Santa Barbara, on the American Riviera, lies 534km (332 miles) south of San Francisco and 150km (92 miles) north of Los Angeles. Highway 101 runs directly through it. The Santa Barbara scenic tour is an excellent way to see the area. Attractions to look out for along the Scenic Loop include the much-admired Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The elegant interior includes hand-painted ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, giant murals, carved doors and imported tiles. The 24m- (80ft-) high clock tower affords panoramic views of the city. The Mission Santa Barbara, the ‘Queen of the Missions’, was established in December 1786 and boasts unique twin bell towers and a lovely facade. Many of the city’s historic adobe houses from the Spanish and Mexican eras are featured in the central area. In the Hill-Carrillo Adobe, for example, can be found the city’s first wooden floor. The Santiago de la Guerra Adobe, now remodeled, is one of the city’s oldest structures. The Fernald Mansion and Trussell-Winchester Adobe is a well-furnished 14-room Victorian mansion with a handsome staircase and carved decorations. It is one of the finest remaining examples of Victorian architecture in the area. Other attractions include the Museum of Natural History, a nationally renowned museum specializing in Californian and North American West Coast history, with 11 exhibit halls and a Lizard Lounge featuring live reptiles and amphibians. Highlights include an Indian Hall with a diorama of historic Chumash life and the giant skeleton of a blue whale, as well as fine art, western saddles, exquisite costumes and picturesque antique toys. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is one of the nation’s outstanding regional museums and offers work by O’Keefe, Eakins, Sargent and Hopper. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is devoted to the study of California’s native flora, cacti, redwoods and wildflowers, while the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge features a peaceful lagoon, gardens and a variety of freshwater birds. At the El Presidio de Santa Barbara, founded in 1782, visitors can view buildings belonging to the last Spanish military outpost in California. The Presidio Chapel contains restored 18th-century decorations, while the padre’s and commandant’s quarters feature authentically reproduced furniture and architecture. The Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens offers a botanical area and more than 700 species of animals from around the world, including big cats, elephants and giraffes. Stearns Wharf, once part-owned by the film star James Cagney and his brothers, is the oldest active working pier in California. It offers gifts and souvenirs, wine tasting and a seafood market. Views of the mountains and the ocean are spectacular from here.
Moreton Bay Fig Tree, the largest of its kind in the nation, is an Australian import planted in Santa Barbara in 1874. It has a span of 48m (160ft) and provides 6400 sq m (21,000 sq ft) of shade. The Yacht Harbour and Breakwater is the departure point for shoreline tours and fishing excursions. Its paved walkway offers a 0.5-mile walking tour with harbor, city and mountain views.
The Carriage Museum houses a unique collection of horse-drawn carts and carriages used by the pioneer families of Santa Barbara. The collection includes stagecoaches, buggies, army wagons and a black hearse. The climate makes this area conducive for all types of sports and recreational activities. Santa Barbara County is also noted for its parkland, ranging from small gardens with quiet groves to vast meadows, hills and mountains, each with a unique setting. The Wine Country in the Santa Barbara region, with over 43 wineries and nearly 10,000 acres of vineyards, is the fastest-growing region of its kind in the world. Easily accessible from Highways 101, 154 or 246, the area extends from the vineyards of Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys to the wineries and tasting rooms in downtown Santa Barbara. A variety of micro-climates makes it possible to grow and produce excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and many other wine grapes.