Welcome to The Presidio!
Santa Barbara is known as the American Rivera. The city offers a beautiful, easy-going lifestyle with year-round sunshine and spectacular coastlines and sunsets.
Santa Barbara is internationally known as the American Rivera and for good reason. Santa Barbara is blessed with historical sites, beautiful hotels, cozy B&Bs, luxurious spas, first rate golf, tennis, polo, horseback riding, cycling, hiking and water sports. And let's not forget about our shop-till-you-drop specialty stores and super chic boutiques! Also, Santa Barbara is home to many high-profile celebrities. It's not uncommon to see two-three celebrity sightings in one day.
Just on the other side of the mountains is our own beautiful wine country, Santa Ynez, with beautiful rolling hills and vineyards, the Chumash Casino Resort, a charming little Danish village of Solvang and the quaint and beautiful town of Ojai.
Here are a few "must see" Santa Barbara attractions near the Presidio Motel:
Santa Barbara Historical Society Museum
This museum features both permanent and changing exhibits that share Santa Barbara's colorful past from the Native American age to modern times.
Distance: 1.1 Miles. Visit Website
The Mission
The Mission is where it all began for Santa Barbara. The mission is one of the most beautiful in the state and offers real historic insight. Many events are scheduled at the Mission and it continues to be a focal point of cultural and religious activity.
Distance: 1 Mile. Visit Website
The Carriage Museum
The Carriage Museum is dedicated to preserving and restoring vehicles from yesteryear. Stop by and inspect our collection, one of the largest in the United States. With the building of Stagecoach Junction, we've enhanced the experience of the children as they study the history of west.
Distance: 2.1 Miles. Visit Website
The Waterfront
The Waterfront is at the Heart of Santa Barbara beauty and a great source of entertainment. You'll find three beaches, several excellent restaurants, a wharf, a museum, a harbor and a skate park. If you are visiting Santa Barbara, this is an absolute must-see.
Distance: 1.25 Miles. Visit Website
The Courthouse
This gorgeous but functional structure is just 75 years old but it has the look and feel of a 200 year old Spanish Colonial. If you are planning to visit, make a point of going to the top of the tower - the view is spectacular.
Distance: .70 Miles. Visit Website
Santa Barbara Zoo
One of the nation's best small zoos, this is a visit for the entire family. The Zoo was developed like a park, with plenty of picnic and open areas. The animals are easily viewed and the setting is intimate. They say its a small zoo but there are 600 animals!
Distance: 4.5 Miles. Visit Website
Santa Barbara Museum of Art
This wonderful museum boasts an excellent combination of permanent and special exhibits. Although it's not an enormous museum (you can see it all in about 90 minutes), it has an impressive permanent collection of Asian art that is a must-see.
Distance: .5 Miles. Visit Website
El Presidio State Historic Park
One of the most significant historical buildings in Santa Barbara, El Presidio has been reconstructed faithfully based on historic and archaeological evidence. It combines great beauty and real function, as it is the home for many events throughout the year.
Distance: .9 Miles. Visit Website
Casa de La Guerra
Another must see. From the outside you'd never really know that this was a wonderful museum with some fabulous vignettes. Since it was initially built (~1817) the Casa has been the center of civic, political and even social affairs.
Distance: 1.1 Miles. Visit Website
The Museum of Natural History
One of the many surprise finds, this excellent museum displays the flora and fauna of Santa Barbara and the Channel Islands. There is also an extensive section on Prehistoric Native American life.
Distance: 1.5 Miles. Visit Website
The Botanic Gardens
These wonderful gardens are a bit out of the way, but definitely worth the trip. There are many events planned by the Gardens staff that give dyed-in-the-wool botanists and new enthusiasts alike something to learn.
Distance: 2.4 Miles. Visit Website
