Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [317]
Museum of Natural History & Gladwin Planetarium
The permanent exhibits may lack the ‘hands-on’ sparkle de rigueur of some children’s discovery centers, but this museum (Map; 805-682-4711; www.sbnature.org; 2559 Puesta del Sol Rd; adult/child 2-12yr /teen 13-17yr & senior $8/5/7; 10am-5pm) boasts a few noteworthy gems and also stages excellent special exhibits. Bug buffs should check out the glass wall holding 4000 Santa Barbara insects – all mounted – as well as the replica of a pygmy-mammoth skeleton unearthed on Santa Rosa Island in 1994. Outside you’ll find the complete skeleton of a 72ft blue whale. Kids especially like the planetarium (admission $4), which has intro-to-astronomy shows for children as well as adult programs that explore current scientific theory; call for show times. The museum is two blocks north of the mission and 1 mile south of the botanic garden.
Santa Barbara Zoological Garden
Big cats, monkeys, elephants and giraffes await at the 500-animal zoo (Map; 805-962-5339; www.sbzoo.org; 500 Ninos Dr; adult/child under 12yr & senior $10/8; 10am-5pm;), where you’ll also find beautiful gardens. The Humboldt penguins, housed in the Crawford Family Penguin House, are the current stars, and these tuxedoed show-offs seem to know it. If you’re in need of a giggle, hit the ‘Eeeww!’ insect exhibit. Its hissing cockroaches and giant African millipedes will leave you giggling at the grossed-out kids. Or deeply disturbed. Parking costs $3.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
Built to protect the missions between Monterey and San Diego, this 18th-century former Spanish fort (Map; 805-965-0093; www.sbthp.org; 123 E Cañon Perdido St; adult $3, child 16 & under free; 10:30am-4:30pm), was protected by adobe walls nearly 4ft thick and more than 9ft high. But its purpose wasn’t solely to protect – the presidio, which recently celebrated the 225th anniversary of its founding, also served as a social and political hub, and as a stopping point for traveling Spanish military. Today, the small urban park, between Anacapa and Santa Barbara Sts, harbors some of the city’s oldest structures, which seem to be in constant need of propping up and restoring. Be sure to stop by the chapel: its interior is radiant with kaleidoscopic color.
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MORETON BAY FIG TREE & PORTOLA CAMPSITE
Approaching the corner of Montecito and Chapala Sts, you can’t miss the massive Moreton Bay fig tree, imported from Brisbane, Australia, and planted in 1877. The tree is believed to be the largest of its kind in North America. Not only is it a whopping 78ft tall (almost eight stories!), but it has a 171ft canopy. Just east, you’ll see the historic plaque marking the site of Captain Portolá’s campsite in August 1769 during his exploratory trip up the coast to establish California as a Spanish colony.
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TOP FIVE FREEBIES
Climb to the top of the courthouse tower or 360° views.
Window-shop along State St, ending up at the beach and Stearns Wharf.
Scan the harbor from the 4th-floor deck at the Outdoor Visitors Center.
Hike Rattlesnake Canyon Trail just north of town in the Santa Ynez foothills.
Study a draft of the Bill of Rights at the Karpeles Museum (left).
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Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
This free museum (Map; 805-962-5322; www.rain.org/~karpeles; 21 W Anapamu St; 10am-4pm) is an embarrassment of riches for history nerds, science geeks and music lovers. Filled with historical written artifacts from the private collection of David Karpeles, a Santa Barbara real-estate investor, it’s a true SoCal treasure. One of just eight Karpeles manuscript