With the sea as your backdrop, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s Sea Center is a must-visit destination for families. Here, kids will get hands-on opportunities to interact with local marine life. The Sea Center features an open-bottom cutout where naturalists will guide them into the ocean below. The center offers many activities to keep kids busy, including sand-trolling pullies and a kid-friendly touch-pool.
Visitors to the museum will be wowed by the collection of more than two-thousand works, spanning more than 5,000 years. Highlights include Claude Monet’s painting, classical antiquities, contemporary American painting, and Asian art. There are also numerous traveling exhibitions that rotate through the museum. The museum features interactive displays for the kids, as well as a museum store and cafe.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is full of fun activities and shows for children of all ages. The Zoo Train goes around the perimeter of the zoo, and children can sign up for the Engineer for a Day program. Besides the animals, the zoo also offers several other programs, such as giraffe feeding and Behind-the-Scenes tours. Kids can also enjoy the Barnyard, which contains domestic farm animals.
Young children will love the Santa Barbara Zoo, which is a perfect size for young children. Parents can also sign their kids up for surfing camps and take a tour of the beautiful coastline. If you’re interested in surfing, you can join a local course or try a summer camp for kids. Whether you want to enjoy the beach, spend time at the Santa Barbara Aquarium, or explore the city on your own, Santa Barbara has something for everyone.
Santa Barbara is home to the best playground in the city. The playground is located in Alameda Park and is designed to appeal to children’s imagination. There are high wooden bridges, rope climbs, tire bridges, and towers for your kids to explore. Kids World has over eight thousand square feet of play space. Parents can relax in the stadium-style seating while their children play.
One of the museums in the city offers interactive experiences. The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation (MOXI) is a favorite of little visitors. With hands-on exhibits and a tech track, your children can explore science, art, and history. Families can take the kids to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, where they can view the skeleton of a blue whale. They’ll also enjoy visiting the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Bird Hall and Mammal Hall. A trip to the museum isn’t complete without a stop for an outdoor cafe or lunch.
The West Wind Drive-in is another favorite among Santa Barbara families. The drive is fun for the entire family. And if the rainy season isn’t your thing, you can take the family to Monterey, Simi Valley, and Santa Cruz, which are all fun destinations for families. Whatever you do, the city of Santa Barbara is sure to please. The West Wind Drive-in is just one of many family-friendly attractions in Santa Barbara.
If you’re looking for some fun water activities, try the ocean. The Santa Barbara Channel is home to more than 27 species of whales, including humpbacks and gray whales. From May to November, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to watch the feeding of the humpback whales. The Gray Whales migrate along the Santa Barbara coast. Besides enjoying the beautiful surroundings, the sea mammals are also a popular attraction for families.
If you’re looking for a bed and breakfast, the Eagle Inn is an excellent choice. Its traditional hotel rooms and suites have balconies, private patios, and fireplaces. It’s also close to State Street, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and Stearns Wharf. Moreover, the Eagle Inn’s restaurant serves a delicious hot breakfast every morning and a variety of homemade cookies for guests to enjoy.