Here are 20 FREE (or nearly FREE) experiences to be had in this beautiful city along the Pacific:

1. Visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara and smell the roses in the Mission Rose Garden
2. Experience local culture on State Street
3. Enjoy the 360-degree views of downtown from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse (west wing shown in photo) clock tower
4. Play or watch volleyball at East Beach
5. Stroll Stearns Wharf
6. Check out today’s catch from the fisherman at Santa Barbara Harbor
7. Meet the artists at the Sunday Arts & Crafts Show
8. Learn about the city’s Spanish roots at El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
9. Bird watching at Andree Clark Bird Refuge
10. Whale watching from Shoreline Park where you have a view of the migratory path
11. Select some fresh produce at the downtown Farmer’s Market
12. Have a Zen experience at Alice Keck Memorial Park Gardens
13. Walk, jog, or bike the Cabrillo Bikeway
14. Relax and enjoy the American Riviera Franceschi Park
15. Let history come alive at the Historical Museum
16. Hike from the San Ysidro trailhead to a gorgeous waterfall
17. Drive the scenic Highway 154 to the Santa Barbara Wine Country (and maybe find a special bottle or two)
18. Walk the nature trails at Elings Park
19. Enjoy sunset from the Douglas Family Preserve bluffs
20. Play on the Guadalupe Dunes

Source:  Courtesy of Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau

Photo credit:  tkksummers @flickr

Post from: Blisstree

20 FREE (or Nearly FREE) Things to Do in Santa Barbara

The age when Truman fell in love with the beach!

When he was not quite 2 years old, we spent a week on the Gulf Coast of Florida (along Highway 30-A between Rosemary and Seaside, if you are familiar with the area). Truman took to the water like a fish. He played in the surf (probably drank a gallon of seawater) and rolled in the sand (probably ate a pound of that) and played in the pool and slept hard every night. The day we packed up the car and headed home, my son slept the entire way. He woke as we pulled in the driveway and began wailing. We eventually got him inside and for a solid hour he laid on the floor, kicking and screaming, “BEACH HOUSE! BEACH HOUSE!”

We stood over him in amazement. I said to Rick, “Quick, call your parents! Tell them he wants a beach house!” (Rick’s folks buy Truman a gift every time they seem him – which is almost weekly – and they let him want for nothing.) Unfortunately, (and amazingly) they didn’t bite on the beach house request.

We’ve decided, once Truman is in college, that we must retire to the beach – any beach. Right now our top choice is Costa Rica. I’d put Santa Barbara second but we wouldn’t be able to afford much there. I suppose we could live inland near the wine country but then we’d be drunk the whole time. (For that same reason, I couldn’t live in Belgium.) My Our third choice would probably be our favorite strip there along Highway 30-A in Florida. But I’m not ruling out Hawaii. Especially now!

WinHawaiianHome.com is having a contest where you can win this custom-built Hawaiian home “nestled in an enchanted forest with singing frogs about a mile and a half from a gorgeous black sand beach that is home to 30-40 dolphins.” No kidding.

Win this house in Hawaii!

To enter, all you have to do is write a 101-word or less essay and pony up $101. The contest is supervised by legal council and guarantees that each entry will be read. A group of judges will decide the winner of the house as well as second- and third-place winners who will receive $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Other prizes may also be given.

You’d better hurry because the deadline is May 1, 2009.

If the goal of 6,000 entries is not met by that time, the contest will be extended 101 more days. And if by then the entries still come up short, cash prizes will be awarded based on the number of entries received.

For details, visit www.winhawaiianhome.com.

HURRY!

JWJourney

Post from: Blisstree

Stop Whining and Win this Hawaiian House!