This is an archive of the 2007 Summit web site. To view the current 2008 Summit website click here.

Santa Barbara's Local Attractions

For a list of recommendations including excursions, beaches, wine tasting, nightlife & more. Or, if you would like to download and print your own copy of the SantaBarbara.com Visitors Map & Guide visit www.santabarbara.com/community/visitors_center

Restaurants and Other Local Information

Things To Do in Santa Barbara

  • Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens and Alameda Park
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Art
  • Magnificent Moorish "Palace" Santa Barbara Courthouse and Gardens
  • Hispanic State Street Arcades, Shops and Galleries
  • Arlington Theater - Miniature Hispanic Village
  • A variety of restaurants from haute cuisine to hamburgers
  • Santa Barbara Mission and Rose Gardens
  • Natural History Museum and Planetarium
  • Pleasant walking and cycling
  • Unique shopping at a number of boutiques and galleries
  • Paseo Nuevo - unique shopping mall including Nordstrom and Macy's
  • Arts & Entertainment

Within a Short Drive, Bike or Trolley

A Little Farther Away from Santa Barbara

Walks

Red Tile Walking Tour of downtown historic Santa Barbara is a "must do" to get a real feel for Santa Barbara and its past. Ask your Innkeeper for a description and map of the tour. It takes a minimum of 90 minutes and is about 18 blocks long.

Morning Neighborhood Walk takes about an hour. You'll walk from the Inn to the Mission Santa Barbara and return. You will find the Early Morning Walk directions in your Guest Information folder in your guest room.

The Garden Trail is a 1 to 3 mile loop through Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. The garden is home to more than 1,000 species of native trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses, and is a wonderful place to linger and learn. It's only about a mile walk if you walk around the garden, perhaps three miles if you explore all of the garden's side trails.

Ennisbrook Nature Preserve is an enchanting 44 acres of oak woodland along San Ysidro Creek. There is a 1 1/2 mile hiking and riding trail over old stone bridges, through groves of wild oaks and around a stand of eucalyptus trees where Monarch butterflies roost.

Hikes

Miles of trails meander through the hills, forests and stream-filled canyons of Santa Barbara...truly a hiker's paradise. Some local favorites:

Rattlesnake Trail is a moderate level hike with a gain of 900 ft. The trail starts at an elevation of 110 ft. and leads along the picturesque Rattlesnake Canyon. After 1 1/2 miles you will reach Tin Can Junction and a fork in the road. Not to worry, either fork is just over 1/2 mile and will meet up with the main trail. Rattlesnake Trail also branches west to meet Tunnel Trail, or you may go east to Gibraltar Road. Carrying drinking water is advised.

Cold Springs Trail is a moderate hike along pools at the lower level. Even in a drought year, the creek has water. The upper level to the waterfall is steep and difficult. The starting elevation is 750 ft. with the ending elevation at 3250 ft.

Romero Canyon Trail is shaded until you are quite near the top of the peak. It is a steady up-hill with an incredibly rewarding view when you reach the top. Walking at a steady pace, it takes about 1 1/2 hours to ascend. You'll see an ocean panorama and the Channel Islands in front of you, and behind you Santa Ynez and miles of surrounding mountain ranges.

Beach Walks

East Beach, located on the east side of Stearn's Wharf, is a wide sandy beach and is where the action is. You can walk for miles. If you walk west you will come to the Boat Harbor then Leadbetter Beach. If the tide is low you can walk around the rocks below Shoreline Park and continue walking, almost forever. Or you may want to walk east, in the direction of Los Angeles, and if there is a low tide, go around the bluff to Butterfly Beach.

Butterfly Beach is named for the Monarch butterflies that return here each year. Butterfly is a narrow, local neighborhood beach. You'll find it uncrowded, quiet and totally non-commercial.

Nature, Gardens & Picnics

Alameda Park
One of the oldest parks in Santa Barbara, established in the 1870s. Sunday concerts in the park are a big event during the summer months, and are performed on the 1880's bandstand.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Lovely mini-botanical gardens, benches, lawns, scenic walkways and a large pond with Koi, turtles and ducks.

Botanic Gardens
Sixty acres of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and cacti in natural settings. Five miles of easy to walk nature trails. Open daily 8:00 am to sunset. 1212 Mission Canyon Road.

Franceschi Park
A lovely park, high on the Riviera, with a panoramic view of the city, the sea and the Channel Islands. The park has pleasant walks that wind through four acres landscaped with an unusual, rare botanical collection. 1510 Mission Ridge.

Mission Rose Gardens
Walk up to the Mission and you'll find lovely lawns, a rose garden that is home to dozens of rose varieties, and beautiful views of the Mission and the ocean.

Marina and Boat Harbor
Wear casual clothes, as the only place to sit is on the cement quay, but it is worth it. Take your picnic out to the end of the breakwater where you can sit and view the city and the sea.

Shoreline Park
Overlooking the ocean, the park sits on a bluff beyond the Boat Harbor. There are tables, benches, and BBQ facilities. It is a favorite spot for kite flying, as it is usually quite breezy. A good site for sunsets.

Stearns Wharf
Walk or drive out onto the Wharf and find a sunny spot to sit and watch the gulls, pelicans and the fishermen. This tends to be a busy spot. Take away food is available there.

Nature, Wildlife & Beautiful Gardens

Monarch Butterfly Preserve
California coastline, grasslands, vernal pools and some of this nation's best monarch butterfly groves-all linked by footpaths with stunning views of the Santa Ynez mountains, the Channel Islands and Pacific Ocean. Millions of butterflies migrate to winter roosts in the eucalyptus woodlands. Scientists rate it among the three largest over-wintering sites west of the Rockies.

Seal Rookery
Our local Harbor Seal Colony is one of four along the Southern California Coast. Seals haul out with their young during the day and night. Adults leave their young on the beach while fishing during the day. Seals may be seen from December 1 through May 31.Visitors are cautioned to view from the cliffs above and not to approach from the beach as this may cause adults to abandon their pups.

Gardens to Remember

Botanic Gardens
Sixty acres of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and cacti in natural settings. Five miles of easy to walk nature trails. Open daily 8:00 am to sunset. 1212 Mission Canyon Road.

Franceschi Park
A lovely park, high on the Riviera, with a panoramic view of the city, the sea and the Channel Islands. The park has pleasant walks that wind through four acres landscaped with an unusual, rare botanical collection. 1510 Mission Ridge. Follow the directions to the Botanic Gardens as far as the Mission.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Complete with a duck pond, filled with koi and turtles, arbors, mature trees, native and specimen shrubs. Great ideas for the home garden.

Madame Ganna Walska Estate - Lotusland
This Montecito estate is a botanical showcase, but you'll need to book in advance to visit. The well known Madame Ganna Walska, a polish opera singer purchased this thirty seven acre estate in 1941 and renamed it Lotusland. In creating Lotusland, she experimented freely with bold forms and unusual color combinations. She contrasted serene, traditional vistas with daring theatrical displays. A series of gardens draws the visitor from surprise to surprise, through a delightful labyrinth of landscape adventures. Well worth the wait $10.


Website information provided by the Simpson House Inn, Mar Monte Hotel, and Santa Barbara Visitor Center.