Stop and smell the roses on a romantic date at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Take your special someone for a stroll on winding stone pathways through an array of whimsical gardens. Explore more than 1,000 rare and native plants across 65 acres in the city’s historic Mission Canyon. Ah, love is in bloom.
Anybody who’s anybody stops in at the Arlington Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara. The city’s largest movie theater and performing arts venue is also quarters for the renowned Santa Barbara Film Festival. Located in the popular State Street area, built in 1931, it features star entertainment and an interior that is astonishing.
What a whale of a day! Get on-board the Condor Express to watch for whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Discovery Channel recently named the Santa Barbara Channel “One of the 10 Best Places in the World to View Wildlife” because of its abundant variety of mammals.
Ten-hut! The El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park houses the Santa Barbara Royal Presidio, one of four in the chain of military fortresses built by the Spanish in 1782 to protect the Spanish missions and settlers. Visit the historic park to walk in their shoes and experience the life and times of these early governments and communities.