Information About The Central Coast
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
1. View classic and modern art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art;1130 State St.Free every Sunday. 805.963.4364
2. Visit the Historical Society Museum and Library;136 E. De La Guerra St. Tue.–Sat.10am– 5pm; Sun. 12–5pm. 805.966.1601
3. Discover rare books and art at the Randall House Bookstore;835 Laguna St. 805.963.1909
4. Visit Goleta Depot Railroad Museum at the Stow House;300 N. Los Carneros Rd. Wed.–Sun. 1– 4pm. 805.964.3540
5. See the latest local art exhibits at the Faulkner Gallery in theSanta Barbara Public Library; 40 E. Anapamu St. 805.564.5608
6. Take a Sunday drive to the Carriage and Western Art Museum;129 Castillo St. Sundays 1– 4pm. 805.962.2353
7. Survey exhibits and rare documents at the KarpelesManuscript Library;21 W. Anapamu St. Daily 10–4pm.805.962.5322
8. Visit the ContemporaryArts Forum, featuring exhibitions,performances, and lectures; Paseo Nuevo ShoppingCenter—Arts Terrace. Tue.–Sat. 11–5pm.805.966.5373
9. See cutting-edge artwork at UCSB’s UniversityArt Museum. Wed.–Sun. 12–5pm. 805.893.2951
10. Visit the Arlington Center for the PerformingArts, a landmark movie palace of the 1930s.1317 State St. 805.963.4408
11. Stop by the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion to view themonthly changing exhibits; 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd.Mon.–Fri. 9–5pm. 805.897.1982
12. See a re-creation of a pygmy mammoth skeleton,artifacts of the Chumash Indians and more at theMuseum of Natural History;2559 Puesta Del SolRd. Every third Sunday of the month is free; 10am–5pm.805.682.4711
13. See free films at the Railroad Museum;300 N. Los Carneros.Sunday & Thursday afternoons. 805.964.3540
14. Visit the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and experience a high-tech audio visual journey exploring the depths of theCentral Coast; 113 Harbor Way. Free the third Thursday of everymonth. 805.965.8864
15. Admire art at Reynold’s Art Gallery at Westmont College in Montecito; 955 La Paz Rd. 805.565.6162
101 FREE things to do in the Santa Barbara County
OUTDOOR ART
16. Enjoy handmade arts and crafts at theArts & Craft Show along beach front Cabrillo Blvd. Sundays. 805.897.1982
17. Dip your fingers into the dolphin fountain at the foot of Stearns Wharf; Cabrillo Blvd. at State St.
18. Tip your hat to King Carlos in the El Presidio on Canon Perdido St.
19. Visit the Rainbow Arch on Cabrillo Blvd., near East Beach, andadmire its bright colored arches against the ocean backdrop.
20. View 75 murals throughout the city of Lompoc. Mural maps available. 805.736.4567
21. Admire the Indian heroine Sacagawea,whose statue resides at the corner of State and Victoria Streets.
HISTORICAL LANDMARKS & ARCHITECTURAL INTERESTS
22. Don’t miss the panoramic view from the 85-foot tower of the
Santa Barbara County Courthouse! 805.962.6464
23. Relive Santa Barbara’s Spanish heritage at El Presidio, a Spanish-built fort founded in 1782; 123 E. Canon Perdido St. 805.966.9719
24. Stroll through the historic courtyard and window shop the boutiques of El Paseo,“Street in Spain”; De La Guerra St.
25. Browse for antiques while viewing
splendid Victorian houses on Brinkerhoff Ave. in downtown Santa Barbara.
26. Tour the picturesque campus of UCSB and don’t miss the bird’s eye view from Storke Tower; Goleta. 805.893.8175
27. Tour Westmont College campus, located off of Sycamore
Canyon Rd. in Montecito. 805.565.6000
28. Walk the picturesque grounds of the Vedanta Temple and see the award-winning structure designed by architect Lutah Maria Riggs; 927 Ladera Ln., Montecito. 805.969.2903
29. Take the Red Tile Walking Tour, a 12-block
journey through historic downtown. Maps available at the Visitor Center & Courthouse.
30. Visit Stow House,the oldest frame house in
Goleta built in 1872; 304 Los Carneros Rd.Open weekends 2–4pm; small donation suggested. 805.964.4407
31.See the Moreton Bay Fig Tree. Planted in 1877,
it is the oldest of its kind in the nation, with a21,000 square foot area of shade; Chapala St.at Montecito St.
32. Pull up to the historic stage coach stop Cold Springs Tavern for drinks or a meal; San Marcos Pass/Hwy. 154. 805.967.0066
33. Visit the historical Painted Caves of the Chumash Indians;
Painted Cave Rd. 805.733.3713
34. Visit historic Casa De La Guerra,where the city held its first official meeting in 1875; located across from De La Guerra Plaza.
FLORA & FAUNA
35. Enjoy the view and stroll the trails at Franceschi Park; 1510 Mission Ridge Rd.
36. Investigate Cabrillo Point and the Demonstration Gardens on the Santa Barbara City College campus. 805.965.0581
37.Enjoy the splendor of over 100 varieties of orchids at the Santa Barbara Orchid Estate;12 50 Orchid Dr. 805.967.1284
38. Admire roses at the Rose Garden across the street from the Mission.
39. TakeHighway 1 to catch the splendor of the colorful Lompoc Flower Fields. In bloom May– Sep. 805.736.4567
40. Delight your senses with the beauty
of lavender at Clairmont Lavender Farm;2480 Roblar Ave., Los Olivos. In bloom Jun.–Jul. 805.688.7505
ANIMAL INSTINCTS
41. View the birds at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge;1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd.
42. Watch for Pacific Gray whales (Jan.–Mar.) and Blue and Humpback whales (Jun.–Aug.)spouting,
breaching, and smacking their tails on the water. The best viewing spot from land is at the statue of the bronze whale tail at Shoreline Park.
43. See turtles sunning themselves on rocks, koi swimming in ponds, and beautiful flowers at the Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens;1500 block of Santa Barbara St.
44. Admire monarch butterflies in their natural habitat in the Ellwood area north of Goleta. Seasonal in the winter months.
45. Learn about marine wildlife at the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. 805.683.6631
46. View eagles at Lake Cachuma and in the Santa Ynez Valley from vista points along Hwy. 154.
47. Touch the marine life in the tanks at the UCSB Marine Lab next to the Lagoon. Call 805.893.8765 for reservations.
GENERAL SIGHTS
48. Spend time at the beach, bask in the sunshine, walk barefoot in the sand, or take a dip in the Pacific.
49. Visit the Outdoor Visitors Center on the Harbor where you can view the gorgeous sights of the Channel Islands, downtown Santa Barbara, and the Los Padres National Forest.
50. Picnic in the park and explore Nojoqui Falls; Alisal Rd. near Solvang.
51. Conjure images of old Denmark via Danish architecture and authentic foods in Solvang.
52. Bring the children to Kidsworld in Alameda Park where they can enjoy hours of fun and entertainment; 1400 Santa Barbara St.
53. Enjoy the waterfront’s novelty stores, restaurants, and marine shops, great for boaters and land lovers alike;Stearns Wharf & the Harbor,along Cabrillo Blvd. 805.897.1962
54. Visit the Harbor for a self-guided Fish-Walk Tourfeaturing interpretive plaques detailing the history of the harbor’s commercial fishing industry.
55. Tour Gainey Vineyards;3950 E. Hwy. 246, Santa Ynez. Daily tours at 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm. 805.688.0558
56. Stroll and window shop along State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
57. Take East or West Camino Cielo roads to enjoy incredible views of the coast.
58. Drive along Foxen Canyon Road to experience the beauty of the wine country.
59. Ride the electric shuttle which runs everyday from Stearns Wharf to State St. 25¢. 805.683.3702
60. Browse through more than 60 satellite stores at La Cumbre Plaza; State St. and La Cumbre Rd
61. Visit specialty shops at Paseo Nuevo; State St. between Canon Perdido St. and Ortega St.
62. Experience a classic Santa Barbara courtyard at the La Arcada Shopping Center;1100 block of State and Figueroa Streets .
63. Walk along Coast Village Rd.,an elegant shopping area in Montecito.
64. Scout for antiques in Summerland, Santa Barbara,Los Alamos,and Solvang
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
65. Listen to live concerts in Chase Palm Park and Alameda Park. Jun.–Aug. 805.897.1982
66. Join a drum circle on the beach; West and East Beaches Sat./Sun.
67. Listen to live music at Cold Springs Tavern on Sundays; 5995 Stage Coach Rd. 805.967.0066
68. Enjoy live musical entertainment on weekends at Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center.During the summer and holiday seasons. 805.963.7147
69. Relish in the night life on State Street and catch live
music in bars and nightclubs.
70. Join the Santa Barbara Music Club in the Faulkner Gallery of the downtown Public Library for concerts; 40 E.
Anapamu St. Every third Wed. at 5pm and Sat. at 3pm.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
71. Barbeque at one of Santa Barbara’s parks
or beaches. 805.564.5418
72. Watch the moon set into the Pacific at Mesa Lane Beach a.k.a. Thousand Step Beach; Mesa Ln.
73. Play tennis at one of the numerous public courts. 805.564.5418
74. Pitch horseshoes at Oak Park;401 Shoreline Dr. 805.966. 6110
75. Splash around in Oak Park’s Wading Pool.
76. Fish off of Stearns Wharf,the oldest working pier in California.
77. Go tide pooling at rocky areas off Carpinteria State Beach, Leadbetter Beach (below Shoreline Park), and Arroyo Burro Beach.
78. Bring your board and surf Santa Barbara’s well-known surf spots. Beginners paddle out at Leadbetter Pointoff Cabrillo Blvd., and advanced surfers take 101 South and exit Bates Rd. to surf Rincon.
79. Check out the great views, nature trails, and War Memorial at Elings Park in the hills above Las Positas Rd.
80. Run bleachers or jog the track at Santa Barbara City College and enjoy a beautiful ocean view.
81. Rollerblade, bike, or stroll the 3-mile waterfront path beginning at the Harbor.
82. Participate in novice-to-expert volleyball pick-up games
at East Beach on Cabrillo Blvd. 805.965.0509
83. Play Frisbee Golf on the 6700 block of Sueno in Isla Vista.
84. Spy rare birds in the marsh area by Sands Beach in Isla Vista.
85. Shoot hoops at Santa Barbara High School’s outdoor courts.
86. Walk the trail along Lake Los Carneros, a picturesque
park in Goleta
HIKING & BIKING TRAILS
87. Travel through winding Romero Canyon in Montecito.
88. Hike Hot Springs Trailto the top and experience one of the most beautiful views in Santa Barbara; located off of East Mountain Dr.
89. Get cozy at Inspiration Point(clearly marked trail above the Botanic Garden on Tunnel Rd.). Spectacular at night!
90. Take a dip in one of Red Rock’sswimming holes; at the end of Paradise Road on the Santa Ynez River via Hwy. 154.
91. Stroll the beautiful grounds of the Douglas Family Preserve.
92. Mountain bike on any of Santa Barbara’s numerous trails. www.sbbike.org
93. Ride through miles of paved bike paths around UCSB.
OTHER PURSUITS
94. Get up close and personal with ostrich and emu at Ostrich Land in Buellton; 610 E. Hwy. 246.
95. Sample fruits and vegetables and pick up fresh cut flowers at the downtown Farmers’ Market. Tue.afternoons and Sat. mornings. 805.962.5354
96. Enjoy free movies in English and Spanish on weekend summer nights at the park in Isla Vista. 805.968.2017
97. Listen to guest speakers and live music at Border’s Books and Music downtown; 900 State St. 805.899.3668
98. Enrich your mind with a free lecture in the Mind/Supermind series presented by Santa Barbara City College’s Continuing Education program. ce.sbcc.edu
99. Take a self-guided tour of Fairview Gardens Farm,the oldest organic farm in Southern California; 598 N. Fairview Ave., Goleta. 805.967.7369
100. Enjoy a variety of ethnic festivals featuring live music, food, and other entertainment.
101. Lace up your walking shoes for a “car free” walking tour; several routes are featured on the Santa Barbara Car Free Project
website: www.santabarbaracarfree.com.