South Coast Railroad Museum, Goleta

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Description

The old Goleta Railroad Depot, a yellow Victorian building built in 1901, was moved from its former site and now sits amongst gorgeous eucalyptus trees at the South Coast Railroad Museum. The funnest time to come here is on family days when many train enthusiasts happily show you their displays. There is a model railroad with beautiful intricate detail, including a model of the Santa Barbara Railroad Depot, in all its Spanish glory. The train goes around and has real smoke. In another room, a painting of Santa Barbara's mountains, State St, the coast up to Gaviota Beach, and the lemon orchards of Goleta surrounds model trains and buildings that represent the late steam era days. You can learn a lot about Goleta and Santa Barbara's history by asking about the buildings in the exhibit.
Older kids can work the hand caboose. Young kids will enjoy a ride on the circus train, a small diesel train that you can sit on. Skip the steam-engine rides unless you don't mind a lot of fumes.
After your visit, walk next door to the pretty Stow House, the Victorian home with stunning gardens. In the summer there are concerts here on Tuesday nights and it's a pleasant time for a picnic. If it's not a hot day, walk over to Lake Los Carneros where you can feed the ducks and enjoy the mountain views.
If you're hungry, a great place nearby is Elephant Bar Restaurant. The decor reminds of a safari tour of Africa. Inside, it's gorgeous with mirrors and glass and brass everywhere. Outside, on sunny days and warm evenings, it's even better, with tropical plants and palms and gothic lampposts. Because the back patio is south-facing, it's often warm. Kids especially have fun because they can watch the private planes taking off from Santa Barbara Airport while sitting on grassy hills by the tables. After your meal, kids have fun running around on the grassy hills in front of the restaurant too. Sunsets are super nice here, with the pink light catching the mountain views. It's more for the pretty atmosphere that you go because the food, while tasty, is not very high quality.

Photo Gallery

The museum as you first walk in.	The model with a train with real smoke.	A man dressed for the occasion.
The pretty yellow Victorian building- old Goleta Depot.	Model of Santa Barbara Railroad Depot- see the lovely Spanish architecture.	The model railroad with painting of State St and the Santa Ynez mountains behind it.
The hand caboose.	A ride on the steam engine.	Stow House, right next door.
Tropical plants on the back patio at Elephant Bar.	Kids can watch the airplanes from the back patio at Elephant Bar!	Interior with African fans at Elephant Bar.
Sunsets are especially nice from the back patio of Elephant Bar. See the gothic lamps, and the pink glow on the mountains.	Sunset in Elephant Bar parking lot.	Kids can run on the hills in front of Elephant Bar after your meal!

Directions

Exit Highway 101 at Los Carneros Rd and head toward the mountains. You will see the museum on your right. There is a large parking lot.
South Coast Railroad Museum, 300 N Los Carneros Rd, call (805) 964-3540.
The museum is open Fri-Sun from 1-4pm. It is closed on Easter Sunday and Dec 27-Jan 6. There are special family days the museum hosts: check their website calendar.
Train rides cost $1.50.
Elephant Bar Restaurant, 521 Firestone Road, Goleta, call (805) 964-0779. From the museum, head south on Los Carneros Rd and drive over the freeway. Turn left at the major intersection on Hollister Rd. You can see the airport on your right as you drive along. Turn right on Augustus Griggs Pl, then right on Firestone Rd and park in the parking lot for Elephant Bar Restaurant.

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Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Lisa 10/06/2009 14:19

Thanks for sharing this piece of Santa Barbara history,