Look forward to coming back and bringing more friends and family to Eberle! It's the most scenic route by far and is easy to get off and get back on while making stops along the way. Will definitely be coming back! He even came to say hi to us and talk about being from PA! Built in 1872 and named after the builder John P. Stearns, this wharf is the oldest in all of California. 2201 Laguna St, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA. The southern end of State St gives way to Stearns Wharf, a rough wooden pier lined with souvenir shops, snack stands and seafood shacks. It has a great visitor center that is super educational. The gardens are an awe-inspiring natural wonder, home to a beautiful redwood grove, picturesque hiking trails, and spectacular green landscapes. I witnessed him whisper to her as he pointed at me and my husband. Beautiful architectural building with equally magnificent gardens and decorations. The courthouse was designed using the Spanish-Colonial architectural style, constructed back in 1929. Tow vehicles are not counted as a 2nd car so you can actually have a 3rd vehicle for $10 per night extra. A San Francisco to Santa Barbara road trip encompasses one of the prettiest drives in the entire country. So much so that we joined. Yes, you must go by! wear good walking shoes, and make sure you have plenty of water. I have been coming here since I was younger and it has changed in many ways. You'll find a dive shop and also a small market. Although civic court functions are still part of daily life in this bustling structure, there are two sights you absolutely cannot miss: the Mural Room and the El Mirador clock tower. Such a great enjoyable time didn't here. . Take a soul-satisfying jaunt around this 40-acre botanic garden, devoted to Californias native flora. Built in 1872, its the oldest continuously operating wooden wharf in Stearns Wharf is an absolute must-see when visiting Santa Barbara. You could check out Eberle Winery and Sculpterra Winery, or the always popular Estrella Warbird Museum! 751 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA. Many tourist-friendly shops with souvenirs are available in the area as are many places to sample local seafood dishes like lobster bisque and even full lobster dinners. Im not even one that loves wine, but I was blown away by how delicious all options were. The drive is especially beautiful during sunset, when the sky is painted with vibrant colors and clouds that often look like cotton candy. Discover the top things to do in an 8-day road trip across California's Central Coast, including Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Paso Robles, and Oxnard. A lot of fun and everything seems very thorough as far as safety precautions. Beautiful Carmel River Beach just outside the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea 11:00 am leave from La Quinta Inn & Suites Paso Robles. Magnificent place in Santa Barbara, got to spent the evening here watching the mesmerizing sunset with the backdrop of the palm trees. Another jaw-droppingly photogenic stop is the volcanic mound at Morro Bay. While your dog might not go on the cave tour, there is a scenic deck area with plenty of space for them to roam or even play with the winerys resident poodles. The wharf is also home to a bustling fish market, a maritime museum, and some of the best seafood restaurants in the area. Nonstop drive: 235 miles or 378 km Driving time: 3 hours, 53 minutes The unique tastes of fizz, acid, and citrus made my tongue euphoric. So much to see here. Great for pictures and the waves are alright. We are looking to stay over night in Santa Barbara. Plus you can check out the shops which are all fun. 1 minute off the main route, 61% of way to Santa Barbara. This mission, founded in 1804, is an active parish church, plus a museum with tours & a gift shop. This distinctive building is known as the Queen of the Missions, due to its beautiful setting and graceful beauty. Gas from Monterey to Santa Barbara would cost around $24 to $56 USD, depending on your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Cutest spot in sb!!! Try starting your trip from Carmel By the Sea, Carmel Valley, Pacific Grove, Seaside (California), Carmel, Marina, or Sand City. Ive been in winter and summer and its always a beautiful view. Second, once we arrived, our server Maddy was very attentive, knowledgeable, thoughtful and helpful with our first wine tasting experience. I love how people put colored lights up to brighten these winter nights. This place is a must to try out! The gardens are beautiful He did give me Communion on the mouth; which was great. The Mural Room, a popular site for weddings, is the jewel of the Courthouse, showcasing painter Daniel Sayre Groesbeck's romanticized version of Santa Barbara's history over 6,000 square feet of wall space. Plan your itinerary and explore the offbeat destinations of the Central Coast. Stearns Wharfis one of Santa Barbaras most beautiful destinations because of its gorgeous azure water and abundance of little local shops. Though I always feel empathy pains for the animals living there. Mission Santa Barbara is probably the most popular tourist attraction in the city. You can visit cool redwood forests and sandy deserts within a short distance of each other and aspirant gardeners can be inspired by the Water Wise Home Garden exhibit, which will show you which plants (available at the nursery) will thrive in your California garden. The name Cambria, chosen in 1869, is the Latin name for Wales. After graduating with a BS in biology, he attended Louisiana State University where he continued his graduate work studying cellular genetics. For an unforgettable birds-eye look at the city, climb to the top of the clock tower at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The Old Mission Santa Barbarais not only rich with history, it is also an incredibly exquisite building. The Elverhj Museum of History & Art explores the city's Danish heritage through personal stories and photographs. I especially enjoyed the Rouge blend and the Cabernet (of course). Walk past the line at LilToot Water Taxi to reach the Moby Dick Restaurant, named for being able to spot whales from your dinner table as opposed to whats served. Formerly home to George Knapp, a wealthy man who was the founder of Union Carbide, a chemical-based industry, the house was completed in 1916. So let's start with stops on highway 1 and go from there. See the decorative inside of the Spanish Revival architecture, which includes carvings and marble details. Stearns Wharf is one of Santa Barbaras most popular tourist attractions offering family fun for all ages. It's rightfully rated as one of the top road trips in the world. The owner was attentive and shared good wines. Maybe my favorite winery in Paso. This market is pretty large with hundreds of people. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden comprises more than 1,000 different species of fauna (some of which are very rare while some are native to this area) sitting on 78-acre land property. California's Queen of the Missions reigns above the city on a hilltop perch over a mile north of downtown. But I've also marveled at art shows, savored honey tastings, and enjoyed made-to-order crepes in this niche space. We always have a great experience wine tasting at Laetitia. Both parts of the property are awesome. Horticulture enthusiasts and nature lovers adore the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, a peaceful haven of manicured landscapes, formal gardens and endangere plant species. Did I mention the food? We met with Father after Spanish Mass and he was very warm and welcoming. 1 / 12. Gary greets all visitors to the estate, and they can enjoy complimentary wine tastings and public tours of the production facility and explore the 16,000 square feet of underground caves where the wine is stored. Recommended option Bus Take the bus from Santa Barbara to Salinas 6h 30m $33 - $46 9 alternative options Train Tobin James crafts intense fruit driven wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrahs, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Dessert Zinfandel, all of which visitors can sample in the inviting tasting room that features a grand, 150-year-old bar. If wildflower meadows, shady redwood groves, and easy walking paths is your style then look no further than the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. 3. Also added the charcuterie plate, which Id prefer to see some changes; maybe more olives and the menu said there were figs on the board, but didnt get any. Felt peaceful. receives our benediction It was built in 1872 and was, at the time, the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Notable stops are Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-By-The-Sea, Pismo Beach, Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. 5015 Linne Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446, USA, 8950 Union Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446, USA. Overall a good time and I'd come back again. Their mission is to preserve Californias beautiful and diverse plants in a sustainable way so that they can be enjoyed for years to come. For someone like me who is completely oblivious to plays or musicals, this was still highly entertaining. Couldnt have asked for a better selection of food items. Every wine we tasted was delicious. Maybe I'm just bad at finding things but there was also really good Indian food here. Great shopping, upgraded the pier area recently, great spot. 6 hours 10 minutes. Brought our very large golden retrievers, and were very comfortable in the shade under a tent. A gorgeous beach that doesnt get too busy. Very interesting! Today was our third annual visit, not counting Covid-19 years, and it was definitely our favorite show to date. Check them out here: Yes! You will probably want to pack a meal. There is a little bit of hiking. The sites are nice some were pretty muddy after the big storms. The seats are all within good distance of the stage, the lighting is nice, the snacks/food (made by the actors) were delicious and the play itself was beyond awesome! it also features 12 acres of gorgeous gardens. 1212 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, USA. Plan for a good hour here to take in Missions incredible artwork and architecture. It is best to just take a seat and take in the view. Must see. Must be lovely exited to meet the place . The mission is situated on 2000 acres and has ~ 25 miles of hiking trails, besides all of the restored buildings with very informative historical displays of what life was like on the mission. Its an honor well-earned, though, as its easily among the most beautiful missions in the state of California. The views of the mountains and palm trees in the distance are so beautiful that no photo can really do it justice. Nice day at the beach. Come for the wine, stay for the architecture, the views and the (occasional) live music. Both times, we drove our one ton pickup truck right onto that old wooden wharf and both times we lived to tell the tale. Santa Barbara was devastated by a devastating earthquake in 1925. Paso Robles is the most popular city on the route it's 2 hours from Monterey and 2 hours from Santa Barbara. This is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style building, still in operation (even if it was built in 1929) and defined by Charles Moore as the most magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival structure ever built. It is a nice place to visit and walk about. Highlights include the historic Mission Dam and aqueduct, built in 1807 to funnel water to the Santa Barbara Mission; the magnificent redwood grove; a wildflower meadow; and a lovely Japanese teahouse and tea garden. The Inland Route. The harbor houses restaurants, shops, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, and over 1000 vessels. The Old Mission Santa Barbara is a stunning, active parish church. We saw the whole Zoo in less than 2hrs. This aviation museum at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport features restored military aircraft and vehicles. This is an above average campground with good amenities, proximity to Solvang, and access to a nice lake/reservoir. Despite their Desert their bookstore had no volumes on palm trees or their care. Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, its traversed by narrow, 2-lane State Route 1, known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline. WOW!!!! Due to time constraints we unfortunately will not be able to pass the Big Sur or Monterey. A section of this garden known as the Redwood Forest is among the most beautiful attractions in Santa Barbara. There are a ton of different options for photos at Stearn's Wharf. Cons: (1) Dog run was horrible, dry, foxtail & burr infested and simply not suitable for pets. Seeing the jets and planes up close is really an experience that no picture can justify. Overall I highly recommend for a mixed aged audience, everyone loved it from youngest to oldest and it was worth the price of admission. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a great place to bring the family to learn about plants and nature. Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app. An LA to Big Sur road trip is one of the most stunning and unforgettable trips you could embark on in your lifetime. The most visited landmark in the city []. Learn MoreView Website. One-of-a-kind experience that I imagine is the perfect place to start in Paso. There are 21 Spanish Missions in the state of California and let me tell you, the Santa Barbara Mission TAKES THE CAKE!. This place is a MUST if you want some great California wine. Its a must-see when visiting Santa Barbara, California. 12:37 pm Solvang. The membership is well worth it and isn't very much considering what you get with it. Save Mission Santa Barbara to your lists, We were looking to sight-see so we hopped off and walked over to the Santa Barbara Courthouse, the most elegant and therefore photographed of its kind. Case in point? The SB Shellfish Co, located near the south end of the wharf has some amazing lobster bisque and also offers full lobster dinners at very reasonable prices. Nice activities for small children and the whole family really. Metal sculptures. 1.5 hours Solvang. My sisters and I really enjoyed our time here. No trip to San Luis Obispo is complete without a stay at the Madonna Inn. Food vendors set up along with producers and vendors offering a wonderful array of choices. Its also a launch point for lots of fun family activities, including sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, renting a boat or jet ski, or going on a sunset or whale watching cruise. After your jaunt along State Street, youll come across one of Santa Barbaras most iconic landmarks: the Stearns Wharf. This is not the spot for adventure seekers. The pier was built in 1878, but it has suffered lots of damage from storms, earthquakes, and fires since then. From there, take HWY 101 N to Santa Barbara. Serene stretch of coast & picnicking spot with a snug, basic campground & scenic views. Highly recommend coming here while in Paso Robles! Make them visit the famous Estrella Warbird museum of Paso Robles so as to have a look at military aircraft, vehicles, and memorabilia that have been restored and preserved well. Reserve your tickets today! No trip to Santa Barbara is complete without a stop at the Santa Barbara Harbor. I enjoyed the variety of produce available and the chance to shop with entertainment. I've been to a lot of Missions. Very few people in the national parks! You might not consider this cute town as a day trip, and it's not typically found on these lists, but there's actually quite a bit to do there. Notable Pros: (1) Proximity to lake via various marked hiking trails from most camp areas (2) Fairly well-stocked General Store with firewood, ice, liquor, RV accessories, etc. The Monterey Peninsula has a cluster of small coastal towns that are a joy to explore: Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, and Pebble Beach. Get inspired for your trip to Monterey with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Nowadays the pier is a bustling center for shops, restaurants, and fishermen.Santa Barbaras historic three-dolphin statue marks the piers entrance at the bottom of State Street, where cars and pedestrians alike head out over the deep blue water to do a bit of wine tasting, souvenir shopping, pay a visit to the Ty Warner Sea Center, or just to get a great view of Santa Barbara from a different angle. They have also added QR codes that make it really nice to be able to here an audio tour. 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