Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
NOTE: The Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Garden members have early access starting at 9 a.m.) Reservations are required for non-members due to our county-issued use permit and strongly recommended for members during peak season (April - July). As the first botanic garden in the nation to focus exclusively on native plants, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has dedicated nearly a century of work to better understand the relationship between plants and people. Growing from 13 acres in 1926 to today’s 78 acres, the grounds now include more than 5 miles of walking trails, an herbarium, seed bank, research labs, library, and a public native plant nursery. Amid the serene beauty of the Garden, teams of scientists, educators, and horticulturists remain committed to the original spirit of the organization’s founders – conserve native plants and habitats to ensure they continue to support life on the planet and can be enjoyed for generations to come. Visit SBBotanicGarden.org
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
695 reviews
Excellent
348
Very good
211
Average
80
Poor
38
Terrible
18
Jeg S
Ventura, CA1 contribution
Sep 2020 • Family
This is a great place for a walk with children and to get out of the city for an hour or two without having to go camping or on a hiking trail. My family loved the redwood area, those trees are amazing! Too bad the tea house was closed to the public... overall is great!
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. Our redwoods are a fan favorite. The oldest redwood in the garden dates back to 1926! Our Garden has a rich history of preservation efforts and supporters like you are what make it possible.
Written October 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mariagloria
Houston, TX186 contributions
Jun 2021
These are beautiful botanic gardens with a variety of plant life- from a meadow filled with flowers, to wooded trails, to cacti and herbs. It is compact and easy to navigate, but feels worlds away from the tourist areas of Santa Barbara. Set in the foothills above the city, the winding drive up offers wonderful views. The gardens include a nice gift shop and nursery. The trails can be a bit strenuous, as some are steep.
Written June 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for this positive review! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to the Garden. Our plants are our living collections, and they are all exclusively native to California. When you visit the Garden, you have the unique opportunity to experience California's ecological abundance and biodiversity from across the whole state! We appreciate your support of our statewide conservation efforts in native plant restoration, the foundation of biodiversity! We hope you come again soon and shop our native plant Nursery. Thanks again for visiting, and be sure to follow us on social media (@sbgarden on Facebook and @sbbotanicgarden on Instagram) or sign up for our e-newsletter online at sbbg.org. See you soon!
Written June 7, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ozzy38
Beckenham, UK462 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
We were a bit disappointed with the botanical garden although appreciate the climate might make it difficult to grow a wide variety of plants and flowers- we felt it didn’t represent value for money $16 per adult. There just wasn’t much to see. The meadow was probably the nicest area. The volunteers were enthusiastic and friendly; and clearly very passionate about the garden was okay and filled an hour but wouldn’t rush back.
Written April 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us, Ozzy38. We're sorry to hear you were a bit disappointed with your visit. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is unique in that we're the first botanic garden to focus exclusively on plants native to the California Floristic Province as well as plants native to the Sonoran and Mohave Deserts. This means your visit isn't just a walk in a garden, it's a chance to observe and learn about the microcosms that make CA so unique ... and your entrance fee helps fund our conservation work to ensure no native plant goes extinct. We understand that experience isn't for everyone, but we'd love to invite you back for a guided tour on your next visit to SB. We hope you'll take us up on it! Thanks again.
Written April 8, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MCK
3,377 contributions
Jul 2022
My friend and I wanted some exercise while on vacation but were not wanting a long hike, this was the perfect place. I bought tickets online though their website for a Tuesday when it opened at 10:00 a.m.
When you check in, you are given a map. There are 11 areas to walk through, perfect for all ages and they allow dogs on a leash. All the plants and trees are a labeled. The grounds were well taken care of. People that work there were all very nice, giving us a warm greeting when we would pass them.
It took us a little more than a couple hours. Don't forget to go across the street to for more areas. By the time we left the paths were getting busy, the parking lot was filled. So plan ahead if you want to avoid the crowds.
Worth the visit!
When you check in, you are given a map. There are 11 areas to walk through, perfect for all ages and they allow dogs on a leash. All the plants and trees are a labeled. The grounds were well taken care of. People that work there were all very nice, giving us a warm greeting when we would pass them.
It took us a little more than a couple hours. Don't forget to go across the street to for more areas. By the time we left the paths were getting busy, the parking lot was filled. So plan ahead if you want to avoid the crowds.
Worth the visit!
Written August 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Thank you for your lovely review of the Garden. By visiting the Garden, you are supporting native plant conservation and research. We hope that you were able to enjoy and learn about native California plants on your walk throughout our various sections of the Garden. We hope you'll visit again next time you are in town and learn about the plants native to where you live. It all starts in your own backyard, patio, or community garden.
Written August 3, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael S
Mount Dora, FL5 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Our experience at the SB Botanic Garden was one of the high points of our two day trip to Santa Barbara. The 100 year old garden is nestled on 82 pristine acres north of the city, and offers miles of walking trails, through meadows, myriad wildflowers, bird life, and a wonderful grove of redwood trees at the northern part of the park. The staff were knowledgeable, and extemely helpful. Two definite thumbs up from us both.
Written June 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We are so happy to hear that you had such a great time here at the Garden! Your admission helps to support the research and conservation efforts of our staff working to protect native flora and fauna across the central coast. Thank you for leaving us such a detailed review! We hope to see you sometime again soon.
Regards,
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Written August 19, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard M
Madison, MS7 contributions
Nov 2021
Our visit was average. Probably b/c of the time of year, early November. I think the best time would be Spring as the snow melt flows though the river on the garden grounds. Without it and without the blooms and color, we simply were walking thru the woods. My wife said many time "this is more of a nature preservation than garden"
The small red wood trees area was impressive. Beautiful small area dedicated to towering red woods.
The small red wood trees area was impressive. Beautiful small area dedicated to towering red woods.
Written November 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Richard, we're sorry that you were disappointed by your visit. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is unique in that our collections exclusively display plants native to California. This means that our plants and displays change with the seasons, just as they do in the wild. You're right that spring is the time to see our iconic meadow, awash with native wildflowers. However, visiting the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden isn't just a walk in a garden. It's a chance to observe and learn from a microcosm of California's ecological diversity, and to support wild California ecosystems through your admission fees which help fund our conservation work throughout the state. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your time in the redwood section and hopefully, we will see you again in the spring so you can see our bountiful wildflower blooms.
Written November 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hiram B
London, UK99 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Beautiful property in the hills of Santa Barbara. The highlight of the tour was our Tour Guide, Lori Robinson! Her knowledge, enthusiasm and honest concern for the preservation of all of our natural flora and fauna was very impressive. The tour was especially nice because of her knowledge. I highly recommend touring this garden
Written June 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden! We're glad you so enjoyed your tour with Lori, too. We'll make sure she knows. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, your feedback helps us maintain the best standards for our visitors.
Regards,
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
Written August 19, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Martha W
Exeter, NH339 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Lovely gardens. We went in late February and were happy to see the California poppies in bloom. This is not just a walk around a few paths to see flowers, it also includes dirt and forest type paths. There is a small area with redwood trees. It’s a great place for children and includes some play structures. If you have any mobility issues or won’t be comfortable walking across rocks, be sure to pay attention to the staff as they describe the various trails. It is possible to do only the main, easy surface path and avoid the side paths with more challenging walking. Don’t miss the area across the street where there is a mountain and ocean view and some of the most beautiful floral areas. Clean restrooms and a nice gift shop.
Written February 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so glad that you enjoyed your visit to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden! We work hard to showcase a microcosm of California’s native flora, as well as to preserve and protect California diverse ecosystems statewide, so reviews like this matter. If you think you might return, you may want to consider a Garden membership which includes free admission for the year, as well as early access to special events, a subscription to Garden publications, discounts on classes, and more. See you at the Garden!
Written March 4, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rey C
Malibu, CA167 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
A lovely venue to feel and experience the natural beauty of Santa Barbara & So Cal. Natural and paved paths, dry creek, 1806 built bridge still in use, & the original water source of the Santa Barbara Mission. Redwoods trees, native plant nursery & friendly staff & docents to share info. Families of all ages, even future Olympic climbers of 4 yo enjoyed the boulders and paths of adventure. A good stop to add to a day trip to SB for those of us from LA.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so happy you were able to experience the Garden! It truly is a place to exercise our curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Thank you for your kind review and we love that you appreciated the beautiful biodiversity of California's native plants. We are the first botanic garden in the nation to focus exclusively on native plants, and your admission fees help us conserve and protect them! They are the foundation of all life on earth. We hope you come back again soon and keep up with us on social media!
Written August 16, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Recent guest
3 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
What a complete waste of our precious $25. We even paid the $1.00 help the garden fee. Except there is no garden. What garden? We were bored out of our wits. One can enjoy all what we saw and more for FREE! Needless to say, WE WON'T BE COMING BACK!
Written March 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We’re sorry that you were disappointed by your visit. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is unique in that our collections exclusively display plants native to California. This means that our plants and displays change with the seasons, just as they do in the wild. Many California natives have dormant seasons and are intricately tied to rainfall levels and temperature. This means that late winter is a great time to explore the manzanita section searching for delicate clumps of flowers, and spring is awash with wildflowers in our iconic meadow. This also means that visiting the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden isn’t just a walk in a garden. It’s a chance to observe and learn from a microcosm of California’s ecological diversity, and to support wild California ecosystems through your admission fees which help fund our conservation work throughout the state. The Island View Garden, on the east side of Mission Canyon Rd, is another beautiful feature of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, that features plants from the California Channel Islands. I hope you will explore this exciting Garden, with sweeping views of the islands, on your next visit.
Written March 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cuál es el valor de la entrada
Written February 3, 2020
How long are the trails? How much time should we allow? Are you open on December 24th during the day? What about December 23rd?
Written December 9, 2018
The Botanic Garden is closed on Christmas Eve [12/24] however they are open on the 23rd from 9-5p. The trails are relatively short, being less than a half mile each. There is a half dozen different trails so if you are interested in a short walk, you could spend a half hour doing a trail or two. If you have more time, maybe 2-3 hours depending on your pace. it's a beautiful place, spend as much time as you can.
Written December 10, 2018
Do you still have a lot of the poppies still in full bloom. I can’t find the info on the website. About a week ago you posted incredible views...wanted to know if it’s looking about the same before we drive up there! Thank you! 🌼
Written April 29, 2018
Flannery H
Santa Barbara, California
Yes, the poppies are in full bloom! We hope to see you soon!
Written April 30, 2018
dp93313
Bakersfield, California
We tend to visit places with our small dogs in a stroller, is this permitted at your place?
Written January 31, 2017
Barbara B
Santa Barbara, California
Hello
We do allow dogs on leash in our garden as well as dogs in strollers, but please know that there are many beautiful parts of our garden that you cannot reach with a stroller.
Many visitors with strollers often park them at certain points then carry or walk with their chargers to these other parts.
Thanks for inquiring and we look forward to seeing you soon.
Barbara
Written February 2, 2017
Planning to visit at beginning of October. What types of blooms and foliage may we see?
Written August 12, 2016
Like those above, we were springtime visitors. The garden is not geared around manicured blooming flowers, but more to a natural environment, which includes a dessert growth area (cactus), redwoods, plus a Japanese tea house. All-in-all, a serene setting.
Written August 12, 2016
Planning to visit in late February. Will much be in bloom?
Written December 30, 2015
Hi from Suzanne,
Spring blooms will be starting, as we have had some significant rainfall. Regardless if there ifs"full bloom" which usually wouldn't happen this early in the season, the gardens are so diverse and of many botanical geographic areas, that you will be delighted by the foliage. I would visit any time of the year. Some plantings are very rare.
Written January 17, 2016
I cannot get the website for the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to work. This the one with sbbg in it. I want to know when they have tours on Sunday. Can anyone else get the website to work? Do you know when the tours are on Sunday?
Thanks, Diane
Written January 16, 2015
Hello Diane,
We are very sorry for your inconvenience. We were migrating our website to a new secure server at the end of last week and unfortunately there was an issue that had to be addressed. We believe the bugs are all worked out and you should be able to access the Garden's website without any issues.
Written January 20, 2015
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