Santa Barbara, California Overview

Before the movie Sideways ignited the Santa Barbara wine country craze, the seaside town had already collected its fair share of history. The Chumash Indians had settled here; the Spanish Missionaries had evangelized during colonization; and the earthquake of 1925 had shaken things up and led to a town ordinance to preserve downtown Santa Barbara's Spanish Colonial architecture.

Santa Barbara's local sights and attractions echo this rich history, and life here continually asks visitors to savor the moment, whether you're exploring downtown's State Street or strolling by the ocean on Stearns Wharf or East Beach. Dubbed the "American Riveria," Santa Barbara offers a distinctive combination of nature, history, culture and dining. Attractions you won't want to miss include the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park, and the Santa Barbara Zoo.