Hey, what can you say, its the best baseball venue we've got here in SB. You'll never get confused…read morethat you're at Petco park, or even Dodger stadium but then again you won't pay those prices either. And, you can get a lot closer to the action with some great, field level seating just yards away from the base lines. Upstairs is your best bet though, it gets chilly down in the shade but up in the sun you've got a glorious view of the field and the mountains beyond. On top of all that you get great baseball! The Gauchos always put on an excellent show for next to no $$. No beer but a basic snack bar will keep you in hot dogs, peanuts and crackerjacks for the day. Check it out if you've never been :-) Its a great way to spend a Friday, Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Plus, rumor has it that lights will be arriving next season so you'll have evening games to choose from as well :-o

I Madonnari Italian street festival happens every year during Memorial Day weekend. This festival…read moreshowcases over 140 colorful and vibrant chalk street paintings. I respect that each artist works hunched over on the ground filling in the template. I commend each and every one of them for the time spent to fill in and showcase the beautiful art work. Be respectful and give them space while walking through. It gets pretty busy due to the holiday, so expect crowds during your visit. Enjoy live music, local food, and a great atmosphere. The mission gift store is also open and worth checking out for souvenirs. Bring your camera, charged up phone, and prepare to capture amazing pictures! If you're impatient and don't care to wait in long lines for food, then bring your own food and have a picnic across the street. Park yourself at the rose garden with the family and relax on the grass. There's also an local vendors selling baked goods and lemonade for sweet treats. Tuesday & Wednesday are the best time to stop by if you want to see the chalk art completed.

I Madonnari is an Italian street painting festival that takes place at the mission every Memorial…read moreDay weekend. I've been twice over the years, with and without kids, and it's a nice, free way to enjoy some outdoor time in beautiful Santa Barbara. The festival gets busy, so it's best to go early if you want to park anywhere close to the mission. My elderly father-in-law went and gave up when he couldn't find parking to meet us at 10:00 on the Sunday morning. We found a spot on the rose garden side, and our kids enjoyed looking at the wonderful variety of roses on our way in. The street paintings are super fun and impressive. They all seem to be sponsored by local businesses, schools, and even families, who hire artists to create temporary paintings on the concrete in front of the mission. The works range in subject matter and artistry, with teenagers working alongside absolute ringers rendering amazing images in chalk and pastels. I've only gone in the middle of the festival, and I like watching the artists at work. I'll bet it'd be cool, though, to walk through all the finished paintings. There are food vendors and other entertainment on the lawn, which we will take advantage of some other year, when our children aren't being moody. I'm charmed by this local festival, and look forward to more Madonnaris in the years to come.

My grandchildren loved the Nature Center! The "Going Batty" program was inso much fun, and the…read morescavenger hunt was a great way to teach children about the local environment. Cudos to all involved!

Cute local nature center featuring information regarding local wildlife as well as history of the…read moreNative American people who have lived in the area for millenia. Nice displays featuring artificats, bird eggs, and lots of stuffed animals. If you ask nicely, they may let you see the King snake in the back. Free parking and admission; donations are gladly accepted. Worth a stop if you're in the area. (PS Tell the parking attendant that you're only visiting the Nature Center and you'll get a free 15 minute parking pass. That's all you'll need. )

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!

The events center hosts everything from sports games to career fairs. The facilities are…read moreconveniently located with parking lot 22 directly across from the venue. The center has lots of seating, lighting, and room for people to enjoy the festivities.

100+ wineries & foot samplings nestled in the woodland along Mission Creek at the Santa Barbara…read moreMuseum of Natural History. *Sells out every year *Upscale but not fancy Of the wine festivals Santa Barbara hosts this is one of the best locations and most mature crowd. Sure there's the California Wine Festival at beach but that more like a fraternity party whole is a more sophisticated cocktail party but still SB casual. The festival is spread out among the trees but the narrow pathways can feel cramped as the GA ticket holders arrive. Best to buy the early entry to enjoy some peace and quiet as you stroll along the crest with wine in hand. Great turnout from wine makers, restaurants, and your favorite wine friends!

Maybe I'm biased because I worked here during my senior year. Possibly the best job I've ever had…read morein college and the hidden gem of UCSB's housing & auxiliary department. Historically, this was where staff, faculty members, & notable donors came to hang out. They do have memberships, a hotel, event space, & a dining room area. It's an amazing addition to our campus as it was remodeled during COVID-19, recently opening back up in Fall of 2022. If you're ever around on campus & would love to dine in, skip the dining hall--come on in! It's open to the public, they have walk-ins & reservations. Welcoming and friendly staff, AFFORDABLE fresh high quality food, & a spectular ambiance with a view of the campus lagoon. I couldn't even tell you what my favorite dishes were. There's something for everyone here. The Club & Guest House is like no other, from the student staff, organized events, & delicious food, this is the place to be! I will miss everyone dearly, cherish the memories & especially the meals. Thanks to Chefs Hayden, Jose, Jared, & Chris!!

The Club at UCSB has just been re-opened after an extensive remodel and retrofit as both a…read morerestaurant & bar as well as a hotel. Food wise the new menus are excellent and extremely flavorful. The Korean pork tacos are amazing as well as the crab cakes and the braised beef plate too. Salmon salad looked great but I didn't get to taste that. Many folks said the burger was excellent. Roasted Carrot & Parsnip Posole is odd but interesting and pretty flavorful. Any way you look at it The Club is a great place to dine.

What a great hidden gem of a museum! Family and I stumbled here by accident because my son needed…read moreto find a restroom after shopping at Warbler Records across the street. It's somewhat off the beaten path as it's few blocks away from Downtown Santa Barbara. That's probably why the place was fairly empty during our visit. I love the adobe architecture of the building. It almost looks like a small mission turned into a museum. The front entrance to the museum faces De La Guerra Street but we entered from the side entrance through its beautiful courtyard. It was empty on the day of our visit but I can see this place getting busy if people rent the courtyard for weddings and events. The museum isn't that big but there were enough exhibits to keep us busy for about an hour. It was great seeing the history of Santa Barbara through its regular exhibits as well as some special ones. Admission is free but my wife and I felt compelled to make a donation because we loved the place so much. We saw a glass donation box by its gift shop so we put some cash in there to support the museum. Will try to make this a regular stop on our future visits to Santa Barbara.

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!