Took the kids here today and it was 100% worth the 1.5 hour drive from LA. MOXI is super hands-on…read moreand perfect for kids to just explore and play without getting bored. Every exhibit actually keeps them engaged not just looking, but doing. The interactive tables (like the spinning drum and dice games) were a hit. My kids didn't want to leave and kept going back to the same stations. It's also really clean, organized, and easy to navigate even with little ones. Pricing was reasonable for what you get abbout $25 for adults, $20 for kids, and under 2 is free, which is nice. Staff was friendly and everything felt well-maintained. You can tell they designed this place with kids in mind but adults still have fun too. Definitely a solid family day trip spot from LA. Would come back again

I literally planned a trip to Santa Barbara just because my toddler wanted to go back to the Moxi…read more We have a kids museum in our city but she kept saying no the one with the parachutes. I figured out it was the Moxi. I guess it make quite the impression on her last year. The museum had some new exhibits this time around. They added a fun ball launcher that I also enjoyed as well. The water exhibit could use some love. Some of the hydraulic levers was either not working or you had to really work at it. My toddler was not strong enough to use them. One thing I like is that we were able to leave and come back after lunch. We got to make the most if our trip. I'm sure we'll ge back next year.

Had such a fun time at the aquarium! The staff were super nice and welcoming from the moment we…read morewalked in. Everyone was helpful, answering questions and explaining things without making it feel rushed. You can tell they actually enjoy what they do. It's also really affordable, which makes it such a good activity whether you're with friends, family, or on a date. For the price, you honestly get a lot out of it. The best part was definitely the touch tanks. We got to touch sharks, starfish, and sea anemones, which was such a cool experience. Feeling the smooth skin of the sharks and the slightly sticky texture of the anemones was actually so interesting. The staff guide you on how to gently interact with them, so it feels safe for both you and the animals. The whole place has a chill, coastal vibe that makes it really enjoyable to walk through. It's not overwhelmingly big, so you can take your time at each exhibit and actually read about the sea life. There's such a variety of colorful fish and marine animals, and it's fun seeing everything up close. Overall, such a wholesome and interactive experience. Cheap, hands-on, and run by genuinely kind people. Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area.

Very underwhelming and much smaller than expected. My 5-year-old got bored quickly and we were in…read moreand out in about 20 minutes. On the positive side, the staff was friendly and the blue whale replica hanging from the ceiling is pretty cool. We happened to go on a free day, which was great, because in my opinion it wouldn't have been worth paying $17 per adult. Tips for parking: 90 minutes free and $4 per hour thereafter. You can also find parking on the street, but it's a bit tough (typically 90 minutes). Overall, 3 stars. Not terrible, but not something I'd recommend unless it's a free day and you're already in the area.

History Machine A…read moremuseum that traces its origins back to 1916 when a group of people got together to try and preserve some of the history of the area. They've been in their current location since 1923, and the location itself, to me anyway, is part of the draw. Not only is it a museum, but it's also a nature preserve, rescue aviary, and dinosaur theme park. :) The Good: * Fairly inexpensive to visit at $20/adult and $15/child * If you buy a membership ($115-450) to the museum, it also includes a membership to their sister aquarium (also in Santa Barbara), the Sea Center. * Wonderful little area in the back with some short trails, a creek, and dinosaurs for kids to explore. * If you love geology, then you'll love their geology exhibit; they have so many amazing rocks and gems on display. * Aviary with injured and rehabbing raptors * Nature art gallery was beautiful * Friendly staff * Tours available * Lots of info on animals and insects of the area The Meh: * Some of the exhibit rooms are a bit cramped, so they can get full fast even without many visitors. The Ugly: * They have a butterfly garden, but it's closed during the winter months, which just happened to coincide with our visit. :( Conclusion: Terrific museum for both young and old.

We love visiting here since it's so close to the Mission also. The entire museum is beautiful with…read moreSpanish tile, arches, with a Prehistoric Forest for big and little kids to enjoy. The Prehistoric Forest is a must-see- the life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs are hidden in the woods and were a massive hit with the kids. It feels like a mini Jurassic Park but perfectly toddler-friendly. The Best Parts: - Chad the Whale: The massive skeleton at the entrance is breathtaking. - Nature Backyard: Great hands-on outdoor play area for kids to explore. - Atmosphere: Beautiful, shaded grounds that are easy to navigate with or without a stroller. Don't really need a stroller here :) - Membership here gets you reciprocal membership to La Habra Children's Museum if you live in LA. There's a reciprocity list with the ASTC Travel Passport Program. Free parking and a great mix of science and outdoor fun. If you're in SB with a family, don't skip the dino trail.

What a fantastic museum!…read more First of all very informative, clean, and taken care of with pride. This is perfect to learn about Santa Barbara history, the maritime history, and cultural history too (ie: surfing!). It's really curated with immense care and has numerous interactive elements that are perfect for kids. All in all can't say more great things about this place and highly recommend going here and getting a bite to eat nearby after. As a complete side note you can buy art there as well with proceeds going to the museum. If I had a bit more cheddar I'd buy it all! Really fantastic art work in there. We walked here so I can't comment on parking but there are lots all around the marina! It's probably only a half mile from downtown so definitely walkable with a nice pathway to the harbor! (Just go to the water by heading west on State Street. Once you hit the pier take the walkway on the beach to your right)

Very underrated museum, in my opinion. We used a Groupon and paid $10 for two adult tickets, but…read moreeven at full price ($12 for adults, $6 for kids ages 6-17, and free for 5 and under), it would still be worth it. The museum is really beautiful and interactive, with a few activities that are great for little kids, and it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to go through. I learned a lot about Santa Barbara's history, and my 5-year-old really enjoyed it. The virtual fishing experience was especially fun and actually feels like you're trying to catch a real fish. The harbor views from the 4th floor are amazing too, and that area is free to the public. Parking is free for 90 minutes, but depending on the time of day, you may need a little patience to find a spot since it can get crowded. Staff and volunteers were also very friendly and welcoming.

Very friendly and helpful staff guided us and pointed out many interesting things. We ate really…read moreglad we visited! We highly recommend this great resource that is important to our History!

Short 10-minutes walk from Stearn's Wharf in Santa Barbara. Excellent historical facts. Of course…read morethe Reagan Library at Simi Valley is humungous; yet, this is excellent for one or two hours.

Cutest museum ever! There were so many different types of dolls and various bears posed in the most…read moreadorable scenes :) The lady working was extremely kind and very knowledgeable about everything in the museum! This place is a hidden gem.

I came here with an LA based doll-club and we had a really great time seeing all the displays. I…read moredidn't really know what to expect before coming in, but it was different and more interesting than I had imagined it would be! I pictured teddy bears lined up in cases like you might see in a natural history museum, and while there was some of that, most of it was really a mix of the dolls and teddy bears together, so the bears seemed more like an accessory project and not overwhelming. (as a doll collector I appreciated this, if you are a teddy bear lover it might be less appealing to you). I liked how the first room was dedicated to California (dolls and artists) and had a progressive history of dolls going back to indigenous people and working up to modern day. I was also surprised to see large collections with themes, such as fantasy dolls, dolls whose characters started in books, and similar. There were displays for Harry Potter and LOTR dolls, and two very impressive Avatar dolls, as well as a log of vintage and antique dolls. The woman at the front desk was SUPER nice and gave our group a brief tour not only once but at least 2 or 3 times as our members showed up at various different times. The museum also has a gift shop full of interesting doll stuff, and for the most part it's not modern new stuff but older stuff, and the pricing was all very fair. Not your typical downtown SB pricing craziness. Reasonable admission price (which is currently half off as covid-related time) and there is a little area in the front with tables and chairs to sit in (if you bring someone who isn't coming into the museum with you or like us some of us toured the displays and then waited in front for the rest of our group to tour (not due to limitations on size, just due to some of us being late lol). There were stacks of doll magazines on the tables and the proprietor let us know they were free if we wanted to take some. We enjoyed flipping through the books and getting ideas for our own doll projects. Some of the dolls in the magazines were dolls present in the collection too! Proprietor was VERY knoweldgeable about the collection and I got the impression it was her own collection, so it was very cool to talk to her and share doll stories and information and listen and learn from her!

Super cute, perfectly located hotel! Right in the midst of Funk town, the beach and all the shops…read moreand restaurants. Small rooms but perfect for those who plan to be out and about enjoying Santa Barbara!

Enjoyed my stay here overall. Pros: location right in heart…read moreof funkzone. On site valet parking. Clean. Helpful staff. Cucumber/citrus water in lobby. Cost is good for area and quality. Cons: small rooms, small bathrooms especially. Thin walls, noise high in halls and neighboring rooms. Overall I would certainly come back to stay while in town.

What a great place to come and visit. You get a glimpse of how it used to be back in the day during…read morein Spanish times in this country. Bring the kids, it is fascinating.

Charming, Detailed, and Perfect for Families…read more I absolutely adored my visit to El Presidio! While the big picture history of the last Spanish fortress is fascinating, it's the meticulous, small-scale details of daily life that truly make this place shine. It's an incredibly peaceful and beautifully maintained urban park. The walk through the reconstructed barracks and the Padre's Quarters offers a tangible sense of what colonial life was like, it's sparse, but authentic. My favorite stops were the Cocina (Kitchen), which is filled with period cutlery and traditional tools, and the lovely heritage gardens. Taking a quiet moment in the courtyard, surrounded by the adobe walls and a few citrus trees, felt like a genuine step back in time. The staff at the Visitor Center were so knowledgeable, and the exhibits on the Chumash people and the later Mexican and American periods gave a well-rounded view of Santa Barbara's complex history. It's a short, affordable, and incredibly rewarding stop. Kid-Friendly Note: The scale of the Presidio is perfect for little legs, and the sight of the historic cannons and the big courtyard kept my children engaged without feeling overwhelmed by a massive museum. Highly recommend this historical gem!

My partner and I were looking for something to do on a lazy Saturday in town. We have already…read moreexplored much of what the Central Coast has to offer so we decided to revisit an attraction. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum came to mind after noticing their Project Fiesta exhibit was going on. It also just so happens that Yelp's "Travel Like A Local" campaign is going on simultaneously, so the timing was impeccable. This museum is a hidden gem somewhat off the beaten path. It is a few blocks from downtown State Street and two from the historic Presidio. Most tourists unfortunately miss it. Yet, this beautiful adobe building with a humongous boat anchor in front is worth visiting. Heck, there's no reason to not enter since it's completely free to the public (donations appreciated)! Upon entering, to the left is a gift shop with many local books and souvenirs. Yet it's easy to be distracted by the gorgeous central courtyard with a water fountain as its focal point. This is a popular venue for weddings, dances and other celebrations. Be sure to get a photo of an original Camino Real Bell, the marker used to connect the California Missions. There is also the Glenhill Library here. Many don't know that if you sneak out the back gate, you can step back into time with dirt ground, lush fruit trees, and La Casa Covarrubias. The museum also features a permanent exhibit called The Story of Santa Barbara. It's the perfect introduction to the Central Coast's long history of the native Chumash people, the influence of Mexico and the Spanish, the 1925 Earthquake and more. Upon my most recent visit was an unexpected discovery, an exhibit on Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community. I knew of the historic Mattei's Tavern, Inn and Stagecoach Stop after it was recently renovated and became part of a new luxury Auberge Resort in Los Olivos. Little did I know that he became a well-known artist. His first free-sketch was of Leutze's 1851 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware at only 15 years of age! Prominent guests of the Tavern recognized his skill and sponsored his studies in San Francisco and New York. To this day you can see his art on the walls of the Tavern, but also here. Another current temporary exhibit is of Old Spanish Days/Fiesta, Santa Barbara's pride and joy. 2023 is its 99th anniversary! I had no idea that Fiesta was originally started to celebrate the opening of the Lobero Theatre. To this day, it remains the oldest running theater in California. The photos of almost a century caught by camera and shared at this exhibit are spectacular. All in all, whether it's your first visit to Santa Barbara or you're a life-long native, a visit to this museum is a must!

I've likely been to Santa Barbara 100 times over the last 30 years. Never knew that this charming…read moregem of a museum existed until yesterday when thumbing through the Passport 2 History book. We already knew we'd be visiting The Presidio of Santa Barbara and Casa De La Guerra, but didn't realize that the Historical Museum was close by, and well worth seeing. So glad I dug deeper into the list of venues! We arrived around 3:45 PM. The sunlight hitting the exterior of the building was getting to that golden-glow stage of the day. The whole building seemed to be quietly basking in the light. Native plantings, wildflowers and aloes are featured in their gardens. While not profusive, they still highlight and soften the grounds. Once inside, we paid in the gift shop, then headed in to see the exhibits. The first feature was a colorful multi-media presentation celebrating Santa Barbara's long-running Fiesta. The video on the main screen in the center of the room was bizarre in it's Hollywood Anglo take on the Spanish / Mexican heritage of the event. (Before the days of political correctness and cultural sensitivity.) Stars of the Golden Age of Tinseltown (like Ida Lupino and Robert Taylor) were present for Fiesta festivities back in the day. Behind that gallery lay a watercolor collection of all 21 California Missions by artist Edwin Deakin. The display was subtle, and beautifully lit. To the left is a large wing dedicated to what I assume is the museum's permanent collection. I was really impressed with their presentation of so many varied objects. They've embraced the concept of layering their displays, creating dimensional spaces where there's texture and depth from ceiling to floor. They even have their own hall of mirrors effect, with the reflections showing off more of the historic pieces. Victorian-era gowns mix with furnishings and accessories, accented with artworks of many kinds. The eye doesn't know where to look first. So many beautiful things to see! The lighting is dramatic, which draws you in to the next space and the next. Placards describe the displayed items, while others give historical tales of local residents who provided extraordinary roles to the development of the Santa Barbara we see today. All I can say is, "Well done!" Back though the gift shop, another wing lies. I wouldn't have realized it, except Dear Hubby pointed me that way. The museum counts itself lucky to have many works by Western artist, Edward Borein. During his career he was a working cowboy in various parts of the American West, and even internationally. He then became a renowned artist, drawing and painting scenes from the life he lived on the frontier. He hobnobbed with luminaries like Will Rogers and Walt Disney. Spending the last third of his life living an working in Santa Barbara during his productive artist period, they consider him a native son. While the facility isn't very large in comparison to bigger city venues, it's a perfect place to sample several hundred years of Santa Barbara history, plus some very special artwork. We spent a little over an hour there, and could have lingered longer. I learned a bit about Miss Pearl Chase. Turns out that after returning to Santa Barbara from a trip out of the area, she alit from the train and was dismayed to see her town "dusty, drab, with untended buildings, and scarcely any landscaping". She took it upon herself to nudge the city officials to adopt the Spanish Mission-style architecture as a unifying theme. She also advocated for public gardens and general beautification of the town with a botanical flair. She's credited with urging the lush look of the city we enjoy today, taking advantage of it's Mediterranean-like climate to full, colorful advantage. Highly recommend this charming museum!

GETTING HERE:…read more Navigate here to the address listed on Yelp. If you're knowledgeable about DTSB, I am sure you'll have a better suggestion on where/how to park. But, I found street parking at first 90-minutes free, so I took advantage of that opportunity. Yay! #Winning. REVIEW: When I was a kid, I wanted to be an art history major. There has always been something that caught my eyes and ears when I hear the words, "Art". Now, I don't know anything about art, nor do I know which was is up. I just know that I live near an incredible venue and hadn't yet attended or reviewed! So many things I am updating in 2026. Here is the 1st one: I walked across the main drag and up the front stairs to the museum. There were a few docents (I assume) sitting at the front desk area that took my payment for entering. Thankfully, I didn't have (unrealistic) expectations on what to expect as this was my first art museum experience. It appeared there was a bit of development/construction going on as some of the areas were closed or marked off. After I paid the entrance fee, they handed me a map and I was on my way. It would have been nice to have had some interchange with any of them, as I told them I was a first-timer. Oh well. Such is life in 2026. I took a lot of pictures, and truth be told, as I said before, I don't know which was is up or what I was looking at most of the time. I just know that visually speaking, the entire visit was beautiful! Being able to look around at my own pace was very nice. Although, TBH, it would have bene nice to have bene able to ask someone a question or two, but alas, that didn't break my trip or overall experience. I was hoping they had a gift shop where I could have bought some bookmarks or some art pictures. There wasn't one, unfortunately. I cannot wait to go back! Highly, highly recommend a visit!

We enjoyed the special exhibition "impressionist revolution". We returned with visitors from out…read moreof town. On our return visit (a Monday) we were surprised and embarrassed by the rudeness we encountered. The young supervisor (?) granted us late entry, saying he "supposed he could let us"? enjoy additional galleries before we entered the special exhibition. (He was white, 30-40, with long brown hair.) The cranky volunteers working admission, on both our visits, were exasperation that we didn't have QR codes on our e-tix (because they weren't included), and grudgingly asked to examine our e-tickets and looked up the order name for admission. It wasn't hard; it wasn't our fault, and the content of our e-tix wasn't our responsibility. Why the rudeness, treating visitors like petty thieves? It's a hard job, dealing with the public, and technology-challenged volunteers might feel defensive and blame-y when hiccups occur, even if caused by the museum. So maybe they should staff lower-pressure positions, instead of being the first to greet visitors? Perhaps enlist paid staff for special exhibitions? Nice that there was one younger woman with long dark hair who was exceptionally helpful to us and her tech-challenged coworkers. I have no beef with inexpert help at a museum. It's likely accompanied with warmth & courtesy. We were polite and patient, so the leap to "No" was confounding. No, you can't enter, No your tickets aren't valid, No, you can't visit other galleries. Who needs this? I had hoped to share my local museum with pride. I recommend heading south when in the area, and visiting LA museums and the charming little Santa Paula Art Museum.