Love love love! Easy to spend the day here and I recommend…read moreit. But also fairly easy to get to, so it's perfect for a meditative reset time in the middle of a busy day. This space is so special. Lots to explore. Lots to learn. Lots of care and love here. Don't want to say too much. Just go and see and be surrounded by the trees, flowers, rocks, peace, and magic. Fantastic gift shop too!

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a neat activity to check out if you're ever in the area. You…read morecan kill 2 hours here depending how long you take to observe all the different plants and trees. Before you enter, I recommend taking a map with you. If you visit in the summer, I recommend dressing cool, wearing a hat, comfortable shoes, and some sunscreen. There are areas where there is limited shade so the sun can feel rough in those areas. There is some incline in certain areas, but nothing crazy. The red woods were beautiful, and I loved that there were some areas where they provided some seating areas near cool view spots. There were even some hammocks and some areas that were kid friendly. There's even a small nursery where you can purchase pots and plants near the entrance.

Many years ago, my boyfriend Matt B. told me about Lotusland, a beautiful botanical garden in his…read morehometown of Montecito. I assumed he had plans to take me--like why bring it up and not take your relatively new girlfriend?--but if he did, he certainly took a while to implement them. He married me first, then waited until we had two kids before buying tickets, for a Wednesday afternoon last month. I guess it used to be hard to get tickets here, and even now, you have to plan in advance, as it's only open part of the year and the hours are short and limited. Tickets are also expensive, running $70 apiece. If you're local and likely to go more than once a year, you might want to get a membership. Lotusland is a remarkable place, and I greatly enjoyed this long deferred date. The property covers 37 acres in a residential part of Montecito, where it was once just some eccentric rich lady's house (her name, a stage name, was Madame Ganna Walska). The reason the hours are so restricted is that the neighbors are Montecitans, perhaps the nimbiest clan on the planet. The location does add to the magic, I admit, the sense of quiet and seclusion as you walk the grounds. Everything was easy once we arrived. The parking lot was right by the entrance, and there were both maps and docents ready to help get us oriented. The docents were volunteers, I believe, and very friendly and helpful. One of them saw us wandering aimlessly near the entrance, searching for the stairs to the rest of the gardens, and walked with us to show us the way. The gardens were incredible--gorgeous, of course, but also vibrant and strange. A lot of the plants were fully Seussian, wild and whimsical. The water garden in particular was unlike anything else I've ever seen, with these enormous lotuses and lily pads like rimmed dinner trays. I also enjoyed the quirky swimming pool bordered with seashells and the silly topiary garden. But nothing was more impressive than the extraordinary range of plants. Pre-historic cycads and funny-looking bromeliads. Dracena trees, cousins (or maybe ancestors) to the little potted one we have in our house, allowed to grow freely into giants with clustered branches like maitake mushrooms. It took us around an hour and a half to make our way through the gardens, a bit faster than the two hours suggested for self-guided tours. (We are, to be fair, a bit younger than the average visitor, despite my husband's procrastination.) We had a wonderful time, stretching our legs and seeing some spectacular sights. Better late than never, Matt, and now I look forward to going back.

We had been wanting to visit Lotusland for quite a while but since they are only open a certain a…read moreamount of months out of the year and the fact that you have to get tickets that sell out quickly--we were never able to visit. Until this summer. We were very excited to finally explore! Lotusland is lovely--and well maintained. I will give them that. I love all of the different areas and worlds. Not to mention seeing a lotus flower in bloom in person is pretty cool. They don't even look real! However, I will say I think we were a bit disappointed overall with our experience. Maybe it's because of the high expectations, the high ticket price and a bit of the pretentiousness of it all. I mean--you pay how much and you have only two hours to visit this beautiful garden? I don't know. I'm glad I went and it truly is lovely. It was a nice finish to a wonderful trip.

So beautiful and inspirational ! You take step in one…read moredirection and then a different direction and are delighted by a separate landscape. Charming and very intimate. Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

We stopped by for my bday last year and it was such a charming experience. It's one I recommend…read moreduring these gorgeous spring months for plant lovers and nature seekers. Despite growing up around here, I somehow never stumbled through these grand entrance gates until recently. This gem of a garden isn't just my butt's savior now on long drives up from LA, but it's a sliver of paradise found--and sanity regained. Just walking around here for 15-20 mins. and you'll feel your blood pressure drop a few notches to a pleasant state of calm. You can explore the themed areas, take in the vegetation around you, and get landscaping tips just from strolling around their property. The plant things are grouped in various climate/hemispheres and it's nice to see them taking root and being incorporated in a seamless design (and it's nice shopping experience too). I was impressed with the selection and bought a few small air plants and succulents that are still thriving with offshoots. Prices are reasonable. For pros looking for inspo, I think this place that can offer Interior Designers & Landscapers creativity with plants. Or even the DIY Weekend Warrior looking to revamp their current landscaping or add a little something new to it. They have a wide variety of exotics, California natives to indigenous to Australia, and every other tree, shrub, and greenery in between. Since it's the year of the (hobby) horse, I'll be sure to get my butt up here more often in 2026.

We have been coming here for years. Our kids LOVE the Moxi!…read more Especially our son who is a big STEAM kid. My only complaint is the water section on top floor, that exhibit in particular seems like it needs some maintenance. Some oil added or something like that as it is very hard to push the levers. Also some additional shade up there would be nice! It is super bright and VERY sunny (almost blinding with the white paint)! Highly recommend people bring sunglasses up there. It's nice because it is a very spacious museum that offers a lot. Often it is very clean too!

Pros: Close to the train stop…read more Lots of interactive activities Sensory cave to help battle overstimulation Cons: Not good for infants and toddlers. The lactation pod was super loud and not a great place to pump, luckily had the sensory cave. Their infant and toddler room is for walkers only because they don't close it off and make people take their shoes off so definitely not okay for babies like they claim who need a clean environment. Also very little toys. Better if you can already climb and walk. Expensive! They have a 90 mile rule for using reciprocal kids museums and Pasadena's Kidspace is 89 miles away. $25 an adult is not worth it for the parents of a non crawler.

We have worked with Jose and Lalo and their extraordinary crew for the past four years and they are…read moresuperb. Knowledgable, considerate, conscientious -- they take great pride in their work. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Jose and his team are the best gardeners we've ever had. Our yard is 3/4 of an acre with roses,…read morecitrus, flower beds, hillside plantings and privacy hedges. There's a tremendous amount and variety of work and they never disappoint. They know how to prune, treat for insects and diseases and make just the right suggestions to beautify our garden. I can't recommend them highly enough!

An absolute hidden gem in Santa Barbara! Alice Keck Park is beautifully designed, with delightfully…read morewinding paths that lead through an incredible rainbow of colorful flowers, trees, and unique garden spaces. Every turn reveals a new design element - from a charming wooden bridge and ducks frolicking in the babbling brook to the pond with sun-basking turtles - making the park a peaceful place to wander and rest. Developed according to the wishes of donor Alice Keck Park, this horticultural garden highlights local Santa Barbara flora, organized by cultural and watering needs that range from boggy to arid. The park offers a surprisingly tranquil escape in the middle of the city. The variety of 70+ tree and plant species is especially impressive! Depending on the season, roses, camellias, sweet violet, night-blooming cereus, azaleas, irises, calla lilies, flowering cherry, and countless other flowering shrubs, succulents, and native plants abound.

This is a very nice and peaceful park to take a walk at. It is well kept, and you can see turtles…read moreand ducks. There is street parking here.

It is a beautiful location. The grounds are extremely tranquil, laid out with beautiful seating…read moreareas and water features. Their store is filled with amazing items, figurines, crystals, incense, candles, etc. I experienced a 45 minute session with Carrie DeVaney (intuitive and healer) in a private area above the gardens. She was excellent. I truly enjoyed my time spent with her. So, absolutely highly recommend the Sacred Space. Parking can be a bit tough on the weekends (side street parking is a good option

What a beautiful space with such an array of wonderful things to support your wellbeing. We walked…read morethrough the space and enjoyed the beauty and peace of the landscaping and decor. We also went home with a few items to cleanse our aura. The variety of books, crystals, and fragrances made it hard to choose. The staff were so kind throughout our visit. We will definitely be back again!

I hadn't been to the Mission in years. This year I went to the Madonnari Chalk Festival - what a…read moregorgeous time. My mom and I had the best of times! Art, Music, food and just sooooo much fun! I danced so much and got to meet many wonderful artists. I def will be back next year and make a whole weekend out of it. I live nearby but I think, next year I'll stay a few days in SB. My mom is already looking forward to it!

Mission Santa Barbara is a historic California landmark that also doubles as a museum. They even…read morehave actual mass in the mission, as well as Sunday service. It is a beautiful space filled with so much historic value. It was founded in 1786!! We got there around 3pm and purchased the Self Guided tour for $17 per person, which was a little high in my opinion. You walk through the museum and Mission grounds at your own pace and enjoy it on your own time. There are QR Codes that provide information to go along with your tour. We checked out the museum, garden, mausoleum, and even sat in the church for about 30 minutes just enjoying the beauty and peace. There is a gift shop you exit through that sells some lovely items such as shirts, sweaters, magnets, artwork, sculptures, candles and so much more. We bought a nice sweater with Santa Barbara written on it, a beautiful candle in a glass, and a small bookmark with a prayer symbol on it. They even have snacks/refreshments. They close at 5pm but sell their last ticket at 4pm. Parking is also free, which is always a plus. This was our third time here over the last 2 decades, and I'm not sure it's necessary to come back again. Once you've seen it, you've seen it.

A class act. A Christian in the truest sense of the word. A person with the utmost integrity.read more

The Las Palmas property in the kathy ireland Weddings & Resorts portfolio is as stunning as it is…read moreconvenient and expansive. Attending weddings, concerts, fundraising dinners and more here is always an exceptional experience. With multiple levels, gorgeous gardens and a luxurious pool & spa area, the entire property provides everything we could need and fantastic accommodations. Can't wait to return.

This park is a place you must stop by if you are ever in the area and looking to relax or take a…read morenice stroll. It is located right across from the historic mission and has a beautiful rose garden with a variety of flowers.

One of my fav places in town. If we have guests, we always suggest grabbing a blanket and packing…read moresome wine and snacks or food to go and enjoy at sunset at the Rose Garden. The kids love rolling down the hill, climbing on the trees, or wandering the little paths on the side. Plus, you learn all the fantastic rose names when you simply take a walk around the pattern of colors.