7 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Barbara - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

Lotusland

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.

Santa Barbara, California

Knapp’s Castle

The ruins of the castle that chemicals built.

Santa Barbara, California

Whale House

This stunning sea creature-shaped home blends into the landscape like a fantasy villa.

Santa Barbara, California

Cold Spring Tavern

Hidden in the Santa Ynez Mountains off Highway 154, this tiny restaurant once served as a stagecoach stop.

Santa Barbara, California

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Colorful Native American paintings are hidden within this small cavern.

Santa Barbara, California

Franceschi Park

The home of one of California's most important horticulturalists wilts amidst a lovely park.

Santa Barbara, California

Lil' Toot

This nonsensical smiling boat shuttles passengers between two places they could've easily walked between.

Santa Barbara, California

Moreton Bay Fig Tree

The beautiful behemoth is one of the largest trees of its kind in the United States.

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Escape: Art of Joshua Tree and the Mojave

Join us as we venture deep into the High Desert, glimpsing massive sculptures, fluorescent painted mountains, and revitalizing domes along the way.

Community Forums / United States / US: West

Top Discussions in the US: West Travel Forum

Post	Replies	Views	Activity
Looking for places to visit in Tucson Az	13 January 3, 2020	2677	January 3, 2020
Blenheim Apricot	10 January 13, 2020	2433	January 13, 2020
Visiting Utah and Colorado	11 December 5, 2019	577	December 5, 2019
Traveling through MT, WY, CO, TX. Need advice!	9 June 12, 2019	1429	June 12, 2019
Tracing a town with a square with a lovely scent, near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA	8 September 22, 2019	1461	September 22, 2019

New Post Visit the Forum

Explore Santa Barbara, California

Launch Map

Santa Barbara Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Santa Barbara Activity

katherine929193 wants to go to Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Barstow Steve wants to go to Lotusland

Barstow Steve has been to Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Barstow Steve has been to Lil' Toot

christinerasras wants to go to The Mural Room

Stories About Santa Barbara

The interior of Elsie's Tavern, made of wood, paper, glass, assorted trash, an incandescent bulb, and acrylic paint.

This Artist Builds Tiny, Lifelike Replicas of Beloved Dive Bars

Santa Barbara's weird underbelly, in miniature.

by John Paul Titlow

October 18, 2019

The plastic-strewn sediment core was collected partway between Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands off the California coast.

More Than Half a Century of Microplastics Are Buried in Layers of Sediment, Like Synthetic Fossils

The teeny menaces turned up in a core taken from the floor of the Santa Barbara Basin.

by Jessica Leigh Hester

September 4, 2019

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.