Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) October 31, 2013 -- Situated 100 miles from the closest metropolis, Santa Barbara is a destination resort unto itself — a self-contained safety net for families seeking to bond without breaking the bank. From the shoreline to the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara offers families countless offbeat treks, ocean adventures and opportunities for getting up close and personal with the great outdoors. In addition to 100 miles of prime California coastline, 300+ days of annual sunshine, hike-friendly mountains, nature preserves, recreational lakes, skateboard parks and scenic bike paths, the region offers 20+ interactive museums and child-friendly historic and cultural attractions, including three of California’s 21 missions.
From the hammock to the kayak, Santa Barbara is an easy-to-navigate environment for all ages. Pedestrian-friendly, the city is conveniently linked by a trolley and shuttle system enabling visitors to explore museums, zoos, parks, beaches, and more without a car. The majority of attractions and hotels are in close proximity to one another and the beachfront. An added bonus is the bevy of affordable lodgings (including the original Motel 6) located just two blocks from the beach.
SAND & SEA
Along the coast, a variety of activities await the intrepid family. From kite boarding to kayaking, Santa Barbara’s 18 beaches offer a diverse playground for kids of all ages. The sea offers an array of water sports including SCUBA diving, sailing, parasailing, whale watching, sunset cruising and kayaking. Boasting one of the largest sailing rental fleets worldwide and the nation’s top sailing school, Santa Barbara answers every wannabe-sailor’s dream, with vessels ranging from small craft to large yachts.
Connected to the beachfront beat is Santa Barbara Harbor, with its 1000+ boats, lively seafood market (Saturdays), restaurants and Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (http://www.sbmm.org), where kids will learn about local maritime history all the way back to the days when the Chumash paddled dugout canoes to the Channel Islands. The museum has multiple interactive children’s exhibits and a 45-foot-tall U.S. Navy periscope. One of only three in the world in public use, it affords a 360-degree sub’s-eye view of paradise. Santa Barbara Harbor is a great stop for whale watching excursions, kayak rentals, sailboat cruises, diving, parasailing and kiteboarding. Dual kayaks are ideal for families seeking adventure along the shoreline. The quiet harbor offers a great launch point, which delivers kayakers through the dramatic variety of vessels before hitting the sea.
The Channel Islands National Park & Marine Sanctuary (http://www.nps.gov/chis) is easily accessible from Santa Barbara Harbor. Of the five islands, Santa Cruz Island, California’s largest, makes for a great day trip. The Nature Conservancy (http://www.tnc.org) offers tours of this unique ecological preserve. Multi-day tours are also available. A variety of outfitters offer kayak tours to the sea caves and beyond. On land, the islands offer camping, hiking, kayaking, tidepooling and many rare plant and animal species, ancient pygmy sites and gentle coastal waters.
Down from the harbor at the foot of State Street, Stearns Wharf, the oldest working West Coast pier, boasts the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Ty Warner Sea Center (http://www.sbnature.org/twsc/2.html). At 6,700 sq. ft., the Center sports terrific interactive exhibits. Kids and adults can encounter live tidepool animals and work like scientists by sampling and testing ocean water, studying animal behavior, and examining microscopic marine life. A theater showcases the wonders of the Santa Barbara Channel.
Beachfront, the paved 3.2-mile Cabrillo Bike Path affords views of the islands, harbor, Stearns Wharf and city of Santa Barbara. Surrey, segway, rollerblade, and bicycle rentals are plentiful; wheel around on Sunday when the Arts and Crafts Show (http://www.sbaacs.com) unfolds along the sea. Hard core skateboarders can slide into Skater’s Point, which boasts 12,000 sq. ft. of bowls, rails and ramps.
12 miles south of Santa Barbara lies Carpinteria State Beach Park, offering 4,000 feet of beautiful ocean, overnight camping and the best surf fishing and tide pooling in the region. Make a day of it with these nearby stops: the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary (December - May) where you can view hundreds of fuzzy mammals frolicking along the shoreline, and the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park (http://www.sblandtrust.org) wetlands where some 200 species of resident and migratory birds visit along the popular Pacific Flyway. Take to the mile-long path or the free docent-led tours Saturdays at 10 a.m. (May - November). Also in the neighborhood is the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History (http://www.carpinteriahistoricalmuseum.org) which houses historic artifacts from Chumash times to the end of the 19th century.
PARKS, GARDENS, & MOUNTAINS
Santa Barbara is home to more open space per capita than any other city in the country—53 parks of all kinds, from formal and well tended to wild and untrammeled, offer the perfect location for picnics, play or simple relaxation. One of the top picks for native California flora is Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (http://www.sbbg.org), which offers five miles of trails through 65 acres. The diversity alone will keep kids interested, from the towering redwood forest to the manzanita and live oak groves, desert and island sections. Chase Palm Park, a 10-acre waterfront masterpiece, is a haven for high-energy kids. On tap is a restored antique carousel with 37 carved wooden steeds, a series of faux riverbeds at The Wilds for splashing and tramping in and a giant misting whale at Shipwreck Playground. A world-class play model of the Winfield Scott schooner that sank off the Channel Islands at the turn of the century rounds out the fun. During the summer, bring a picnic and settle in for a free Thursday night concert.
Another great stop is Andree Clark Bird Refuge on East Cabrillo Boulevard near Highway 101. The 32-acre expansive sanctuary with pedestrian and bike paths skirts the peaceful lagoon of tule reeds, coastline sage, willows and lemonade berry. Some 200 species of birds are found here. The city’s oldest and most stately park, Alameda Park, is home to the expansive Kid’s World playground. Uniquely conceived and designed by children, this park offers hours of fun for kids with its giant shark, scaleable pirate ship and eel-shaped slide.
If a close encounter with lions and giraffes is in order, zip to the Santa Barbara Zoo (http://www.sbzoo.org), a 35-acre refuge mingling gardens and animals in a soothing setting. Some 2,800 species of palm trees, cacti, succulents, ornamental grasses and ground covers dot the premises. Once the site of a palatial estate overlooking the ocean, the Zoo has re-created natural habitats for more than 500 animals from around the globe. The Zoo’s international “Species Survival Program” is dedicated to saving endangered species and currently houses and breeds 16 endangered animals, including gorillas, lemurs, Channel Island fox and lions.
The Santa Ynez Mountains offer biking, hiking, naturalist excursions, hang gliding and rock climbing opportunities. Los Padres National Forest (http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/lospadres), California’s second largest national forest with wilderness areas, lakes, streams and plenty of workout terrain, boasts a variety of trails that wrap around the mountains and afford expansive views of the rugged coastline. For more stunning views, check out Figueroa Mountain, where cyclists train. Figueroa Mountain is a spectacular site for watching the seasons change: the leaves turn colors in late fall, snow collects in higher altitudes in the winter, and an extraordinary display of wildflowers bloom in the spring.
MUSEUMS & MORE
For young Picassos, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (http://www.sbma.net) Children’s Gallery offers children the chance to create their own masterpieces while learning about art. For those drawn to the skies, take off to the Santa Maria Museum of Flight (http://www.smmof.org), where 11 actual aircraft—including a Bowers Flybaby, 1929 Fleet Model 2, and Rand KR-2—await exploration. Also in Santa Maria, the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum (http://www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org) offers interactive exhibits such as Bubble Machine, Tar Pit, and Discovery Cove.
Marked with a giant baby blue skeleton, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (http://www.sbnature.org) is a must-see for curious kids. Specializing in California and North American West Coast natural history, highlights include marine displays, interactive computers, hands-on activities, the insect area, Lizard Lounge and planetarium. For a taste of the Wild West, mosey on over to Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum (http://www.carriagemuseum.org) on Castillo Street. This 11,000-square foot museum offers exhibits dating back more than 300 years, including horse-drawn carts and carriages used by pioneer Santa Barbara families, buggies, stagecoaches, army wagons and a bright red steam pumper used for firefighting.
Track down the trains at the South Coast Railroad Museum (http://www.goletadepot.org) in neighboring Goleta. This museum highlights a restored yellow and brown Victorian 1901 Southern Pacific Depot. History buffs will enjoy antique railroad artifacts, a collection of rare photographs and exhibits, including a 300 square-foot model railroad and a miniature choo-choo for kids. For two-wheeled enthusiasts, the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum (http://www.motosolvang.com), located in Solvang Village Square, features changing exhibits of classic motorcycles and bicycles from a permanent collection of 100. Check out a rare 1955 Matchless G64, a 1966 Honda Sport Cub and Vincent Black Lighting, one of only 30 built.
OFFBEAT RURAL ADVENTURES
A great pit stop just north of Santa Barbara is the Coronado Butterfly Preserve (http://www.sblandtrust.org). Monarch madness hits full throttle November through March as hundreds of thousands of butterflies check into their winter digs along Goleta’s shoreline. The 9.3-acre eucalyptus grove adjacent to the beach is easily accessible by a flat dirt path that weaves throughout the grove and out to the bluffs above the beach. Look for clusters of orange and black as you walk along peaceful, well-signed footpaths surrounded by indigenous wildlife. Paths lead off in all directions for a moderate afternoon hike.
A days’ swing through Santa Barbara’s rugged outback is certain to spur a smile. Just 29 miles northwest of downtown is a rich and rural wine country with enough unique farms to qualify for wild animal kingdom status. Start at Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch (http://www.qsminis.com) for a stunning show of 34-inch horses prancing around the grassy meadows of this 20-acre high-tech training facility located between Solvang and Ballard. Eye candy for kids, Quicksilver is one of the largest miniature horse facilities on the West Coast. Originally bred in Europe as pets for royalty, the horses were imported to the United States in the 1930s to work the coalmines. Today, these lovable equines are bred as pets. A short drive away, Nojoqui Falls is a daytrip destination certain to blow off steam. Chill out with a picnic or barbecue at the park tucked along Alisal Road, just outside of Solvang. After lunch, trek to see the seasonal 100-ft. bridal veil waterfall via an easy, 15-minute uphill walk along the creek under a canopy of live oak trees.
When the potbelly pigs for pets went bust, Little Orphan Hammies (http://www.lilorphanhammies.org) stepped in with a five-acre “rescue” farm. It is conveniently located just a turn or two outside of a residential area in Solvang. Upon appointment only, kids can get up close and personal with nearly 100+ pigs, each with its own private painted residence enshrined with such glamorous names as “Madonna.” Nearby on Highway 246, fine feathered friends rush up to the fence to greet you at Ostrich Land (http://www.ostrichland.com), a 33-acre breeding farm with a small road-side shop selling fresh eggs, meat, feathers and egg art. Across from the ostriches, gated corals house a cache of emus. Straight out of Star Wars, these oversized fluffs with gawking necks and bulging eyes can be a bit scary for small ones; stand at a distance. Visitors not afraid to get close can feed the ostriches and emus for a small fee.
Calling all cowgirls and cowboys for an unbridled adventure at the “Return to Freedom” American Wild Horse Sanctuary (http://www.returntofreedom.org). This 310-acre living museum in Lompoc is a hands-off habitat for a diverse variety of horses living in their natural herd groups. Spend a fun family afternoon immersed in the joys of the wild horse experience with a Sanctuary Tour, or delve into the three-hour Adventure Walk.
For families seeking a more docile day, spirit over to Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. This small lake tucked within an oak-shrouded valley is a fishing paradise with abundant trout, bass and catfish. Rent a boat and pack a lunch. View seasonal wildlife and eagles on naturalist-led cruises aboard the open-air Osprey. For a true walk on the wild side, check into one of the park’s seven Mongolian yurts.
Artists-in-training and history buffs might enjoy a quick stop to visit the historic Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park (http://www.parks.ca.gov), the site of preserved cave paintings depicting the life and times of the local Chumash Indians hundreds of years ago. Located in a steep canyon on Painted Cave Road, just off of the San Marcos Pass (Highway 154), this sandstone cave is accessed by a short hike. The religious drawings by Chumash Native Americans, as well as likenesses of coastal fishermen that date back to the 1600s, can be viewed through protective bars. Local hiking trails connect throughout the Los Padres National Forest for an all-day outing.
ABOUT SANTA BARBARA
Featured on the cover of Travel + Leisure in May 2013 and voted Best Getaway by L.A. Times Readers’ Choice Awards in 2012, Santa Barbara is located just 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco, on the Pacific coastline. Visitors can arrive via scenic Highway 101, train, bus or by flying into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport or Los Angeles International Airport. For travel and accommodation information and to request a free copy of the official Santa Barbara County Visitors Magazine, contact Visit Santa Barbara at 800.676.1266, 805.966.9222, tourism(at)santabarbaraca(dot)com or SantaBarbaraCA.com. Visitor information is also available at the Visitor Center, 1 Garden Street (at Cabrillo Boulevard).
MEDIA INFORMATION
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Michelle Rodriguez, Visit Santa Barbara, http://www.SantaBarbaraCA.com, (805) 966-9222 Ext: 112, [email protected]
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