Map by William Tipton
the Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Chapala and Montecito Streets) is an Australian import that gradually morphed into a quirky Santa Barbara icon. Planted back in 1877, it’s currently the tallest and widest fig tree in the U. S. If you want a quick photo op with the BIG FIG, it’s easy to access from the left side of State Street, just behind the Amtrak Train Station platform. Joe’s Café (536 State Street) is Santa Barbara’s oldest running restaurant. Joe’s has drawn enthusiastic crowds to its red and white checkered tabletops ever since it opened in 1928. Think all-American dishes like hearty breakfasts, classic soups and sandwiches, succulent steaks, and seafood. To indulge in the smoothest, most delicious ice cream, made with local organic ingredients, order a double dip cone at McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams (728 State Street), serving customers since 1949. The courtyard at La Arcada Plaza (1114 State Street) offers a quintessential Santa Barbara tourist experience. La Arcada features art galleries, eclectic boutiques, breezy cafes, and a whimsical live turtle fountain. Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State Street) is one of Southern California’s top regional museums. Its permanent collection includes 27,000 pieces that cover 5,000 years of artistry. From the pastel colors of
State Street. As downtown Santa Barbara’s primary corridor, State Street is the ultimate pedestrian path to follow when touring the city’s main attractions. Predicting individual interests and tastes is difficult, so it’s risky recommending best bets among the mind- boggling array of downtown retailers, wine-tasting rooms, and restaurants. Consider all the visible options as you walk up State Street so you can pop into stores, wineries and eateries that strike your fancy. Personal preferences aside, Santa Barbara contains some nearly perfect attractions and commercial establishments that will likely appeal to anyone and everyone. The highlights that follow (in order of appearance on State Street as you walk away from the ocean) are pure winners, not to be missed. Two blocks inland from Stearns Wharf, Reagan Ranch Center (217 State Street) contains four levels of classrooms, interactive exhibits, a library, and movie theater. The center’s multi-media presentations and preserved artifacts portray the story of Ronald Reagan’s Western White House—Rancho del Cielo, Santa Barbara—and explain how ranch experiences impacted Reagan’s personal and political views as California Governor and U.S. President. Just a few steps up State Street past the Ranch Center,
SUNNY SANTA BARBARA
COAST TO COAST FALL MAGAZINE 2018
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