More Mesa

Santa Barbara, California Print   Leave a comment

Description

Walking along More Mesa, you discover a new, pretty vista around every bend! You are on gorgeous sandstone cliffs high above the sea, walking a thin sandy trail amongst wildflowers and tall golden grasses. As you peek below, you see couples and nudists who have come to be alone in this unknown area of Santa Barbara. Looking out across the tall grasses on the mesa, you see the Santa Ynez mountains. There are steep paths that lead down to the beach. To walk from the Patterson side to the Hope Ranch side on the clifftop trail takes about 45 minutes.
This amazing land in the middle of Santa Barbara was bought by Thomas More, a rancher, in the mid-19th century. It is undeveloped because a protected species of owl comes to nest here.
If you're hungry or thirsty, check out Java Station, a dive coffee shop at 4447 Hollister Avenue, east of Puente Drive, where you can sit by the fireplace or look out the big windows at the tall trees that line the creek across the road.
Or check out Simply Pies (directions below), in a little cottage along Hollister Ave. You can sit by a fireplace looking out a large window at trees and flowers across the road while munching on a delicious organic pot pie, quiche, muffin, or fruit pie slice. Kids like the pretend apple pie baking set. Everyone is super friendly here!

Photo Gallery

View from the west side of More Mesa.	Cactus flowers in a nursery on the west side of More Mesa.	Cliffs at More Mesa.
Thin golden grasses and the Santa Ynez mountains in the background.

Directions

From Highway 101, exit at Patterson Ave and turn toward the ocean. At the end of Patterson Ave the road veers left and becomes Shoreline Drive. You will see a big yellow sign with an arrow. Park along the road here. Walk along the road a little until you come to the second pathway on the left. This pathway follows some barren land to the sea.
Java Station, 4447 Hollister Avenue, call (805) 681-0202.
Simply Pies, 5392 Hollister Avenue, call (805) 845-2200. On Hollister Ave, west of the Patterson Ave intersection. Driving west, there is a huge blue sign for a business park. After that business park, Simply Pies is the next driveway.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Kristina 11/05/2009 22:49	I love this one....we were at this spot last month..keep them coming
Katie 10/06/2009 14:30	Top beach! Woohoo!
Rich 07/29/2006 16:41	wow, cool, yes, more cities please!