Santa Barbara Off The Beaten Path

Cachuma Lake sits over the Santa Ynez Mountains reached by Hwy 154, not Hwy 101, the main road north. The road, believe it or not, is a shortcut from Santa Barbara to Los Olivos. The lake itself is lower than normal and everyone is seeking the rain to help bring the lake back to normal. The camping area and fishing ramp are open year round, but no swimming or water skiing is allowed. A very scenic, remote area but used by locals and tourists, alike. Boat rentals, camping, and fishing are available.

For some local wine tasting that you don’t have to drive out of Santa Barbara for, go a check out Santa Barbara Winery (202 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara) and Oreana Winery (205 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara), which are located a few blocks from Stearns Warf. Santa Barbara Winery carries a large range of wines and offers wine tasting for $5 for wine tasting and they throw in the glass! Oreana winery, which is located in an old tire shop, charges $10. There is no real time limit of how long you stay, once you try all of them, you can move on to the next winery. The staff at Oreana and Santa Barbara Winery are very knowledgeable and friendly. If you want any information of where to go, what to do or things to do, ask them and they are happy to offer their advice.

Santa Barbara is known for their wineries. Many people drive down for weekend trips to do wine tasting at the wineries around the Santa Barbara area. You can sign up for tours and you can get picked up by a bus or even a limo depending on how much you are willing to pay. Most wineries carry a large variety for you to choose from. You pay and they let you try a selection of wines from their collection. It is highly recommended that you take a tour because they will take you to numerous wineries and you don’t have to drive.

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Mrs Alice Keck Park was a wealthy woman who bought a whole block of land from the Museum of Art when plans to extend the Museum fell through in 1975.
She then gave the land to the city council with sufficient funds to both create a garden there and to maintain it on condition it always remained a park.

Its special feature is a very large collection of different trees and plants beautifully laid out and interspersed with pathways, wild life ponds and water features
There are picnic facilities and a sensory garden for people with sight impairment and seating in shady arbors for rest.
I don’t think we have made our way to the Alice Keck ( Park) Memorial Park had not one of the helpful ladies in the Information Office asked if we liked gardens. She described it as the city’s secret gem, the crown jewel of Santa Barbara’s open spaces.

It is now commonly referred to simply as the Alice Keck Memorial Park

It is a couple of blocks off the Red Tile Walking Tour, off right Upper State Street but very easy to find one block above the one Marked Kid’s Corner on the map you can pick up at the information centre.

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This small lake, large pond is home to many water and land birds. I can remember going to this pond when I was only a small child with my parents, who used to feed the ducks on the north side of the pond. It is a warm memory that I have, seeing my parents get such joy out of feeding the wildlife of Santa Barbara.

I have taken my children to the same spot to feed the ducks and only trust that they will have the same memories of this wonderful refuge. Located at 1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd. , it is a great walking area for the entire family, especially during a sunny Santa Barbara day.

Douglas Family Preserve offers beautiful vistas of prime South California coast, a very short drive from Santa Barbara. There are some nice walking trails and is quite popular with locals out walking their dogs or pushing baby carriages. We had spent our first day in town washing our very deserving car and getting an oil change, along with having a nice lunch on our host's balcony. But when the sun was getting low in the sky, Ernst, a photographer himself and knowing I'd like to get some nice pictures, whisked us off here. As you can see, he was quite right.

This beach is one of the hidden gems of Santa Barbara. Also known as Hendry's Beach for the family who once owned the land. Located in front of the Douglas Family Preserve at the end of Cliff Drive, it is both a dog leash and leash off beach with a good mile of sand to roam.

Many dolphins swim by daily, and while there, I saw a total of 14 dolphins playing in the ocean and swimming along the coast only about 30 yards out. The cliffs that back the beach help to keep the wind and cold off the sand. This beach offers great sunsets. There is a fresh water shower and restroom next to the free large parking lot. A restaurant, the BoatHouse, is located next to the sand. See my restaurant page for information on this restaurant.

Sculpted by famed artist Harry Jackson in 1980, but unvieled in 1985. This beautiful sculpture is of Sakajawea, the Shoshone Native American woman who helped Lewis & Clark explore the west. It depicts her strength and pride. She is carrying her young son on her back.

It kind of sits back from the street and kind of shaded, so you can easily miss it. So please look for it, because it is really lovely in person.

Located on the corner of State and Victoria Street.

Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce
924 Anacapa Street, Ste. 1
Santa Barbara, CA 93101