Santa Barbara Things to Do Tips by Yaqui Top 5 Page for this destination

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park Santa Barbara State Historic Park Review

Located up the moutain of Santa Barbara is located a wonderful piece of history being preserved. It is one of few places you can still paintings of the Chumash Native Amerians who lived is this area for over a 1,000 years. The paintings consist of many symbols that were added when events would occur.

The road to it is very narrow and steep and it was obviously a favorite of Cyclist, so be aware of them. Plus, there is only room for a couple of cars, not SUV's. RVs and trailers should not attempt the road.

Address: Painted Cave Road

Directions: The site is three miles south of San Marcos Pass. Take Highway 154 from Santa Barbara and turn right on Painted Cave Road. The cave is located on the left about two miles up a steep, narrow road. Parking is limited to two or three cars.

Phone: 805-733-3713

Website: http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=602

Ty Warner Sea Center Stearns Wharf Review

We didn't get to go in here. Yet, hopefully next time we come down here we are going too. It sounds wonderful. It is a discovery place for adults and children to learn about your neighbors who live in the ocean. They have this 1,500 gallon tide pool tank that allows children to see up close ocean life. It is owned and operated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

Always call to be sure of current hours of operation.

OPEN
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily (7 Days a Week)
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day

Address: 211 Stearns Wharf Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Directions: Go south on State Street and you'll hit Stearns Wharf.

Phone: 805.962.2526

Website: http://www.stearnswharf.org/Sea-Center/

Land and Sea Tours~Land Shark:) Stearns Wharf Review

While exploring the wharf, we spotted this very unique vessels floating in the water. I've been on a vessel like this at Baltimore Harbor and what a blast. They give you a wonderful tour of local landmarks and then take for a cruise in the waters. A really neat experience for all ages.

Check the site for hours and prices.

Address: 10 East Cabrillo Blvd.

Directions: Go south on State Street and you'll hit Stearns Wharf.

Phone: 805-683-7600

Website: http://www.out2seesb.com/

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Located down in Santa Barbara's Harbor is the Maritime Museum. It was closed by the time we got to the harbor, but I am sure it is neat. I love places like this. Museums like these are a treasure to their commuities and the education of our young.

Address: 113 Harbor Way Suite 190, Santa Barbara,CA 93109

Phone: (805) 962-8404

Website: http://www.sbmm.org/

Santa Barbara Harbor

There are a couple of restaurants here such as Brophy's Bros, Chucks Waterfront Grill and the Maritime Museum. Other than that it is mostly where the boats slips are, but it has a wonderful walking path you can stroll along to see the beautiful ocean all the wonderful boats or yachts. You can catch that water taxi from here and will take you to Stern's Wharf or back to here.

Address: Shoreline Drive

Directions: Exit from the Highway 225 east on Loma Alta Drive then make a left on Shoreline Drive to Harbor Way where parking is. Make sure to purchase your ticket, because they watch!

Phone: (805) 564-5531

Website: http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Departments/Waterfront/

Moby Dick Mural~ Stearns Wharf Review

Located on the Moby Dick Restaurnat is a mural located on the outside of the building along the walkway.

It reads:
The first plaque reads:
In Fond Memory of Karl R. Henry 1917-1999
"The Whale Man"

The second reads:
Moby Dick
The sperm whale (Physeter catodon) is one of the world's largest mammals. Males can ready up to a length of 55 feet and weigh as much as 53 tons. This toothed whale catches its food with peg like teeth, making deep dives to hunt mostly squid and fish. Using a clicking sound, they create complex communications and locate prey. Once extensively hunted by humans, these great animals are not at this time in danger of extinction. Orignally painted in 1991, my first portrait of Moby Dick was lost in the disastrous Stearn's Wharf fire of 1998. That whale, based on the character from the classic 1870 novel by Herman Melville, represented the forces of nature and mankind's attempt to use and conquer it. This new art piece seeks to represent a more thoughtful relationship with nature. A ship can be seen reflected in the whale's eye. We are now looking to each other not for destruction, but for the promise of a unified, more caring fate. This is our conscious choice to make. ~Beth Amine

Directions: Go south on State Street and you'll hit Stearns Wharf.

Website: http://www.stearnswharf.org/

Chase Palm Park - Skater's Point Stearns Wharf Review

This is another addition Santa Barbara has for the young folks to have a place to go to skate board, so hopefully they stay off the sidewalks. Hmmm, maybe..lol! There were lots of young and some more mature adults enjoying the park that day:))

Address: Cabrillo Boulevard and Garden

Directions: From the 101 and 405: 101 North. Exit Garden St (Go South). Pass Cabrillo
Pay to park, the skatepark is on your right.

Phone: 805-564-5418

Website: http://www.socalskateparks.com/park/SantaBarbaraSkatersPoint

Cold Springs Canyon Arch Bridge ~Wells Fargo 30

While on our little adventure from the tavern, we noticed these signs, so we followed one. It lead us to a spot where you can see the underbelly of the Cold Springs Canyon Arch Bridge and to a sign that explained a little bit of the history.

It says: Old Stagecoach Route 1860-1901
This old stagecoach road was used by all traffic until the Cold Springs Arches Bridge was built in 1963.

Sponsored by
Well Fargo Bank, Goleta Beautiful, Goleta Historial Society, City & County of Santa Barbara, De La Guerra y Pacheco Chapter 15 E Clampus Vitus and Other Friends.

Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge is the 5th longest span arch bridge of a supporting deck in the world. It also is know for some fatal attraction, so hopfully they will find a way to fix that soon.

Directions: Off Highway 154

Ojai Jail 1873

Ojai jail was built by then Constable Andrew Van Curen in 1873. When the town replaced Van Curen, he wouldn't let them keep the wooden jail. So they replaced it with a concrete bunker built in 1920 that sits in Libby Park in Ojai still. This wooden jail is located at Cold Springs Tavern. Located towards the back off the patio of the restaurant building.

Inside the Treasure N Trash building is some wonderful newpaper articles of the history of the building and the people who have owned it. Some neat photos too!

Address: 5995 Stagecoach Road Santa Barbara, Ca 93105

Directions: Off Highway 154

Phone: (805) 967 - 0066

Website: http://coldspringtavern.com/index.html

Cold Spring Tavern 1868

The plaque reads: In 1868 this tavern was known as "Cold Springs Relay Station". It was the half way stop between "Mattel's Tavern" to the north, and Patrick Kinevan's "Summit House" to the south. In those days sturdy stagecoaches know as "mudwagons" traveled the rugged San Marcos Pass. It was here horses were changed and passengers rested and enjoyed the noon day meal. In 1900 the Doulton family bought the old tavern with its adjoining 40 acres. In 1941 they sold it to the Ovington family whose daughter Audrey Ovington owns it to this day.
Plaque dedicated August 4, 1993 by
Santa Barbara Parlor No. 116. Native Sons of the Golden West
Reina Del Mar Palor No. 126 Native Daughters of the Golden West
Tierra De Oro Palor No. 204 Native Daughters of the Golden West

It was also very dangerous road due to the fact that highway robbers frequent this pass. Let alone enduring the bump ride to get to point a and b. What is so unique they have maintained its rustic charm. It is nestle in the moutain and the road can be quite dangerous if your not paying attention.

The other building on the property has its own history. The Road Gang house was where the Chinese laborers bunked at while the San Marcos turnpike was being built in 1868.

Address: 5995 Stagecoach Road Santa Barbara, Ca 93105

Directions: Off Highway 154

Phone: (805) 967 - 0066

Website: http://coldspringtavern.com/index.html