats set out.

There aren't a lot of facilities, but you are close to the Chase Palm Park and Wharf so it's not really needed. There are a number of excellent restaurants across the street. Leadbetter is about four blocks down and the breakwater is about three blocks away.

HIGHLIGHTS: Bike Path, Life Guards

Directions: Take the Garden Street exit and turn towards the ocean. At the end of the road turn right. There is on-street parking and if you're willing to walk a bit there's parking on the wharf and parking for East Beach.

Refugio State Beach

This beach is unique among Santa Barbara beaches. Many locals find that they come here to over other beaches closer into town. It just feels different than the others.

It might be the abundance of picnic tables and grills or maybe its all the quirky little palms that dot the thin strip of border grass. It could also be the camp grounds that bump right against the beach.

Who knows for sure, but this beach is worth the drive from the city. It's a long 1.5 miles of beach that offers plenty of sand and surf. If you feel adventuresome, this is a great beach for diving and snorkeling. Hiking and biking trails round out the list of things to do while here.

HIGHLIGHTS: BBQ Pits, BBQ Grills, Camping, Dogs OK, Fishing, General Store, Lifeguard, Picnic Area, Playground, Restroom, and Showers

Directions: Take the 101 north of the city. Go beyond El Capitan and follow the signs.