Arguably one of California’s most beautiful towns, Santa Barbara is characterised by lovely Spanish-style architecture, a mountainous backdrop and an inviting waterfront. An easy city to explore, Santa Barbara has most of its points of interest within close proximity of each other. At the Santa Barbara Museum of Art you will find a well-regarded cultural institution noted for its large collection of artworks.
The museum is particularly famous for its collection of pieces by Claude Monet. Restaurants and shops along State Street offer various options for having a meal in Santa Barbara while on holiday to Central California. Worth a peek is Mission Santa Barbara, a church completed in 1829 featuring a Roman temple facade. Housed within the church buildings is a museum with art pieces dating from the colonial period, as well as numerous interesting artefacts. The cemetery and garden are also worth seeing. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is a showcase of native California trees and plants, with paths winding through lush areas to provide a tranquil natural environment.