We spent the afternoon in Santa Barbara, California, and were fortunate enough to have a fun day with sunny summer weather — my absolute favorite type of weather.
We drove by the Santa Barbara Zoo on the way to the pier! Here is their lake and island. Unfortunately, we did not enter therein. </3
Our first destination was Stearns Wharf, one of the best piers out there (although it has a significant lack of amusement park rides). I got some pictures of the outside of the Sea Center while we were there, but it’s not open yet so we couldn’t go in. And even if it was, the probability of persuading my parents to pay the fee to visit is always close to zero. I think the only time I’ve ever gone inside of the Sea Center is when we had a family reunion and went in as a planned activity. Sadly, that was a long time ago and I don’t remember a whole lot about it.
We begin our walk along the wharf! And what a beautiful day it is…It’s the aquarium! One day I’ll write a good trip report and review of this thing. Such a picturesque setting. Sailboats wish that they were stars. We were thinking about hopping on a Celebration Cruise, but the next one was 45 minutes away, and we didn’t really want to wait. Don’t diss Longboard’s Grill on my watch. I think the last time I actually ate there was high school…maybe? Can’t remember. But it’s good. I think. Hmm. You know, I can speak whale!View from the end of the pier. These photos might be a tad out of order. A beautiful view indeed. Seriously, this place is so perfect that you can’t really take a bad picture. Just snap away. Heading back to the car and we see a cool little estuary.
After the pier, my parents obliged my request to see Alice Keck Park and Alameda Park, where Kids’ World is located. I have lots of fun memories of going to both of those parks when I was younger, usually after getting Petrini’s pizza.
Ah, I forgot to add this one. AirDrop screwed up the order of all my images. Hey look, it’s Kids’ World! Why is it so small? It’s supposed to be way bigger 🙁 And it’s closed 🙁 But yeah, this place feels like a never-ending wooden jungle when you go as a kid!You see that tent? Yeah, there’s a hobo living in there. All right, enough of the hobos, let’s go to Alice Keck! Santa Barbara parks are a little sketchy. But gazebos are so romantic. Let us walk through the beautiful garden and avoid the teenagers doing drugs in the central grove. <3DOOKS!Look at all these PLANTS.These speakers will inform you of long and boring facts about plants, delivered in a monotone. Don’t get me wrong, I like plants, but most people will be bored with the facts. So many places to relax and just feel the calming spirit of the park. Don’t sit on the bird poop, but I think at least we were out of the range of weed smell at this point. Remember, drugs are bad, kids. Whoever made this is very cool. Shall we skip across the pond, my dear? “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.”You like palm trees, yo?A closer-up of the gazebo. Gazebos make me very happy. So much inspiration for my future botanical garden. I think my zoo needs to have little places of peace like this as well. Although, I hate that the cone is there. storage shed, son.treetreeReflections. I love water features, and so does this excellent duck. Dirt path is bad for nice shoes. So don’t wear ’em here. PLANTSDappled shadows on the trail. Please don’t do drugs in the park; they make it annoying for those of us who are trying to have a WHOLESOME DAY thanks.jesAw yeah. There were no brochures in here. LIESI didn’t have time to read thisAll in all, an excellent park trip! But there is still more fun to be had!
The next destination was Shoreline Park, to sit there and watch the waves.
Here we are. This is a long, skinny park that hugs the coastline. A cliff lies just beyond the fence. Sit on a bench and watch the tide. Look at the kelp forests; dream of mermaids and sea monsters. A very steep cliff slopes down to the sea, and the waves pound incessantly on it. Sorry for the sun glare; that is BRIGHT!View from behind us, of the nice walking path and barbecuesI just…Can’t be away from this ocean. It’s so perfect. I want to move back to Cali again despite all the insanity. </3 But, there are no roller coasters open in the whole state yet. If we are threatened with a lockdown again, I cannot go back. However, if it never happens again, then I very well may return! Now if only I could predict that for sure. I like chicken at the barbecue, chicken at the barbecuuuuuue! (Twiztid reference)All the fat goes to my face and it sucksIt would be a nice place to walk, but I’m already wiped from today. In fact, on the day we took this trip I actually think I set a move record. I even beat the days I’ve gone hiking, haha. I hereby name this squirrel “Dee Snutts”Ah yes, rabies or hantavirus. Very bad, not death. A great place to plant your cheeksA very bad picture (taken from the car) of the entrance sign.
After visiting Shoreline Park, it was time for our last destination of the day: Padaro Beach Grill. I guess I could’ve taken a picture of it, considering it could be considered a themed restaurant, but I neglected to. I had a delicious burger. Before we got to the restaurant, we also passed by Chase Palm Park, which is now extremely depressing due to its lack of merry-go-round. In fact, finding out that they removed that made me irrationally angry. You don’t just move a beautiful historical carousel like that and use its old house as a stupid pavilion…ah, whatever.
MFW I try to take a picture of Ashton Kutcher’s house and fail. It’s to the left of the trees, I believe.
All in all? It was an excellent day in Santa Barbara, in which we checked out an aquarium (at least on the outside) and visited some great parks!
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