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Step 1
Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. This museum, located in downtown Santa Barbara, has been a part of the city since 1941 and is ranked in the top 10 regional museums in the country. The museum has many collections, including African sculpture and dolls from the seventeenth century. There is also a lovely and impressive collection on French impressionism.
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Step 2
Go to the Santa Barbara Botanic Canyon. This is a large 65-acre garden with more than 1,000 species of rare and unique plants. The focus of the garden is to showcase plants that are unique to California in nature settings. The garden has been around since 1926 and has an interesting plant breeding program, with plants such as "Canyon Pink" and "Dainty Bells."
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Step 3
Relax at East Beach. This is a gorgeous and popular Santa Barbara beach and popular tourist destination. It is a popular place to surf, swim and simply bask in the rays of sunshine. The beach is well-known for volleyball, and many volleyball competitions are held here every year.
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Step 4
Hike in Rattlesnake Canyon. This canyon starts at Santa Barbara's Skofield Park and heads up into the Santa Ynez Mountains. The canyon is distinctive for its unusual sphere-like curves and turns, reminiscent of the shape of a rattlesnake (there are no records of actual rattlesnakes in the canyon). It's a serene and attractive place to go hiking and experience the beauty of Santa Barbara's nature.
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Step 5
Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This museum is the oldest in Santa Barbara, having been built in 1916. The museum is housed in a traditional Southern California mission-style building. The museum specializes in dioramas of mammals and birds. Another notable aspect of the museum is its expansive Chumash Indian tribe hall.
