September 24, 2025
Santa Barbara was our first stop on our trip north along the California coast. It is a very pretty city. We started our exploration by walking along the palm lined beach.
And then out onto Stearns Wharf. It was originally built in 1872 but facing a number of disasters, including an earthquake in 1925 and a fire in 1973, it has been through a number of extensive renovations. Currently, it is the home of shops, restaurants and a museum.
There was also this classic Chevrolet Malibu, named for the famous beach town just down the coast.
The views back to town were stunning. The palm lined beach and fog shrouded hills were a little reminiscent of Tahiti.
From the wharf, we walkedtoward the nearby Funk Zone, which includes a number of cool little bars, cafes and boutiques.
And then we made our way up State Street, the city’s main shopping street. Closed to traffic and lined with beautifully maintained Spanish style buildings, it is definitely one of the prettiest shopping streets we’ve walked along in our travels.
If, like us, you are gelato fans, you’ll definitely want to visit Tondi Gelato. The gelato, made in the store, is some of the best that we have ever tasted.
We then walked up through a beautiful park and lovely surrounding neighborhood to the old Mission.
The Mission Santa Barbara was founded on December 4, 1786, the feast day of Saint Barbara, who according to legend was beheaded by her father for following the Christian faith.
In the late afternoon, we headed toward our next stop, Cambria. Along the way, we stopped in the little and decidedly western town of Los Olivos. If you’re in the market for a pair of cowboy boots, then Jedlicka’s might just be the place for you.
We arrived in Cambria just in time for the magnificent sunset.
Mal and Lauren 