Located in the hills above Santa Barbara, this short trail takes you to a rock that looks like a lizard’s mouth. Whether or not it really looks like one is up for debate, but that is the name given to this rock formation, and it is a fun short hike in the area with great […]
Knapps Castle: Hiking Santa Barbara’s Famous Mansion Ruins
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Knapp’s Castle is a very popular hike in the hills above Santa Barbara both because it has fantastic views and because it is less than a mile round trip. The area is technically on private property so there is always the chance that the owner will revoke access to this popular spot but that has not […]
Point Castillo Walk in the Santa Barbara Harbor
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Point Carrillo is a fantastic viewpoint on the harbor in Santa Barbara. It is accessed via an easy half-mile trail that is used by visitors and locals alike. If you are looking for a nice way to be active while staying in the city or a great viewpoint for sunrise then read on for all […]
Los Agaves: Santa Barbara’s Best Mexican Restaurant
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Over the last few years, Los Agaves has become a go-to spot for many travelers along Pacific Coast Highway, creating a raving fan club of which I am a part. The restaurant shot to a whole new level though when it was #16 on the Yelp 100 best restaurants in 2016. Now, stopping by this […]
Maritime Museum in the Santa Barbara Harbor
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The harbor of Santa Barbara is one of my favorite parts of the city to explore. It has the pleasant walk to Point Castillo, Stearns Wharf, and the Maritime Museum. The latter of which is one of the better ocean history-based museums I have seen. Here is all the information so you can check out […]
One Thousand Steps Beach: Santa Barbara’s Best Sunset Spot
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It’s hard to pick a favorite beach in the Santa Barbara area, but if you really pushed me, I would probably say One Thousand Steps Beach. Located close to Shoreline Park but with no real parking area, this beach is almost never busy and it has some of the best coastal views in the entire […]
Kimpton Goodland in Goleta / Santa Barbara Hotel Review
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Located 15 minutes from Santa Barbara in the town of Goleta, the Kimpton Goodland is one of the most fun boutique hotels I have stayed at on the central coast. The property retains that retro vibe while having the fresh, modern amenities you have come to expect from destination hotels. I had a hard time […]
Mission Santa Barbara: The Queen of the California Missions
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Mission Santa Barbara is second only to San Juan Capistrano in beauty and popularity for the California Missions. It was the tenth mission established by the Spanish Franciscans and it was planned to be established by Father Serra but he passed away before he was able to. Father Lasuen ended up founding it in 1786. […]
Cold Spring Tavern in the Mountains Above Santa Barbara
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Cold Spring Tavern is one of those historic and beautiful places that has an amazing atmosphere, great food and a fantastic location to add to it. From the moment you walk into the quiet little log cabin and see the fire roaring you will wish you had more time just to sit and listen to […]
Chumash Painted Cave State Park in Santa Barbara
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Chumash Painted Cave State Park in the mountains that overlook Santa Barbara is a cool stop that will literally take you 15 minutes to see. It probably takes longer to drive up the hill from Santa Barbara then it does to see the state park. That being said, it was great to see how well-preserved the […]
