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!

Came here on a sunny hot day w the family. The place is very much geared toward children with many…read morehands on interactive exhibits. Sadly, a good portion were broken so we couldn't experience them. We did like the Lego wall, the build your own race car, and the water play area (located on the roof). Of note, you will need to find nearby public parking, as there didn't seem to be a designated parking garage attached to the Moxi.

This has to be one of our favorite places to visit in Santa Barbara. I've personally been coming…read morehere for over 25 years, and I still love it every time. It's peaceful, relaxing, and the nature is absolutely beautiful -- minus all the poison oak during the summer, LOL! Whether you have little ones, teenagers, or just want to take a relaxing walk with your partner, this is a great place to visit. You don't need to spend the whole day here either. A couple of hours is perfect to walk around, enjoy the scenery, and unwind. Definitely one of our Santa Barbara favorites. Highly recommend!

What a fun little add on to a trip with kiddos to Santa Barbara. Enough places for learning but…read morealso for the kiddos to get some play in the day as well. I have a 4.5 yo and 22 month old and they both had lots of fun. Random but I do wish the gift shop was a bit more stroller friendly.

Fascinating place but fewer exhibits than I'd have liked. We got first timer + student…read morediscounts(ticket price ended up being $7). Can be somewhat expensive otherwise ($15) for the short visit

I took my daughter here to check it out because I heard it was new and we needed something new to…read moredo. It was pretty interesting but a really small exhibit. It was $15/adult and $9/child. They had 9 little exhibits open that you could touch and see. It was fun but just wish it was a little bigger

The staff are the best! Always very helpful, and incredibly intelligent. They certainly know their…read morestuff. It's not a huge aquarium, but you can learn a lot and view a variety of sea life creatures in a small space. Great for adults and children. Always excited to go back!

Went to Santa Barbara for a bachelorette weekend and of course walked Stearns Wharf after brunch…read more Super cool that you can drive onto the pier, with lots of little shops and restaurants. We stopped at the aquarium, and regular tickets felt pretty pricey for how small it is, but thankfully CalFresh/WIC tickets are only $5. We spent about 20-30 minutes inside, mostly touching the sharks and starfish, which was honestly my favorite part even as an adult! If you were to take your time, maybe you could spend an hour in The older gentleman at the ticket counter was also super friendly. Cute little experience with a great view right on the pier!

One of Goleta's best hidden gems…read more I have memories of the pre-Girsh Park days when the Goleta Lemon Festivals were held here. It was a real authentic, old-time experience you just can't find anywhere else in the area. I've been here for a few weddings and a few company picnics, along with just casually perusing the lovely grounds on my own. There is a decent parking lot which I've never seen filled up unless there's some sort of event. The whole place gives off a peaceful, whimsical vibe with the towering trees, greenery, and ancient architecture. It's especially beautiful when there's a slight breeze and you can hear the gentle rustling of the abundant vegetation. The venue also offers a limited-hours visitor's center which I'd compare to a small museum. One can find old documents of Goleta's history along with collectible memorabilia and art for sale. If you're looking to see some well-preserved Good Land history, check this place out!

We've been to Stow House several times. First was maybe five or six years ago. We were able to…read moretake a tour of the inside of the historic home at that time. That was before we discovered the "Passport 2 History" program. When we did get the Passport and reviewed which spots were in it, I was glad to see this property listed, as an incentive to go back. We made a return visit two months ago, on a warm Saturday afternoon. It was lovely to see the vintage architecture spotlighted against a brilliant autumn sky. Warmer than usual, with no wind, it was a great time to be at the property. There was a young woman covering the gift shop. She told us that while the grounds were open, they weren't able to offer tours of the house that day. "Shortage of docents". I don't know the situation with who currently owns / runs the house - is it a foundation, the City, the County? Many historic properties were deeded by descendants of original owners to local municipalities to be shared with the public going forward. I'm sure that it's a challenge for any legacy property like this to get enough docents lined up, trained, and scheduled. They would mostly be volunteers, after all. While it was disappointing to not revisit the interior of the mansion, we did collect out P2H sticker, then spent time wandering the grounds. That was something we hadn't done previously. The lawn areas and mature palm trees are serene and beautiful. Going around the perimeter of the main house yielded new views I don't recall before. We snapped some photos, then adjourned to the train museum next door. The next time we're in the area, we'll call ahead to see if they are offering tours that day. Might be wise to do the same!

Summer in Santa Barbara is beautiful...and absolutely overrun with tourists. I mean, they had every…read morerestaurant PACKED, every parking space TAKEN, every dessert shop FULL, and every sidewalk OVERFLOWING. Ironically, as tourists ourselves (LOL, sort of), we needed a break from THE TOURISTS! My best friend Catherine suggested we duck into the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and I'm glad she did. It's not a massive museum. Just two floors. But hear me when I say it punches above its weight. On the day we went, there was a thoughtful and curated mix of Southeast Asian and Indian artifacts, contemporary works, digital installations and enough classic pieces to keep serious art lovers happy. There were also funny art pieces that reminded everyone that art is allowed to have a sense of humor, too. I appreciated the balance. One of my favorite exhibits there let us enter our birth information and it generated our birth charts. Whether you believe in astrology or not, it was fun to interact with the art instead of just looking at it. I learned some cool stuff about myself looking at my birth chart. Hey...If you need a break from the crowds, this is the place. It's peaceful, cool inside, has clean restrooms and it's just the right size to explore without feeling overwhelmed. You won't lose your whole day here. You'll simply enjoy the bit of time you dedicate to visiting. Sometimes the best attraction in a tourist town is the one that gives you a break from other people. Consider.

Really lovely museum. Currently under construction, but had some great exhibits open. I got a…read moredocent tour which I was very happy about. The pieces of art were beautiful, and the docent was able to go into shocking detail about each one. On top of all that, the price was really reasonable for what you get here. If I lived in the area I'd absolutely become a member, huge fan!

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

We cannot say enough about this place. Wow wow wow!! The history and collection this property has…read moreis unbelievable. As you work your way through the property you see some of the coolest stuff ever. Definitely a must if you're in the area. The owners of this property are the best! Incredibly knowledgeable and friendly

Such a cool place. Deft check it out if you're visiting or driving through. Got to see so much more…read morethan expected.

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.