Top 18 places to see in Santa Barbara

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Scattered locations

Whale watching (Santa Barbara Harbor - 2h)

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Guidebooks Rate 4 star

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Santa Barbara

Mission Santa Barbara

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baileeglover

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Arts and culture, historic landmarks, museums and everything that takes him back in time! : This historic Franciscan mission is a monastery and historic landmark that is a must visit. We enjoyed every bit of our self-guided tour which was only $9. A stroll around the inner gardens, church and exploring the history in the museum. This gorgeous historic site will give you plenty of photo opportunities too. A must visit if you are in the area!

Mission Santa Barbara, also known as Santa Barbara Mission, is a Spanish mission founded by the F... [..]

Guidebooks Rate 5 stars

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Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

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coltmertz

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Incredible atmosphere and a perfect getaway! : This Spanish Colonial–style complex houses a Hotel, an Opera House and a Café. Located in the town of Death Valley, Amargosa Opera House and Hotel are a unique place to stay away in the deserts. The customer service team was very helpful and we enjoyed every bit of the historic landmark!

The Naval Reserve Center building in Santa Barbara, California is the location of the Santa Barba... [..]

Guidebooks Rate 4 star

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Santa Barbara Museum Of Art

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roxaneback

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An impressive museum for art lovers! : This is an art museum located in Santa Barbara which showcases 20th-century Western American paintings and modern Asian ceramics. They have interesting artifacts from different countries on display from contemporary artists. It is one of Santa Barbara's hidden gems. A great experience for art lovers.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Santa Barbara, California. ... [..]

Guidebooks Rate 4 star

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Presidio State Historic Park

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isabellaone

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The museum was interesting: This historic park is well preserved with a museum, excavated presidio & 1885 schoolhouse. The museum was the highlight of the location. Always check the museum timings prior to visiting the place. To summarize our visit here, we'd say historic, scenic and peaceful. Beautiful trail is a must visit if you are in the area.

Guidebooks Rate 4 star

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Santa Barbara Museum Of Natural History

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stephaneretra

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An amazing indoor exhibit! : A landmark museum with interesting exhibits from history, and art. They also have a planetarium and a butterfly garden within the premises. It is not a big space but is well maintained in a beautiful setting. We loved the butterfly garden and enjoyed spending time there. Overall a lovely little museum.

Founded in 1916, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History reconnects more than 150,000 people ... [..]

Guidebooks Rate 4 star

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Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

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alveraward

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Great place to spend a few hours! : This botanical garden contains many species of rare plants. Its a beautiful garden with stunning landscapes and has a great diversity of plants. It was a great option for a short excursion. The entry fee wasn't too expensive, so we took a short walk around before lunch and clicked some pictures too.

The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a 78-acre botanical garden, containing over 1,000 species of ... [..]