Holy smokes this is the granddaddy of orchid stores in the area! I drove from shop to shop and this…read moreone took the cake. Beautiful selection of orchids, arrangements, flowers and vases. Their buyers definitely have a sharp eye. Service was super friendly and informative there was a young woman on a Saturday who was knowledgeable and informative. I wanted to pick up items I would not kill in a day and I appreciate that she helped me understand how to care for them. I could have spent the whole day exploring all their plants. I also really liked that my kids were able to learn how orchids are grown in their education section. My daughter was inspired for her science project. ALSO don't sleep on their produce. Sweetest berries I have never had! Cucumbers were ok. But those berries were incredible.

The most amazing selection of plants and orchids! This place is so special, absolutely worth a stop…read moreon your drive up the coast!

Stephen, the owner of Ventura Travel, is very knowledgeable and is a great resource. He's gone out…read moreof his way to answer all my questions and help me find the best deals! It's nice to be able to speak with a real person instead of doing everything online.

There really is no better travel agent than Cathy Kroll!…read more She's passionate, worldly, knowledgeable, extremely "into you having THEE BEST trip", and works tirelessly to make sure everything works out perfectly! She will always go the extra mile for her clients no matter what! Not only have I known her for 38 years, but I have taken trips through her. And I honestly can say she is one of a kind! You will not be sorry if you book through her, she's worth every penny!

I have not used a travel agent to plan a trip in decades (William Shatner has handled the majority…read moreof my bookings), but when it came to traveling to two countries I had never visited, a friend suggested Cathy Kroll as she had been to Ireland and Scotland (and apparently the rest of the globe) on several occasions. I thought I would receive some good hotel and tour recommendations, but what I received was much more valuable. At every hotel/B&B/Castle we stayed in we received upgrades (free breakfast/ larger rooms with 5-Star views/ complementary massages, etc...) that were worth at least $2,000 when added up (although it is hard to put a price on some of the views). Also to my surprise, our airfare was lower than what we had found using various travel websites. Cathy met with us several times before our trip to insure she had covered all of our needs and then tracked us during our travels to insure we were receiving all of the extra perks, and upon our return she inquired as to any changes we would suggest to the itinerary she suggested. I would highly recommend Cathy to anyone planning a trip and will be using her on all future trips!!!

Rachel is awesome! Super knowledgeable of the ocean, water, marine life, and history of the area…read more What a rad human being to have guiding the tour. As it turns out, all of the harbor seals, and sealions have names. We befriended one named Steve, he is much better at swimming than I am. He also taught me secret techniques to paddling. This one Pelican named Parry got into a barking match with some sealions, which is a fight he wasn't gonna win, let's be honest. Though I was hoping to see an M-A-N-A-T-E-E ... next time! If you're gonna go down on Haley street, where the dogs are easy and the sun is cheap, you never know just who you'll meet, on Haley. (But hopefully it's Rachel from the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and you get her kayak tour; shout out!)

A heartfelt thank you to Santa Barbara Adventure Company for creating such a memorable birthday…read moreexperience for our daughter. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We had a fun ferry ride to the islands and even got to slow down to watch a large Sunfish (Mola Mola) snacking on some jellies. I recommend getting in line early to secure the best view seating on the ferry. Our kayak guides, Chuck and Adam, were exceptional--knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the entire trip both fun and informative, while ensuring we always felt safe and well cared for. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and warm water, which allowed us to explore all seven sea caves--many of which are inaccessible during high tide or rougher conditions. It made the experience even more special. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years, this was my first time visiting the islands, and it was truly unforgettable. The pristine landscapes, abundant sea life, and even spotting several tiny island foxes while enjoying our picnic lunch, made it an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to do it again--highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exceptional experience!

Cute, quaint and feet from the beach. We took a day trip up to San Luis Obispo climbing on board…read morebrought back good memories of rail travel in Europe. This station is unmanned with a reader board for arrival information. Rely on your Amtrak app for up-to-date info. Community bathrooms are located on the street corner of the parking lot. If you have a little time or train is delayed, check out the sweet community garden on the West side of the tracks. This is a great station to get off and spend a fun day at the beach

There is not a better place to wait for Amtrak trains than in Carpenteria. You will enjoy the…read more ocean view while you wait for the train, and a nearby play areas will keep the kiddos happy too. This is really just a train stop with a seat and a ticket dispenser, but it is really convenient and has a huge parking lot. If you have a little bit of time to spare, take a walk around and enjoy the home grown art installations, or grab a beer at the nearby Island Brewery.

the best team, the most fun you'll have in Santa Barbara! Bill is an outstanding coach- it's no…read moresurprise he's their resident baseball superstar. Hugs for Cubs is their charity arm and does so much good, too.

Hugs for cubs All about family fun and love to our child…read morewhom have cancer Wrapped up in the love of the game, the players share and visit local cancer wards, from here to Wichita Games are great to bring out the family Games the kiddos get to get on the field and join in the fun We also bring in a lot of players from colleges all over the US, have a chance to see and meet in person future major leaguesrWE ARE 8 times World Series winners over the past 10 yearsCOME OUT AND ENJOY SANTA BARBARA BASEBALL

First Time Here We…read morespent one night here with our family of 5. We have 3 boys and they are all teens. We were looking for a somewhat close town to visit from Orange County, and Carpinteria was our stop. We stayed at Best Western and had a roll away bed and 2 queen beds for our family. It was a perfect one night stay. We faced the lovely courtyard. Our room was easily accessible by using the stairs to the 2nd floor. The room was clean and beds were comfy. The hotel is within about 1-2 miles away and the town is a nice 15 - 20 walk from Best Western. Ask the front desk for some fish food to feed the Koi fish.

Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn - September Stay for a Wedding…read moreI stayed here while attending a wedding in mid-September. Pros: - Very friendly staff. - The coffee and water station was a nice touch and made up for the lack of complimentary breakfast. (I wasn't expecting much, maybe just muffins or toast, but the water and cups were especially appreciated since you can't carry much on a plane and buying it at grocery stores adds up.) - Shower head was large with good water pressure. - Beds were cozy and soft, making for a restful night's sleep. - Air conditioning was decent -- maybe a problem in peak summer, but perfectly fine for fall weather. - The courtyard was cute (even though I didn't use it). - Lobby area was small but comfortable. - Location was convenient: right off the highway, about 15 minutes to many restaurants and roughly 25 minutes' walk to the beach. - Noise wasn't an issue during my stay. Cons: - You have to ask the front desk for the Wi-Fi code. Why not just keep it in the room? I ended up using my phone hotspot instead. - No front desk staff available at night. When we returned in the evening, there was no one to ask questions (including about the Wi-Fi). - Room service is not daily -- you have to request it, and it's not always guaranteed. This feels odd, especially for a tourist/wedding town where daily service should be a given. One morning we requested service at 8 a.m., and they showed up by 9. When I asked them to come back after 10, there was no response -- a simple yes or no would have sufficed. (Maybe a language barrier, or maybe they didn't want to adjust the timing.) I let the front desk know afterward, and they did send someone, but it still felt strange. - No microwave in the room. A shared microwave by the coffee/water station would be a nice addition. Overall: Friendly staff, cozy beds, and good location made it a solid stay. I'd rate it a 3.5 if I could, but the cons bring it down to a 3.