La Purísima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc is one of the most fascinating and immersive…read moredestinations you can visit. It is the most fully restored of all 21 California missions. Established as the 11th mission in the chain, it is by far one of my top favorites, probably second to Santa Barbara, really! It's absolutely beautiful, as you will soon read. It was actually destroyed by an earthquake in 1812 and was rebuilt at its current location. Today, you can explore over 20 reconstructed buildings, including the church, workshops, living quarters, and blacksmith shop, that reflect the daily life of both the people who lived and worked here. The park is open almost every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, and it's perfect for both self-guided and docent-led tours. The Visitor Center is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM and provides helpful information and exhibits to get you started. I highly recommend a docent-led tour, the docents are so incredibly knowledgeable, and there's so much to learn about this historic site. On Demonstration Days, which take place several times a year, the mission hosts hands-on living history events, including blacksmithing, weaving, and candle-making. I look forward to visiting during Demonstration Days. I seriously can't wait to get back here. The grounds are large, rural, and so peaceful. There's a nearly three-mile trail loop. Parking is $6 per vehicle and $5 for seniors. I saw several dogs, but it does get very hot, and they are only allowed on the designated trails, not in the buildings, for obvious reasons. There are tons of animals, too. There were horses, steers, chickens, and more. Do not miss La Tienda, the mission's gift shop, where you can pick up local crafts, mission-themed books, and souvenirs. The local crafts are beautiful. I highly recommend this site for a half- or full-day visit! Make sure to set aside enough time for this beautiful gem. The drive alone is so beautiful and serene.

I came to this park to do some hiking and there are many trails. I would be careful because I am…read morepretty sure I heard rattle snacks in the distance though the trail path is very large you probably won't find any unless you go off the path. I recommend checking out the visitor center before doing the trails because you can get good information as well as all the different trails in the given map. Parking - I paid $6 to park on their private lot. The money goes to help them maintain the state park but if you don't want to pay I saw many people parking right outside on the street across and walking down.

My boyfriend and I discovered this quaint outdoor Santa Barbara Visitor's Center since it was down…read morenear the Saturday Fisherman Market area. It is located on the 4th floor and it claims to have one of the most stunning views of the city. Despite being a quick visit, I really enjoyed the conversation we had with the kind volunteer working here. We got a useful map of the city that came with coupons along its' edges. There were also a lot of brochures and information on the city activities for tourists. Super helpful. This is one of many visitor centers in the city. We were lucky to enjoy their balcony that was pier facing for a quick moment alone before other travelers came in. It was so peaceful and beautiful. Definitely a memorable part of our trip.

Just go to the 4th floor! Such a beautiful view with a…read moreprivate feel like balcony. Friendly staff and good info/knowledge about the area Recommend all around .

What a wonderful first impression of the lovely city of Santa Barbara! We stumbled in here after…read moregetting off the Amtrak train, looking for recommendations for kid-friendly eats, and we left with a wonderful list of places we try. The staff here are super friendly, just people wanting to help other people. Shoutout to Ruairi, the awesome Irish, who really helped us lay out the food land during our visit. We visited most of the food spots that he recommended and had a wonderful foodie experience - we found our new favorite pizza spot! The store is clean, quaint, and a lovely visit. Will recommend tourists to pop in for a quick visit just to make sure you have all your t's crossed off :)

Loved the new Visitor Center. Opened daily, perfect location on State Street, close to the Funk…read moreZone and the Wharf. It is new, welcoming, the staff was nice, chatty, hospitable. They sell nice merchandise, for a souvenir or if you forgot to bring a hat or some sun screen. Lots of maps, brochures, nice local magazines. You can get tips and ideas from the folks working here, can ask for any info you need. They also have big, nice, clean restrooms with beautiful tiles. We needed a place to rest and apply some sun protective lotion and this place was perfect! They also have a sofa, pretty comfy if you need to relax, look at a map, etc. Great resource, helpful, nice addition to the area!

Lake Los Caneros is excellent for bird watching as well as cross country running. Despite ample…read morefoot traffic, you can still find places where you are entirely alone.

Really pretty park; lots of trails; saw birds, baby bunnies, and beautiful wildflowers. Found a few…read moregeocaches along the way.

Great visitor center with lots of knowledgeable staff onsite to answer questions…read more A really comprehensive gift shop and I picked up a book on the history of Channel Islands, a towel, a sunshirt, some postcards, and some earrings. Theres also a small outdoor garden to explore and also an overlook area at top of the building. Also, a ranger program was happening when I came here discussing the sea kelp that exist here. Bathrooms also available. Worth a stop in to learn more about the islands!

As far as visitor centers go, this one is one of the best we've been to. Located in the Ventura…read moreHarbor about a short 0.25 mile walk from Island Packers, you'll not only find a small little bookshop but a cute little display on water life with the history of the area. Great for everyone, but I'd imagine small kids would love it. A volunteer greeted us when we got there and provided us with some information about Channel Islands National Park. Very friendly and very helpful. They have a beautiful garden outside to explore. You can also go to the 3rd floor and there's a tiny overlook that, on a clear day, you can see Santa Cruz in the distance. They said there's a theatre, but we didn't have time to visit it. All in all, a wonderful visitor center that is worth a stop during your Channel Islands adventures.

It's amazing as I get older how much more I appreciate nature and the simple things in life. Just…read morea beautiful area of Southern California that Maps directed us to. Instead of taking the highway 1 up north it sent us through the mountains, and I'm sure glad it did. The hidden gems on this drive were breath taking. I am now starting to understand why people love camping and the outdoor life. Everything about Los Padres National Forest was beautiful. I can't wait to have more time to drive back through and see all the little towns that you pass through to get to this awesome location.

Los Padres National Forest is a beautiful forest to come to, nestled in Central California with…read morescenic views. When my husband, our little girl dog and I visited this national forest last month, we saw patches of poppies and other beautiful flowers all throughout our drive and brief walk to take family photos. There was no admission price to pay when we came, but have read from other Yelp members' reviews that you may need a forest adventure pass. But there was no one that was selling the passes on site, nor did we see signs that indicated that we needed to have one when entering the forest (we also did not hike or engage in any type of activities when we were in the forest so I am not sure if we needed it). I may be wrong but I just thought I would mention this information. Anyways, it was a nice day when we arrived. Unfortunately the visitor center (where there are restrooms but did not see any where else where there are restrooms so be sure to use the restroom before coming here) was closed and one of the entrances was closed as well (which is probably why we were not charged to come in here or were required to purchase the adventure pass). There did not appear to be a lot of shade so be sure to wear a hat and bring water to stay hydrated if you plan on hiking here. If you want to see Mother Nature in action, this is the place to check her out in all of her glory if you happen to be in this part of California.

Great visitors center and store that's got plenty of Ventura merchandise…read more Being a local, I can't speak to the quality of the visitors center itself so I'll leave that to the tourists and visitors to give you a better review. What I can speak to is the customer service and shopping :) As a shop I love it and it's a stop worth checking out. Located just down one block from the main downtown stroll, it's super easy to find and to get to. They also have free two hour parking in front/across the street (for now). The store has great finds and Ventura merch. I popped in again today to get my St. paddy's day styled shirt (which I love). They have online ordering which is a breeze. You can definitely get your items shipped but being local I came in to pickup my order and it was packed/ready as the online note said it was so super easy in and out. Staff are always super nice and friendly, it's a great store and I hope you'll check them out.

They were so friendly and welcoming. Never thought to go into that center but they had really cute…read morevintage looking post cards. Nice pictures and trinkets reasonably priced. Also the staff was just so helpful in providing tips on places to go and check out.

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!