|
What
to Do around Santa Barbara
When You’re Not Playing Soccer
Brian
Hersh, Registrar and Susan Schorr, Assistant Registrar
Football
Club of Santa Barbara 2001 Winter Cup Tournament
379
Princeton Ave. Santa Barbara, CA 93111-1637 Voice 805/683-1281
bhershsschorr@hotmail.com
September,
2000
We
are thrilled that so many families from outside southern California will
attend our tournament in January. This is a beautiful time of the year
to visit our community. You’ve asked for ideas for new visitors to
our area and we’re glad to give it. We love our town and its environs
and have a lot of ideas to share. First we asked the Santa Barbara Conference
and Visitors Bureau and Film Commission for advice. Check out their web
site at www.santabarbara.com.
Our
Personal Recommendations
1.
Come to Santa Barbara to expose your college-bound children to the great
education they can get in our area. (a) The University of California at
Santa Barbara is the site for the FCSB Tournament. Be sure to walk or
bike through the campus proper to get a sense of the size and beauty of
this nationally prominent university. Imagine what it would be like with
18,000 students in attendance during the regular year. [Hint about what
it’s like: note the number of bike paths and keep your head up while
crossing!.] UCSB is a first-class education institution and very popular
with students. (b) Santa Barbara City College above the yacht harbor in
Santa Barbara downtown is one of only four junior colleges in California
which has a direct credit agreement with the University of California.
This means that certain SBCC courses will be directly accepted by UC when
a student transfers in as an upper classman. (c) Westmont College in Montecito
is a small Christian college with a solid academic reputation.
2.
Don’t forget to do the Santa Barbara tourist stuff because it’s
neat and a lot of it is free.
- If
you’re here on a Sunday, attend the artists’ fair along the
beach at Cabrillo Blvd. It’s right next to the harbor and Stearns
Wharf. Just a lovely walk next to the ocean and a lot of arts and crafts.
Stearns Wharf, Chase Palm Park, and the boat harbor and yacht club are
all within walking distance of each other.
- We
have a zoo (805/962-5339) but there’s so much to see there that
that could soak up a whole day by itself. The zoo is at the East Beach
end of Cabrillo Blvd. East Beach has dozens of sand volleyball courts.
If no tournament is taking place, you can play there too.
- When
the littlest kids need to blow off some energy, take them to Kid’s
World at the corner of Micheltorena and Garden Streets. Kids’ World
is a giant playtoy built by the community and there are always some
little ones climbing around. While you’re there, be sure to notice
the important collection of trees which make up the park; you won’t
see many of their type anywhere else. Across the street from the Kid’s
World is another park, Alice Keck park, designed for blooming plants
all year round. You may see brides having their photo taken there as
it’s so photogenic.
- Stop
by Mission Santa Barbara. You don’t have to go inside the mission
itself (where a fee is charged) to relish the beauty of this historic
site. The view across the city to the ocean can be spectacular and a
community rose garden across the street from the Mission adds to its
beauty. This is a premier photo opportunity.
- Visit
our historic courthouse in the downtown shopping district, 1100 Anacapa
St. You’ll find the thick adobe walls and tile paving inside cool
on a hot day. Docents give regular tours (Mon.-Sat. 2 pm) and the view
from the tower is gorgeous. Make this a stop on your walking trip of
Santa Barbara’s State Street, the main shopping street in town.
- From
the courthouse, cross Anapumu St. behind the library, toward the Santa
Barbara Art Museum. As you admire the murals outside the museum, turn
to your left into La Arcada Court. Although La Arcada is a privately-owned
shopping center, it’s popular because the owners have included
a lot of public art such as dolphins, human figures, fountains, banners,
landscaping, etc. There are a number of art galleries in La Arcada which
makes for great window shopping. The Mexican restaurant in the middle
serves famously delicious margaritas. One of my kids tumbled into the
fountain outside the restaurant when she was about four years old. I’ll
never forget that.
3.
Goleta has a lot to offer too. The FCSB Winter Cup takes place at the
Goleta end of Santa Barbara. This is our family’s neighborhood.
- My
favorite places to spend restful times are UCSB and nearby Goleta Beach,
a homey, small beach which is beautifully maintained and which has its
own pier. It’s quiet (except for the sounds of the air traffic
from the airport and the helicopters coming in to land from the oil
platforms and that’s just exciting) with numerous barbeque sites
and picnic tables. Many folks like to fish off the pier here.
- Stow
House at 304 North Los Carneros Road is like a park with its own lake,
Lake Los Carneros. Definitely off the beaten track except Sundays when
the restored, historic home is open from 2-4 pm. The South Coast Railroad
Museum lies adjacent to Stow House and it’s open Wed.-Sun. 1-4
pm.
4.
Traveling farther from Santa Barbara. Here is a popular day trip.
- We
like to take foreign visitors to the La Purisima Mission one hour from
Santa Barbara near Lompoc. The Mission has been restored to reflect
the interiors and exteriors as they were when the mission was thriving
150 years ago. The last couple of times we visited, docents dressed
in period costume were weaving or making candles. You can definitely
get a sense of what old California was like here. Arrive when the mission
opens at 9 am, spend a couple of hours and then drive to Solvang for
lunch.
- Solvang,
on Hwy 246, 45 miles north of Santa Barbara and about 25 minutes from
Lompoc, was founded by Danish immigrants and was built to look Danish.
There are dozens and dozens of touristy shops and, of course, delicious
Danish food. Solvang is the site of the PCPA’s Theatrefest. It’s
a Shakespearean style theater outdoors and the experience is unforgettable.
Call the Santa Barbara Performing Arts League Info Line 805/892-2250
Ext. 5545 for the main menu. Theatergoers can call this number 24 hr
a day for up-to-date information on what’s playing in town. Enter
Extension 5546 for PCPA Theatrefest.
- Return
to Santa Barbara via Hwy 154. You’ll travel past Lake Cachuma on
your way. Check out the photogenic bridge – quick. You can turn
off to the Cold Springs Tavern, a popular rest stop in the stagecoach
days (bikers are friendly even when fierce-looking, motorcyclists like
this route). On clear days the trip down the mountains to Santa Barbara
can give you a view from Point Conception in the north to Ventura in
the south. The road has been improved greatly but don’t let the
driver expect to sightsee as it’s a steep road and accidents regularly
occur on it.
In
addition to the above, here's some additional things to consider:
Beaches
of Santa Barbara
Shopping
in Santa Barbara
We
look forward to meeting you at the FCSB Winter Cup Tournament and hope
you enjoy your stay.
Brian
Hersh, Registrar
Susan
Schorr, Assistant Registrar
|
|
