Santa Barbara Zoo

 The Santa Barbara Zoo is one of the many highlights of Santa Barbara for us. We visited for the first time on our most recent trip to the gorgeous coastal city. This is such a beautiful zoo that isn’t too small or too big. Not only were we able to enjoy all the animals, but we also got amazing views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and glimpses of the ocean. We could’ve just got lucky, but this was the most active zoo we have been to. All the animals were out and about, eating, playing, and making sounds which made for a really fun experience. We happened to catch an educational talk about the giraffes while we were there, too. We loved learning about their habits and getting to see their new baby! Food, treats, and coffee can be found on the campus. A Santa Barbara Coffee Company latte and San Fransisco-style cookie were absolutely necessary for us to grab from The Buzz while waiting for our train ride. Yes, we were the only adults without children on the train, but you’ve got to get the full experience, right? Right. Before we left, we found the Discovery Pavillion which houses an art exhibit (it was featuring a very cute exhibit on Island Foxes at the time) and an animal kitchen where you can see them prepare food for the animals. We recommend carving out some hours to enjoy this fun and beautiful stop.