Are you tired of being cooped up at home? Those with children can especially understand the difficulty of the current year, with most schools only offering distance learning at the moment. While it may be tough, it does allow those looking to get away from home to take their schooling with them! The area is the perfect place to have an educational journey to Santa Barbara for everyone in the family.
California is a big place with so much to offer, including a variety of local flora and fauna. Each region offers something a little different, with Southern California being a desert landscape and Northern California covered in red oak trees. Take a look at the incredible plant life in our state by visiting the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. This 78-acre garden features over a 1,000 different species of indigenous and rare plant life exclusive to the region. You and your family will be able the plants in their native habitat and learn about them with hands on exhibits. Make sure to stop by the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden found at 1212 Mission Canyon Dr any day of the week from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The area of Santa Barbara previously belonged to the Spanish Empire back in the 1700s. Many remnants of their society in the area remain available to tour, including the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. This unique park is a former military installation that was used to defend the region from intruders. Having been originally built in 1782, you will notice that the buildings offer an educational experience into the past. The historical landmark sits on 5 acres. Make sure to stop by El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park found at 123 E Canon Perdido St. The park is open daily from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Your family will be treated with a trip into the past when you visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. This local museum is located right off Mission Creek and has many different varieties of flora and fauna to be on display. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History features 10 different exhibit halls. Visitors will discover an incredible amount of detail regarding the geology and plant life in the region. Educational exhibits will also show how the Chumash tribe first settled the area before the Spanish created settlements in the area. The museum even features the only full dome planetarium in central California. The exhibits are always changing so you will have a different experience every time you visit. Stop by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The museum can be found at 2559 Puesta Del Sol in Santa Barbara.
Another location owned and operated by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is the Sea Center. Previously known as the Ty Warner Sea Center, this local attraction focuses on the marine life in and around Santa Barbara. A variety of attractions are found here, including an interactive tide pool where you can pet sharks and other aquatic creatures. The BioLab lets you learn about the biological life cycle of sharks and other fish. 36 different marine mammals are on display in the Mammal Mezzanine. Think of the Sea Center as local aquarium with added emphasis on learning. You can visit the Sea Center located at 211 Stearns Wharf. It is open Friday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Children of all ages can have a blast while learning when visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo. This local zoo is like many others with an abundance of exhibits with creatures found from all over the world. The Santa Barbara Zoo may not be as big as other famous zoos, but it has been ranked as one of the best. Some of the popular exhibits include animal favorites such as penguins, lions, elephants, gibbons, and so much more. You will marvel at these unique creatures as they hang out in habitats designed to look and feel like their native region. You can visit the Santa Barbara Zoo found at 500 Ninos Dr in Santa Barbara. The zoo is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM and open late until 7:00 PM Friday through Sunday.
As you can see, there is plenty of fun and educational attractions to enjoy during your stay in Santa Barbara. Our vacation rentals will provide the Wi-Fi you need to keep your children connected to school while enjoying comforting amenities. Contact us today to book a trip!
