Santa Barbara
County Courthouse
Built in Spanish-Moorish Revival
style, the county courthouse (www.
santabarbaracourthouse.org; 1100 Anacapa
St; admission free; h8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri,
10am-4:30pm Sat & Sun) is an absurdly
beautiful place to stand trial. The
magnificent 1929 courthouse features
hand-painted ceilings, wrought-iron
chandeliers and Tunisian and Spanish
tiles. Step into the 2nd-floor mural
room, then climb the Vertigo-esque
clocktower for arch-framed panoramas.The Walk » Exit the courthouse and head
southwest along Anapamu St, passing the striking
Italianate 1924 Santa Barbara Public Library. Turn
left onto State St, downtown’s main drag.Santa Barbara
Museum of Art
This petite museum (%805-963-4364;
http://www.sbma.net; 1130 State St; adult/child
$9/6; h11am-5pm Tue-Sun; c) holds a
nevertheless impressive collection
of contemporary California artists,
modern European and American
masters like Matisse and O’Keeffe,
20th-century photography and classical
antiquities. Traipse up to the 2nd floor,
where Asian art exhibits include an
intricate Tibetan sand mandala and the
armor of a Japanese samurai.The Walk » Walk three blocks southeast on
State St, jam-packed with cafes, restaurants and
boutiques. Turn left on Cañon Perdido St, passing
the 1873 Lobero Theatre, then cross Anacapa St.El Presidio de Santa
Barbara State Historic Park
Built to defend Santa Barbara’s
mission, this 18th-century fort (%805-
965-0093; http://www.sbthp.org; 123 E Cañon Perdido
St; adult/child $5/free; h10:30am-4:30pm)
was colonial Spain’s last military
stronghold in Alta California. Today
this small park encloses several
reconstructed adobe buildings. Be sure
to peek inside the chapel, its interior
radiant with gold and scarlet.Take this walk on Trips
STRETCH..
YOUR.LEGS
1 hst
Start/Finish Santa Barbara
County CourthouseDistance 1.6 miles
Duration 2–4 hours
SANTA
BARBARA
Frankly.put,.this.chic.SoCal.
city.is.damn.pleasant.to.putter.
around..Low-slung.between.lofty.
mountains.and.the.sparkling.Pacific,.
downtown’s.red-tiled.roofs,.white.
stucco.buildings.and.Mediterranean.
vibe.make.this.an.irresistible.ramble.
on.any.sunny.afternoon.