Mission Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Mission is beautiful in the afternoon when the light shows off its graceful shape. The mission was built in 1820 to replace the original 1789 church that had been leveled by an earthquake. It has a pretty blend of Spanish and American Indian elements in its beige and pale pink architecture. Out front is a Spanish fountain surrounded by water lilies. Inside there is a museum that has some interesting information, though young kids will find it boring. There are Chumash baskets and tools, a missionary's bedroom, old music manuscripts that are lovely, and religious paintings. The chapel in the back is lit beautifully inside and has ceiling decorations as well as statues in little alcoves. Tropical flowers, palms, ferns, and cacti fill the back courtyard. 

Don't miss out on the gorgeous rose garden across Los Olivos Street, down from the mission. It's even better than the mission if you ask me! On clear days you can see an expansive view over the rose garden and Plaza Rubio (the street below the rose garden filled with Spanish-style homes) to the blue sea and Channel Islands!
At night, the mission is lit with pale golden lights like the monuments in Europe. Also lit at night is the courthouse.
The last weekend in May check out the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival in front of the mission. There are some impressive paintings made from chalk on the asphalt.
A lovely walk to do from the mission is the Garden Street Walk, past pretty homes and gardens. You can also walk from the mission to two adjacent parks that are absolute heaven: Alice Keck Park and Alameda Park, which has a wooden castle playground called Kidsworld.
Each California mission is a little different and some people make a tour out of seeing them all! La Purisima Mission in Lompoc is a wonderful salmon pink and each room is set up like it would have been when it was a working mission, which makes it fun. The olive trees and countryside surrounding it are lovely. Carmel Mission in Monterey has the most wonderful flowers in  both gardens. Mission Santa Ines is a yellow mission amongst the Solvang countryside. Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura has a fantastic fountain with blue Spanish tiles and a rivulet that leads down from it for what feels like miles!

Directions

Santa Barbara Mission is located at 2201 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara CA 93105, call (805) 682-4713.
You can't go inside the church without paying $14, unfortunately.
From Highway 101, take the Mission Street exit and follow the signs to the mission. From Mission St after one mile turn left on 

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