Things to Do in Santa Barbara and the Central Coast

Things to Do in Santa Barbara and the Central Coast

Sights Overview
Name Category Location
 
Alma Rosa Winery
Just outside Solvang is the Alma Rosa Winery. Owners Richard and... 		Wineries / Breweries Solvang
 
Andree Clark Bird Refuge
This peaceful lagoon and its gardens sit north of East Beach... 		Nature Preserves Santa Barbara
 
Baileyana Winery
A refurbished 1909 schoolhouse serves as tasting room for Baileyana... 		Wineries / Breweries San Luis Obispo
 
Bixby Creek Bridge
The graceful arc of Bixby Creek Bridge is a photographer's dream... 		Bridges / Tunnels Central Big Sur
 
Carhartt Vineyard Tasting Room
At this intimate space, you're likely to meet owners and winemakers... 		Wineries / Breweries Los Olivos
 
Carriage and Western Art Museum
The country's largest collection of old horse-drawn vehicles—painstakingly... 		Museums / Galleries Santa Barbara
 
Chumash Casino Resort
Just south of Santa Ynez on the Chumash Indian Reservation lies... 		Casinos Santa Ynez
 
Claiborne & Churchill
An eco-friendly winery built from straw bales, Claiborne &... 		Wineries / Breweries San Luis Obispo
 
Daniel Gehrs Tasting Room
Heather Cottage, built in the early 1900s as a doctor's office... 		Wineries / Breweries Los Olivos
 
Eberle Winery
Even if you don't drink wine, stop at Eberle Winery for a fascinating... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
 
Edna Valley Vineyard
For sweeping views of the Edna Valley while you sample estate-grown... 		Wineries / Breweries San Luis Obispo
 
Edna Valley/Arroyo Grande Valley wine country
San Luis Obispo is the commercial center of a wine region whose... 		Wineries / Breweries San Luis Obispo
 
El Presidio State Historic Park
Founded in 1782, El Presidio was one of four military strongholds... 		Military Sites Santa Barbara
 
Embarcadero
The center of the action on land is the Embarcadero, where vacationers... 		Neighborhoods / Streets Morro Bay
 
Firestone Vineyard
This winery has been around since 1972. It has daily tours, grassy... 		Wineries / Breweries Los Olivos
 
Firestone Walker Fine Ales
As they say around Paso Robles, it takes a lot of beer to make... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
 
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Preserve
This spectacular preserve straddles the coast for 18 miles between... 		Nature Preserves Pismo Beach
 
Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle, officially known as "Hearst San Simeon State Historical... 		Castles / Palaces San Simeon
 
Highway 1
One of California's most spectacular drives, Highway 1 snakes... 		Scenic Drives Southern Big Sur
 
History Center of San Luis Obispo County
Across the street from the old Spanish mission, the center presents... 		Museums / Galleries San Luis Obispo
 
Jade Cove
In Los Padres National Forest just north of the town of Gorda... 		Towns Southern Big Sur
 
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park provides some fine hiking, from... 		Parks Southern Big Sur
 
Justin Vineyards & Winery
At the western end of Paso Robles wine country, swank Justin... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
 
Karpeles Manuscript Library
Ancient political tracts and old Disney cartoons are among the... 		Libraries Santa Barbara
 
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park
The most fully restored mission in the state, Mission La Purisima... 		Religious Sites Lompoc
 
Lake Casitas Recreation Area
Lunker largemouth bass, rainbow trout, crappie, redears, and... 		Bodies of Water Ventura
 
Leffingwell's Landing
A state picnic ground, the landing a good place for examining... 		Parks Cambria
 
Lompoc Valley Flower Festival
Around the last weekend of June, Lompoc celebrates its floral... 		Festivals Lompoc
 
Mission San Buenaventura
The ninth of the 21 California missions, Mission San Buenaventura... 		Historic Districts / Sites Ventura
 
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa
Special events often take place on sun-dappled Mission Plaza... 		Religious Sites San Luis Obispo
 
Mission Santa Barbara
Widely referred to as the "Queen of Missions," this is one of... 		Religious Sites Santa Barbara
 
Mission Santa Inés
The mission holds an impressive collection of paintings, statuary... 		Religious Sites Solvang
 
Montaña de Oro State Park
Instead of continuing north on U.S. 101/Highway 1 from San Luis... 		Parks San Luis Obispo
 
Montecito
Since the late 1800s the tree-studded hills and valleys of this... 		Towns Santa Barbara
 
Moonstone Beach Drive
Lined with low-key motels, the drive runs along a bluff above... 		Scenic Drives Cambria
 
Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History
The entertaining and educational interactive exhibits at this... 		Museums / Galleries Morro Bay
 
Morro Rock
At the mouth of Morro Bay, which is both a state and national... 		Nature Preserves Morro Bay
 
Nit Wit Ridge
Arthur Beal (aka Captain Nit Wit, Der Tinkerpaw) spent 51 years... 		Houses / Mansions Cambria
 
Ojai Avenue
The work of local artists is displayed in the Spanish-style shopping... 		Neighborhoods / Streets Ojai
 
Ojai Center for the Arts
The Ojai Center for the Arts exhibits artwork and presents theater... 		Arts / Performance Venues Ojai
 
Ojai Valley Museum
Housed in a former chapel, the Ojai Valley Museum has exhibits... 		Museums / Galleries Ojai
 
Ojai Valley Trail
The 18-mile Ojai Valley Trail is open to pedestrians, bikers... 		Trails Ojai
 
Old Edna
While touring Edna Valley wine country, be sure to stop at Old... 		Towns San Luis Obispo
 
Old San Simeon
Turn west from Highway 1 across from the Hearst Castle entrance... 		Towns San Simeon
 
Outdoors Santa Barbara Visitor Center
The small office provides maps and information about Channel... 		Information Centers Santa Barbara
 
Paso Robles Pioneer Museum
The museum's one-room schoolhouse and its displays of ranching... 		Museums / Galleries Paso Robles
 
Paso Robles Wine Festival
Most local wineries pour at this mid-May outdoor festival that... 		Festivals Paso Robles
 
Paso Wine Centre
Four dozen local wines are available for tasting via enomatic... 		Stores / Malls Paso Robles
 
Pasolivo
While touring the idyllic west side of Paso Robles, take a break... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
 
Pfeiffer Beach
Through a hole in one of the gigantic boulders at secluded Pfeiffer... 		Beaches Central Big Sur
 
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Among the many hiking trails at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park... 		Parks Central Big Sur
 
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery
A large colony of elephant seals (at last count 15,000 members)... 		Nature Preserves San Simeon
 
Piedras Blancas Light Station
If you think traversing craggy, twisting Highway 1 is tough... 		Tours San Simeon
 
Point Sur State Historic Park
An 1889 lighthouse still stands watch from atop a large volcanic... 		Parks Central Big Sur
 
Rideau Vineyard
Housed in an 1884 adobe, Rideau's tasting room provides simultaneous... 		Wineries / Breweries Solvang
 
River Oaks Hot Springs & Spa
The lakeside spa, on 240 hilly acres near the intersection of... 		Spas Paso Robles
 
San Luis Obispo Children's Museum
Indoor and outdoor activities at this delightful museum present... 		Museums / Galleries San Luis Obispo
 
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Scenic trails meander through the garden's 78 acres of native... 		Gardens / Arboretums Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Hand-painted tiles and a spiral staircase infuse the courthouse... 		Government Buildings Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
The historical society's museum exhibits decorative and fine... 		Museums / Galleries Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
California's seafaring history is the focus here. High-tech... 		Museums / Galleries Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
The highlights of this museum's permanent collection include... 		Museums / Galleries Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
The gigantic skeleton of a blue whale greets you at the entrance... 		Museums / Galleries Santa Barbara
 
Santa Barbara Zoo
The grounds of this smallish zoo are so gorgeous people book... 		Zoos / Aquariums Santa Barbara
 
Stearns Wharf
Built in 1872, Stearns Wharf is Santa Barbara's most visited... 		Stores / Malls Santa Barbara
 
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Tucked in the far-west hills of Paso Robles, Tablas Creek Vineyard... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
 
Ty Warner Sea Center
A branch of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the... 		Zoos / Aquariums Santa Barbara
 
Urban Wine Trail
More than a dozen winery tasting rooms form the Urban Wine Trail... 		Wineries / Breweries Santa Barbara
 
Ventura Oceanfront
Four miles of gorgeous coastline stretch from the county fairgrounds... 		Museums / Galleries Ventura
 
Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards
In southeastern Paso Robles wine country, Wild Horse was a pioneering... 		Wineries / Breweries Paso Robles
Sights Overview »

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