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5 Gardens to Explore in Santa Barbara, California

by Katie Skrzek

Mar 31, 2025

© Santa Barbara

Destinations / North America

Plan a garden tour for your next family trip. Santa Barbara, California, is home to many beautiful gardens. Add these five public gardens to your list.

 

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

This popular garden takes up one city block and features more than 70 tree and plant species. Its grounds also feature a butterfly garden, sensory garden, gazebo, and koi and turtle pond.

 

© Visit Santa Barbara

Ganna Walska Lotusland

This 37-acre garden is home to rare botanical collections, including cycads and euphorbias, with more than 3,000 species of plants on site in total. Guided and self-guided tour options are available.

 

Old Mission Santa Barbara

These historic mission grounds feature A.C. Postel Memorial Garden. Known to locals as Mission Rose Garden, the space houses more than 1,500 rose bushes.

 

© Visit Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Set on 78 acres, this garden exclusively houses native plants. Hike through the grounds’ miles of trails and experience diverse plant life, from cacti to redwoods to wildflowers. In spring, witness blooms of bright orange poppies, the state flower. The garden also hosts a variety of educational events.

 

Santa Barbara County Courthouse

This working courthouse and National Historic Landmark also boasts a stunning green space, the Sunken Garden. Visitors will see a variety of tropical plants in the space. The garden also serves as a popular venue for festivals, concerts, weddings and other events.

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