Established in 1882, this thirty-seven acre estate is a living museum of gardens. The gardens now cover the estate of Madame Ganna Walska who owned the property from 1941 until her death in 1984. With a wealth of exotic trees, palms and other subtropical plants, Lotusland provides delightful surprises with its labyrinth of landscape adventures through bold forms and unusual color combinations. Call in advance for reservations.
695 Ashley Road • 805.969.9990 • www.lotusland.org
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Mertens Fine ArtMertens Fine Art specializes in American and European Modern and Contemporary paintings, prints and sculpture. Located in Montecito, the gallery exhibits works by Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Richard Diebenkorn, Brad Howe, Tom Wesselmann, Sam Francis, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Joan Miro, to name a few. They also represent Contemporary Artists Richard Schemm, Douglas Dubler, Wesley Johnson, Patricia Hinds and Henry Wessels. |
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Hiking Inspiration PointFor a stunning view of Santa Barbara, Inspiration Point via Jesusita Trial is one of Santa Barbara's best. Roughly a 2.5 mile round trip, the hike is doable for most all hikers. Starting at the SB Mission, take Mission Canyon Road towards the foothills and take a right onto Foothill Road. When you come to the Fire Station, take a left and go about a 1/4 of a mile and stay left at the fork, which is Tunnel Road. Take Tunnel Road all the way to the end, parking is limited. The trail begins on the paved fire road. At the end of this paved fire road, head straight up the dirt road and after about a 1/4 mile the trail goes to the left. This is Jesusita Trail. After crossing the creek, take the trail to the left and keep going for another mile or so. Just after you crossing the fire road you will enjoy a gorgeous panoramic view of the coast. |
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SurfingSanta Barbara’s south-facing coast, is home to great surf for beginners and experts alike. In summer, South Pacific swells send waves our way, but the Channel Islands block much of the action, though afternoon winds can make for small but fun surf. In fall and winter, storms from the north Pacific generate waves up to ten feet and sometimes more. That’s the time to visit Rincon, a world-class point break just south of Carpinteria. Leadbetter Beach in town and Campus Point, at UC Santa Barbara, are great for beginners. While the water temperature can be nice in September and October, it’s usually much cooler during the winter season, so you’ll need a wet suit. A-Frame Surf Shop • 3785 Santa Claus Lane • 805.684.8803 |
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Just FolkJust Folk is a gallery in Summerland, CA that features American Folk Art, concentrating on handmade, utilitarian objects whose design is esthetically appealing. They showcase ordinary objects that are invested with extraordinary individuality; traditional pieces whose original function is transcended by their design. Other times, the pieces tell stories about being alive and seeing the world in a certain way, through the eyes of the creator. By these parameters, the folk art they show includes contemporary as well as antique, including Visionary, Self-Taught, Intuitive and Outsider Art. Just Folk, created by Susan Baerwald and Marcy Carsey, opened in 2007. |
