Santa Barbara

"Whale watching with a guarantee" is the motto of Condor Express—that's what they all say. But the waters off Santa Barbara are home to one of...more

See the flip side of Santa Barbara from a sit-on-top kayak. Paddle Sports offers a range of guided day trips along the coast; full-moon tours departing from...more

Santa Barbara has profited well from its strict building codes: There are few more aesthetically pleasing, architecturally cohesive cities in the U.S. It likes...more

You don't have to be from the green-thumb club to love this 78-acre garden in the foothills of Mission Canyon. Wander more than five miles of trails through...more

Rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake that destroyed much of downtown, this working courthouse with Spanish-Moorish architecture, hand-painted ceilings,...more

Even if you avoid church tours like the plague, head for this hilltop landmark—the view and historical experience are worth it. Built in 1815 after an...more

Founded in 1941, this museum has a surprisingly strong permanent Asian art collection, which includes earthenware Chinese zodiac figures dating back to the...more

On 11 acres in Mission Canyon, the museum covers the region with exhibits on local birdlife, insects, mammals, and marine life, plus Chumash Indian artifacts,...more

Hopefully you'll fare better than President Bush, who took a tumble during his first ride on a Segway, the self-balancing electric-powered human...more

A cross between an aquarium and a laboratory, the Sea Center, run by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, makes it possible to play marine scientist...more