Visit this beautifully constructed 1786 outpost to find stunning stonework, impressive columns, and two domed towers, as well as plenty of Native American and Spanish colonial history.More. The Downtown SLO Farmers Market is run by the San Luis Obispo County Farmers Market Association, which holds a total of five different markets during the week. Driving time: 2-2.5 hours depending on traffic. It is a working church. This place is a MUST if you want some great California wine. Built on the site of an old stagecoach stop, the Tobin James Western style tasting room is home to an antique 1860's Brunswick mahogany bar from Blue Eye, Missouri where the winerys outstanding wines are poured and tasted. There are some great hikes here, along with easier routes if you just want to hug a redwood tree. Visiting the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is definitely one of the must-do things if youre a nature-lover. It is one of the most beautiful architectural gems in the city. The grounds are beautiful. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden comprises more than 1,000 different species of fauna (some of which are very rare while some are native to this area) sitting on 78-acre land property. 21. r/roadtrip. Plan on spending time viewing metal sculptures on the grounds. Incredible wines, over-the-top service from Iddy, tasty pistachios grown on-site, and beautiful art all around. Paso Robles is a California city, known for its wineries and olive groves. Set on 78 acres of natural woodland, with beautiful views of the mountains and ocean, the gardens showcase more than 1,000 types of native California plants and trees. Today, this tourist magnet is home to specialty shops; restaurants; and the Sea Center, one of two sites of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Educational. Its rare to find a Courthouse touted as an important cultural and architectural landmark in the area, but this unique property is well worth the visit. There are some great restaurants there in case you get hungry. This Spanish-Colonial style courthouse finished construction in 1929. A fun strolling Beach Town. They have also added QR codes that make it really nice to be able to here an audio tour. An LA to Big Sur road trip is one of the most stunning and unforgettable trips you could embark on in your lifetime. stay at Mission Ranch Hotel. Renowned as the crown jewel of the California Missions, this site has been painstakingly preserved. Cambria is situated amidst Monterey pines in one of only three such native forests. Great for pictures and the waves are alright. It was fun to walk along and read the names of the boats as some are very clever. Bubblegum Alley is a rather odd attraction, and yet visiting it just to see it once is one of the best things to do in San Luis Obispo. Walk past the line at LilToot Water Taxi to reach the Moby Dick Restaurant, named for being able to spot whales from your dinner table as opposed to whats served. Across 75 acres of kid-friendly terrain are desert, meadow, ridge and redwood forest vistas. A really amazing museum. Estrella Warbird Museum 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 238-9317. Check out other stops like Avila Beach, Big Sur, or Cayucos. owners Kate and Norm are to bubbly; A couple cabins with views available from the hill top. The garden has been around for nearly 100 years and even includes a stand of majestic California Redwoods that stretch hundreds of feet into the blue skies above. The truth is, to get to Carmel it's only 8.5 miles, however the road loops around making it 17-miles total. The Inland Route. How about fresh produce? For an unforgettable birds-eye look at the city, climb to the top of the clock tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The mission is home to a cemetery that houses a marble mausoleum at its center. I know there is obviously a lot more weight on the wharf, but Ill admit it, I was a bit nervous. Also be sure to bring cash to tip your super helpful tour guides. The closest day trip to Santa Barbara is the small town of Carpenteria just 15 minutes to the south. Built in Spanish-Moorish Revival style in 1929, the courthouse features hand-painted ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers and tiles from Tunisia and Spain. A Santa Barbara road trip provides a glimpse at one of the most scenic and iconic roads in the world, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).The PCH offers stunning views of the ocean and coastline, with plenty of opportunities to pull over and take in the views. My sister loves their red wines so much, she hoarded a bottle of their 2012 santa rita hills pinot noir for years until she found a worthy occasion to pop the cork. Military aviation museum featuring aircraft, objects & memorabilia, plus military vehicles. My friend and I arrived very close to closing but they still got us in and were very friendly and attentive and provided a wonderful tasting experience. There are two obvious routes you can follow between San Jose and the beautiful Santa Barbara. We appeared on a Thursday. What more could you want in a tasting? Go to some of them, not here. The priest will make sure of it. 1520 E Chestnut Ct unit a, Lompoc, CA 93436, USA. It is the oldest wooden wharf in California and still in use today.It is located on State Street, home to over 17 businesses, an educational facility and a market for Santa Barbara shellfish.If you are looking for something to do, this was once the longest deep-water pier in Santa Barbara. The sweeping panorama across this relative newcomer's vineyard to the surrounding hills and ocean is arguably the best in the region, and adding to the enjoyment is the chic outdoor seating area and highly praised Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Originally named after its builder, John P. Stearns, this wooden wharf is home to some of the best shops and restaurants in the city. I have never loved all the white and red wines at a winery before. All of the staff were super professional, informative and helpful, they totally took care of us the entire time. The famous Stearns Wharf is a vital attraction in Santa Barbara. Country Roads: The more rustic, country road route is to hop on Highway 126 to the 150, which ends in a dramatic, panoramic descent into the Ojai valley. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the United States! Our neighbor stated she would take her dog to Solvang for morning walks. Everyone in the family will enjoy the child-friendly Sea Center and a variety of novelty shops selling delicious candy and ice-cream just the thing for a happy holiday outing. They sell plants and seeds. Nice activities for small children and the whole family really. Make them visit the famous Estrella Warbird museum of Paso Robles so as to have a look at military aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia that have been restored and preserved well. You could check out Eberle Winery and Sculpterra Winery, or the always popular Estrella Warbird Museum! Spending a few hours here is one of the best free things to do in Santa Barbara. The pier was built in 1878, but it has suffered lots of damage from storms, earthquakes, and fires since then. A delightful evening shared with friends. All the staffs were professional; their number one priority was our safety and also to make sure we had fun. It's rightfully rated as one of the top road trips in the world. Zoo on 5 wooded acres with many animals that are part of globally managed preservation programs. If you visit, plan to stay awhile. We've compiled data from NASA for each month of the year: see the links below for more information. I'll definitely be back with a group of friends. 5391 Presquile Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455, USA. Greeters and cage clerks are friendly and welcoming.What would really be cool, if they upgraded that Tea House and made it more of a hangout but their Asian segments are a treat. Of course, if you want to spend a little cash, youll have more than enough opportunities to do so. You can reach the wharf as one of your stops on the narrated Santa Barbara Trolley Tour and hop off the bus to explore for a while. I have a USA GPS and I just updated the maps and I'm cross referencing google maps. Hand-painted tiles and a spiral staircase infuse the courthouse, a national historic landmark, with the grandeur of a Moorish palace. Theyll see native plants, an authentic Japanese teahouse and lots of critters. The garden is in existence for over a century now and has witnessed several incidents and developments that shaped present-day Santa Barbara County. Youll have to stop by at least once while youre in town! This distinctive edifice was built in the iconic Spanish-Colonial style that is popular throughout the city, and the red-tiled roof, four-faced clock tower, and colorful gardens all make the courthouse one of the best free things to do in Santa Barbara. This was my first wine tasting experience. Love the red panda exhibit. The restrooms are clean, parking is convenient and do not forget to visit the gift shop. Here, youll find restaurants, souvenir shops, a shellfish market, and a bait and tackle shop where you can rent fishing gear and get help from employees reeling in your own catch on the wharf. All in all a pretty nice exhibit. While many might think that this museum glorifies war, however, on the contrary, this museum renders you an insight into the amount of sacrifice that goes into making anRead more. One of the most famous Catholic monuments in the state, Santa Barbaras Old Mission is one of the longest continuously operating missions in California. You can take a self-guided tour to get an interesting visual history lesson about the area. 1 minute off the main route, 46% of way to Santa Barbara. You can learn about the local history of Santa Barbara when you make a stop at a top site like Mission Santa Barbara. Public beachfront area with a popular snack shack, a sundry store, picnic tables & fire boxes. Save all the best places to visit with Wanderlog, Download the travel planning app everyone's been raving about, https://www.slocity.org/visiting/things-to-do/bubble-gum-alley, https://www.countyofsb.org/parks/jalamacamping.sbc, https://www.fessparker.com/?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=business-listing, Monterey to Grand Canyon National Park drive, Monterey to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park drive, Monterey to the Death Valley National Park drive, Monterey to Yellowstone National Park drive. Though I always feel empathy pains for the animals living there. As you continue down State Street youll come to Stearns Wharf, stretching out over the Pacific Ocean. the Flying Goat Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It's so beautiful that I chose to get married there. 1:55 pm Big Sur. Thanks again. This was a cool find when we were on our family vacation. In the parks you can (finally) breathe and freely. We thought the grounds and building were beautiful and peaceful. Strolling along Stearns Wharf is one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara, if you want to catch spectacular views of the harbor framed by the dark Santa Ynez mountains. Overall a good time and I'd come back again. Climb up into the pretty tower for panoramic views of the city. When Visit California asked us if we'd like to discover Big Sur and the legendary Highway 1 to the winding roads of North and South Lake Tahoe, we couldn't wait to put on our driving hats and hit the road! It is probably the most popular and photographed place in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Courthouse, located right in the downtown is a great starting point to take amazing photos. I love how people put colored lights up to brighten these winter nights. One of the areas most popular attractions is Stearns Wharf, a 2,300-foot-long pier on Santa Barbara Harbor. Approximate Driving Time from Monterey: 45-50 minutes Pfeiffer National Park (Big Sur) Hugging a redwood tree at the Pfeiffer National Park This is a great spot to check out those gigantic Redwood Trees, and the redder the bark is, the older the tree. Its a very nice and huge complex with animals and all. 1. Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. However, I want to set expectations properly. Be it a family gathering, date night, curiosity or whatever the reason may be, definitely a good place to visit. Stearns Wharf is indisputably the most beautiful wharf on the California coast. A great beach no less and definitely recommend. In fact, it makes you wax poetic: There are restrooms, a huge grass play area with a swing set. Ive been to this place a few times now, and am head over heels for its glam vintage vibe. Take a visit, you will not be disappointed. Such a cute little zoo. The mask sure makes it difficult to really peruse their cute store but they don't require one in the lovely nursery area. Plan for a good hour here to take in Missions incredible artwork and architecture. On your way out of Monterey, check out Point Lobos for some hiking trails with sea cliff views. Cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway along one of the most stunning stretches of natural scenery in the entirety of the United States is something that is a true joy to experience. The Monarch Butterfly Grove shelters monarch butterflies that migrate to Pismo State Beach in the cooler months. All were velvety smooth. See time and distance between places, and optimize your route to get the most of your day. This market is pretty large with hundreds of people. The cave tour was very neat and informative (and free!) Take a step back in time when you visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Would definitely go again! Great area to stop by, take a boat cruise, swim, play and eat! At the time of construction, Stearns Wharf was the longest pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco and today, it is home to many specialty shops, restaurants, as well as the Sea Center, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The top cities between Monterey and Santa Barbara are Paso Robles, Big Sur, San Luis Obispo, Cambria, Solvang, Pismo Beach, and Morro Bay. The harbor houses restaurants, shops, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and over 1000 vessels. It is one of the oldest church around Also, the outdoor Stations of the Cross allow you to reflect on our Lord's Passion. The Santa Barbara Botanic Gardenis essentially a living museum, featuring 78 acres of a variety of more than a thousand native California plants. Big Sur is a rugged stretch of Californias central coast between Carmel and San Simeon. 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