For starters, this is a super cool museum which features exactly what the name suggests. They have…read morea bunch of old carriages which are mind blowing if you allow yourself to imagine what it might have been like to roam the open plains in one of these. The museum is not very large and can be totally appreciated in about an hour... time well spent! Unfortunately the impetuous for my visit was a celebration of life for Wesley John Bortolazzo - RIP Wes, miss you. The aforementioned event made it apparent to me that this location is great for large gatherings, ideally a wedding or a big birthday, something a little more joyous. BUT, this was a great place to celebrate Wes because it embodied his western passion. We were grateful to the folks at Santa Barbara Carriage & Western Arts Museum for their generosity and involvement with the celebration. Do yourself a favor and embrace your Western spirit, this place is worth a visit.

I talked to Tammy about my fiesta poster and pin, She never texted me the number to reach the…read moreperson in charge. I feel like I am getting the run around. Sh should have contacted them for me! I am angry amd am typing spending the 50$!

This is a free museum and I recommended checking it out. I did not expect much but once inside I…read morewas surprised at how cool things were. It's a small museum but they did a great job with giving you things to look at and learn. The outside has some old carriages to look at and has a western theme to it. They tried to add decorations to make it have that old western feel. They had some history about the carriages, saddles, some boots and good backdrop and props to make this museum interesting!

Located at the end of the nearby park, this free museum is a great way to spend some time while…read moreyou're at Santa Barbara. I assumed that the museum would not have much things to see as it's free but I was proven wrong as there is a lot of things to see. The museum is small but it is packed with things such as the history of saddles, carriages, and other things. It is a pain to cross the street to the museum as there is no crosswalk so I would be careful but it being free makes the museum time worthy.

I came here with an LA based doll-club and we had a really great time seeing all the displays. I…read moredidn't really know what to expect before coming in, but it was different and more interesting than I had imagined it would be! I pictured teddy bears lined up in cases like you might see in a natural history museum, and while there was some of that, most of it was really a mix of the dolls and teddy bears together, so the bears seemed more like an accessory project and not overwhelming. (as a doll collector I appreciated this, if you are a teddy bear lover it might be less appealing to you). I liked how the first room was dedicated to California (dolls and artists) and had a progressive history of dolls going back to indigenous people and working up to modern day. I was also surprised to see large collections with themes, such as fantasy dolls, dolls whose characters started in books, and similar. There were displays for Harry Potter and LOTR dolls, and two very impressive Avatar dolls, as well as a log of vintage and antique dolls. The woman at the front desk was SUPER nice and gave our group a brief tour not only once but at least 2 or 3 times as our members showed up at various different times. The museum also has a gift shop full of interesting doll stuff, and for the most part it's not modern new stuff but older stuff, and the pricing was all very fair. Not your typical downtown SB pricing craziness. Reasonable admission price (which is currently half off as covid-related time) and there is a little area in the front with tables and chairs to sit in (if you bring someone who isn't coming into the museum with you or like us some of us toured the displays and then waited in front for the rest of our group to tour (not due to limitations on size, just due to some of us being late lol). There were stacks of doll magazines on the tables and the proprietor let us know they were free if we wanted to take some. We enjoyed flipping through the books and getting ideas for our own doll projects. Some of the dolls in the magazines were dolls present in the collection too! Proprietor was VERY knoweldgeable about the collection and I got the impression it was her own collection, so it was very cool to talk to her and share doll stories and information and listen and learn from her!

Cutest museum ever! There were so many different types of dolls and various bears posed in the most…read moreadorable scenes :) The lady working was extremely kind and very knowledgeable about everything in the museum! This place is a hidden gem.

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. )

Amazing history about Santa Barbara's buildings! A must see when in the neighborhood.read more

La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts -- Gallery Row's Creative Heartbeat…read more La Cumbre Plaza is far from quiet -- it's alive with art. The La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts (LCCCA), affectionately called Gallery Row, has blossomed into one of Santa Barbara's most surprising cultural destinations. Within a single plaza, you'll find six inspiring galleries and creative spaces, each offering its own vision and energy. Step into Gallery Row, and you'll see how alive it really is! See You can wander through the colorful worlds of LCCCA -Illuminations, Elevate, and The Fine Line Gallery, catch the latest shows at The Voice Gallery, visit Lama Tashi at the Museum of Tibetan Art & Culture, Legacy Art Studio, or stop by the Grace Fisher Foundation's Inclusive Arts Clubhouse for some joyful community spirit. The best time to visit? Every day, Tues-Sun, 12-5 pm, and Every 3rd Friday (5-8 PM) during the Gallery Row Art Walk! The whole plaza comes alive with music, wine, friendly faces -- and yes, even a chance to paint a giant paper-mâché elephant for good luck. It's a mix of art, heart, and fun -- and proof that La Cumbre Plaza is anything but quiet. See what's happening, meet the artists, and get inspired! What was once considered a quiet shopping area has transformed into a thriving hub of artistic life. Whether you're looking for your next favorite painting, a meaningful gift, or simply inspiration, Gallery Row at La Cumbre Plaza invites you to slow down, explore, and feel the pulse of Santa Barbara's creative community.

Very nice art and the 3rd Friday Art Walk is a lot of fun. My favorite art gallery is Illuminations.read more

Thank you Wallace for your beautiful and inspirational Gallery Space…read more His art is viewable and available in large format paintings, as well as poster prints. Located in the SB Funk Zone, and right in between Loveworn (incredible selection of vintage denim), and Skyenna Wines.

I just went by the Santa Barbara Loveworn location! I was greeted with positivity! They had a great…read moreselection of vintage pieces that I immediately fell in love with! The quality was also fantastic! The entire place was super vintage and super aesthetic even the art gallery they had attached was also really nice to look at. I was also really impressed with the perfume selection they all smelled great I ended up getting one of them. I loved this place so much I'm going to check out their Carpinteria location next!

A wonderful art gallery located in Santa Barbara/Montecito, offering curated fine art of notable…read moreCalifornia living artists. The gallery features work in oil of landscapes, seascapes, still lifes, figures, and Western art. The gallery is, for me, aspirational. It has exactly the sort of work I like to collect and I'd be happy to devote some precious wall space to it!

I saw a seascape in the window that caught my eye while shopping in Montecito but the gallery was…read moreclosed so I snapped a pic on my phone. Upon returning, a week or so later, I asked to see the piece and showed the saleswoman the picture. She found the piece, (which she dragged out of a cupboard unprotected and wedged between several other canvases) and said the price was $2200. I was seriously considering the piece, and asked permission to send a more clear photo of it to my husband for his approval. She became rude and said "No, you already have a picture." Well, that turned me off right then and there. It was actually a rhetorical question. I happen to own two beach homes and I collect seascapes. Too bad this gallery won't be getting any of my business. I have never encountered this type of behavior from any of the galleries that I frequent in Laguna Beach.