6 Things to do in Santa Barbara

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by : Juliette Asselin
from : Canada

Santa Barbara is a small city but we can do a lot’s of things. In this article I will write about 6 things you can do in Santa Barbara.

  1. Santa Barbara Zoozoo1

The Santa Barbara Zoo is small but has a lot of animals and beautiful gardens. The zoo is open between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The prices are $17 for the adults (13-64), $13 for the seniors (65+), $10 for children (2-12) and free for the children under 2. The parking cost just $7 for a day. The zoo is perfect for the kids because they have a play area for them. You can spend the day at the zoo but it takes one and half hours to do the tour of the zoo

 

  1. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Ty Warner Sea Center seacenter

In the museum you can enjoy informative exhibit halls about birds, insects, mammals, marine life, fossils, and Native Americans. The museum is open between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The prices are $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors (65+), $7.50 for teens (13-17), $6.00 for children (2-12) and free for the kids under 2. The museum is perfect for the kids because they can touch see animals and they have also activities for them.

 

  1. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden     botanic garden

In the botanic gardens you can see many varieties of flowers and plants. The Gardens are open between 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The prices for is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+), $8 for teens (13-17), $6 for children and free for the kids under 2. The botanic garden is perfect for people who love gardening or watching beautiful gardens.

 

  1. Stearns wharfstearns whalf

The Stearns Wharf is open all the time and all the year too. You can eat at many seafood restaurants, visit the Museum of Natural History and lots of little shops. Also, you can go fishing and take beautiful pictures of the ocean.

 

  1. Santa Barbara Museum of Artmuseum of art

In the Santa Barbara Museum of Art you can see a lot of artworks and sculptures. The museum is open between 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The prices are $10 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+), students and children (6+) and free under 2. The museum is perfect for people who love art.

 

  1. East and West Beacheast beach

In Santa Barbara we have two beaches. The first one is East beach and the second one is West beach. On the beach you can get a tan, relax and go swimming in the ocean. The beaches are perfect for people who want to have a great and relaxing day.

City tour of Santa Barbara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIcpjaKVoEI

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Interview to Pierina Staub

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Agustina Lopez from Uruguay

Questions:

  1. What’s your name and how old are you?
  2. Where are you from?
  3. Do you have any brothers or sisters? If you have, do they live with you?
  4. If you could travel to any place in the world where would you go first?
  5. Supposing you get a job offer in this place, would you accept it?
  6. Would you like to live there?
  7. What would you do if you fall in love with a guy there?
  8. If you stayed there for a very long time, what would you miss the most from your country?
  9. Of the countries you have visited, which one do you liked the most and why?
  10. If you could choose a super power, which one would you choose?

 

Pierina Staub from Switzerland

Answers:

  1. Her name is Pierina and she’s 16 years old.
  2. She’s from Switzerland, St.Gallen
  3. She has one sister and she loves her, her sister’s name is Lea and she’s 18 years old so Pierina is the younger sister and they live together.
  4. If she could travel to any place she would choose Santa Barbara so her dream has come true because now she is here.pierina staub
  5. Absolutely no, she loves her family and she would miss them very much because it is too far from home.
  6. No she wouldn’t like to live in Santa Barbara.
  7. In case she falls in love with a guy here she is going to tell him that Switzerland is very awesome and beautiful so if he wants to come back with her he is welcomed.
  8. Pierina would miss the most her friends, family and handball.
  9. Of all the countries she had visited the one she totally loved the most was Greece because she loves going to the beach and the food in there is pretty good too.

10.If she could choose a super power she would like to run very fast.

 

Border Control on Consumables

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Jip Damen, Netherlands

What surprised me the most from travelling to the United States was the border control on consumables. Apparently one has to declare all the food, however few, he wishes to bring with him to the USA, not declaring can have penalties up to $10.000 as a consequence. Does it really matter if a single traveler brings some food with him? Why is the U.S. customs so strict on food specifically?

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The main reason the US is so rigorous with food control is in order to prevent spreading of pesticides and animal diseases. This is why especially plant-based products like fruits and vegetables and animal-based products, like meat are most often not allowed to bring into the US. On the other hand, products that are prepared and packaged, and even cheese (with commercial label) are generally allowed when declared. The US CPB (Customs and Border Protection) thinks meat, fruit and vegetables can be a thread to the economy and livestock industry, as they say:

“Agricultural pests and diseases are a threat to U.S. crop production and to the livestock industry. Some animal diseases can be highly contagious and could cause severe economic damage to livestock and result in losses in production, which could lead to increased costs for meat and dairy products. Plant pests and disease, as well as invasive plant material can cause crop loss and also damage lawns, ornamental plants, and trees.  Plant pest infestations can result in increased costs to consumers due to pest eradication efforts as well as lower crop yields.  High risk plant pest and animal disease outbreaks within the U.S. could also adversely affect the economy as a result of reduced trade of U.S. origin goods to countries around the world.”

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Interview about Miriam

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Miriam

by Catherine Sodar – Belgium

Miriam is 25 years old and she comes from Barcelona, Spain. She is a tourism agent but she is also studying communication to become a travel journalist. She wants to travel a lot and to see different countries and cultures. She is an open minded person and for her, English is an important skill to communicate with other people, to travel and to work because it’s a good opportunity to meet new people and cultures.

She will stay here for 3 weeks only, because she has to return to work in Spain. First, she worried about the safety in America because everyone can have a gun, but now she isn’t afraid anymore because Santa Barbara is a really safe and it doesn’t seem very dangerous. She is very happy to be here because the American people are very friendly and helpful.

While she is here, her aims are to improve her English for her job, but her life goals are to become a travel  journalist for a magazine. Money isn’t that important because she just want to do something what she loves and that is traveling. She would like to go to Japan and Thailand because they have completely different types of cultures. Her dream is to swim with dolphins but she doesn’t really want to do it if it would contribute to the imprisonment of them.

Before she came to America she went to a few different countries in Europe :

  • France; She lived there for 7 months.
  • Italy : Miriam really like this country.
  • England
  • Tunis
  • United States : for holidays.
  • Brazil
  • Belgium ; to study at the English Academy in Spa for 3 months.

She told me that when I come to her country and especially to her city, Barcelona, I have to visit absolutely the Gaudi Park and also see all the Gaudi architecture. She appreciates  walking in the little streets of Barcelona where are many bars, cafes and little shops. I think it could be wonderful to get lost in her city. I have heard a lot of great things about Barcelona.

She went to Liege six years ago to go to the English Academy and it’s the city where I live in Belgium. There she also learnt a lot of English. She’s now an independent tourist guide but she is studying communication : marketing, languages and journalism.

Viviane Meyer

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By Emmi Zoccolan, French section of Switzerland.

Viviane

Viviane Meyer is a nineteen year old Swiss girl. She is from Zurich and she speaks Swiss-German. Her parents are from Bern and she has a younger sister who is seventeen years old and works with children. Viviane finished high school before coming to Santa Barbara and after her trip here, she wants to study Economics at the University of Zurich. Her hobby is handball; she has played for twelve years now.

She chose Santa Barbara because she knew some people who were here before and told her that it was really amazing.  Furthermore, she thinks it is better to live in a smaller city like Santa Barbara than in a bigger city, like Los Angeles, because you can go everywhere and you do not need a car. Everything is near and accessible. Even if she feels good in the United States, she feels a little bit homesick; she especially misses the food from Switzerland, like the fondue and definitely her bed. According to her, the biggest difference between Switzerland and Santa Barbara is that here everything is within walking distance. Although, if you want to go to another city, like in San Diego, you need to plan. You cannot just go there, because you need to rent a car and book a hotel. In Switzerland, it is really different because it is a small country; so if you want to go in another city you can just take the car and be in the nearest city in less than one hour. In addition, she likes the fact that the stores stay open in Santa Barbara until 10p.m. because in her country they close earlier.

Viviane has already been to a lot of countries, but China was the most exciting experience she has had so far. She went to Shanghai for two weeks and compared to other European countries, China has a completely difference lifestyle. She said it was interesting to see how people live there and how it is so different from our lifestyle in Europe. She noticed that America is also different form Switzerland, but it was even more different than China. The most beautiful place she has been to is Croatia; she has been there three times already and she loved it. For her it is the most beautiful place she has seen because the water is clean and the landscapes are stunning. Moreover, she liked the fact that there are not sandy beaches and she did not have sand everywhere when she went home. She wishes to visit more Asian countries in the future, especially Vietnam. Perhaps she will take a trip to South America also.

Life Starts at the End of Your Comfort Zone

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By Bastien Julien, France

“Life starts at the end of your comfort zone” is something I learned from Neale Donald Walsh’s book. I spent long time thinking about the meaning of this sentence, and I definitely started to take more risks after I determined what my comfort zone was.

People tend to be satisfied with what they have; we all have experienced routine in our lives. Some people get bored from working for the same company for many years; others get bored from studying a lot, and last, but not least, there are those who are unemployed.

Fortunately, there are many ways to end the routine. The goal is to experience new things, doing something you never done before, because the definition of routine is to live every day the same way. By doing new things every week, by planning unusual trips, and by meeting new people, all these things will help you to live an amazing life.

For some people, only little changes will lead to a happier life, but, for other people, they will need to plan a lot of new activity such as a travel, relocation, or changing one’s job.

Finally, one important advice is to find the motivation which will make you ready to change your way of life.Routine

Saying Goodbye to the Best Experience Ever

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By Maria Reyes Gherardelli , Chile

It’s really hard to say goodbye to my new life , when I have just gotten used to it .I have my new friends, my new favorite places . Santa Barbara has become my new home.yyyyyyyyyy2

During my experience I have said goodbye to many friends who have left before me , but I hadn’t thought much about my own time to leave, that is until now, when  I realized that I  have only a few weeks left . On the one hand, going back home makes me happy because I will see my hometown friends, my family, and I will return to my old life in Chile .On the other hand I’ll miss Santa Barbara very much, this amazing experience where I met people from many countries, visited the most beautiful places in California, saw amazing sunsets, and, most importantly, I made really good friends who became my family.

Actually there is one thing I’m sure, when I go back home, my life  is not going to be the same.I’ll keep in my heart all the moments which I spent  here . I won’t say goodbye, I’ll just say see you soon SB.

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Northem California: Big Sur

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By Maria Reyes Gherardelli , Chile

Big Sur is a lightly populated region of the Central Coast of California where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. This awesome place is located four hours by car from Santa Barbara and that means you can go just for the day.

When I went there, we started our trip at 9 AM and on the way we visited Solvang and San Simeon. If you are planning to go to Big Sur, you have to research the weather forecast otherwise you may just see fog.

It is amazing how great you feel there, I felt super relaxed and I was impressed with the beautiful view.

Although we had a little bit of rain, that wasn’t a problem because we were able to see a rainbow in the sky.

*The construction of Highway One in the 1930s transformed Big Sur, making it accessible to all the people.

Italian Food is the Best One

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by Francesca Mosca – Torino, Italia

As everyone knows, Italian food is one of the best things in the entire world. When you visit the Beautiful Country, you could eat all day for at least 15 days without repeating the same meal. We don’t just eat pizza and pasta!

Depending on the different regions, we have so many varieties of food and specialties. Near the sea, it is very common to enjoy fish dishes: grilled, fried or accompanied by pasta or vegetables; you can be sure the fish is always fresh and gorgeous. In the North, you will find more rustic dishes, maybe with mushrooms or special kinds of meat, like boar or venison. They are very common in the Alps, the big mountain chain in the middle of the Europe.

The meals can vary a lot according to the season. In the summer, you can enjoy delicious handmade ice creams (remember the ice cream store Grom, the famous chain that actually owns shops in all the parts of the world, born in Torino, a wonderful – since it is mine 😉 – city in the North-West of Italy), or simple dishes of Caprese salad (mozzarella cheese and tomatoes, with some fresh basil leaves), or appetizing sandwiches with the sweet Italian ham called “prosciutto crudo” and fresh cheese like “stracchinoIMG_8168”.

On the other hand, in the winter you have the possibility of tasting exquisite hot Gianduja chocolates, with the typical flavor of the Italian hazelnuts (the same as Nutella!), cornmeal mushes, polenta, with melted cheese and a lot of butter or with sausages and tomatoes sauce.

One of my favorite Italian food is surely “gnocchi alla bava”, which the literal translation is like cooked with saliva; since I love eating them with the “fontina” cheese, a special kind of cheese that when it is melted is very stringy. I know, in your imagination it might not sound so inviting, but trust me: those that my grandfather prepares are the best gnocchi you could ever taste!

Gnocchi are very easy to cook: you need only potatoes (usually 1kg for 4 people) and flour, the amount you require, and a pinch of salt. After boiling the potatoes, you have to peel them and press with a fork; in Italy we have a special utensil to do this, but I think it is very hard to find it abroad. Knead the salted potatoes with some flour, keeping in mind that the less you add, the more savory is the result. Then form the dough into some cylinders, like salami with a diameter of 1.5 cm, cut them in small pieces, maybe of 2 cm length. Now, the funnest part arrives: you have to roll each “gnocco” on a fork to make the characteristic signs on the top, one by one. When I was a child, I always used to help my grandparents in this operation and it was a source of great fun for me and my cousins.

Gnocchi is a very cheap and simple dish, so you can try to make them and then visit any place in Italy to be sure that your result was good!

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The 10 Things That You Need To Do In SB Before You Die

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By Bastien Julien (France), Aline Helsen (Belgium), Fernanda Pardo Puente (Chile)

Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera, is a great place to spend your holiday with the family. It might not sound as famous as L.A or San Francisco, but this characteristic makes Santa Barbara so special.

It’s a small and quiet city and is perfect for every age. There are a lot of activities to do during the whole year. We’re going to make you a list about how you can spend your days in Santa Barbara. Of course it depends on your age, what you’re able or what you’re unable to do.

For everyone and for free

1) Santa Barbara County Courthouse

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This Spanish-Moorish architectural masterpiece was completed in 1929 and features giant hand painted murals, gorgeous tile work, and rare art. The 80-foot clock tower is free and open to the public and offers a panoramic view of the city, beachfront and mountains. Beautiful gardens surround the property.

 

2) Inspiration Point

Known as one of the most famous hikes in Santa Barbara, Inspiration Point Trail is an activity to share with your whole family. What makes this trail so special is that you will only discover the specular view at the top of the mountain. We not only recommend you do it if you want to enjoy the sunset, but also if you want to start your weekend with a great adventure that will help you to discover Santa Barbara from another perspective. Most people agree that the trail is aptly named. You will not waste your time – just do it.

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3) Enjoy a Moment At The Beach

You will probably find your favorite beach here in California. Why? In fact, all the beaches in Santa Barbara are different.

If you want to spend a few moments at the beach after eating at a restaurant, you can go to West Beach, enjoy a moment on the pier, or on the harbor.

If you like to play volleyball, you should go to East Beach where you will find more than ten courts to play with your friends or with American people who really like this place.

Finally, if you want to spend a day at the beach away from the downtown area, you might go to Butterfly Beach (Montecito) or Isla Vista Beach (Goleta). Those two places are relaxing and beautiful.

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4) Skater’s Point

Santa Barbara’s popular skateboard park called Skaters Point is located at the beach, just east of Stearns Wharf. Its location makes the place very popular in Santa Barbara. This is a really good attraction, both if you would like to improve your skateboarding skills, or just watching some talented kids.

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For everyone but not for free

5) Sunset Cruise with Santa Barbara Sailing Center

This is an opportunity to see beautiful sea life and enjoy Santa Barbara’s breathtaking sunset. I would recommend doing this during the summer or taking a warm sweater with you in the winter, because when the sun goes down it can get cold.

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6) Santa Barbara Zoo

If you like animals, this is an awesome excursion for the family. It’s really easy to find. You can go by car, bike, or a shuttle.

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7) Whale Watching With Santa Barbara Sailing Center

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This is an amazing opportunity to see blue whales, gray whales, humpback whales, orcas, and dolphins up close! It’s one of the most spectacular things to do here in Santa Barbara. Prices can vary between $50 and $99, depending on the season and your age.

 

 

 

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8) Restaurants and Nightlife

Santa Barbara is also known for its Mexican cuisine. Therefore, you can find a lot of Mexican restaurants here like Sandbar, Carlitos, and Baja Sharkeez. Sandbar is located close to Santa Barbara’s nightlife so you will find a lot of young people there having a drink. Baja Sharkeez is a place where you can find Mexican food and watch sports at the same time, every corner of the restaurant has a television in order to not miss a single match, of course there are also other good restaurants like Aldo’s, and Arnoldi’s.

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9) Nightclub

Tonic Nightclub, EOS Lounge, Wildcat Lounge, Velvet Jones, Blind Tiger, … Santa Barbara counts many places to party with your friends. Going to one of those places can be a nice occasion for you to meet American people and discover how they have a good time.

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10) Wine Tasting

With over 15 years of local wine industry experience, Wine Canyon Tours gives you an informative exploration of the gorgeous Santa Barbara backcountry. You’ll get the opportunity to taste California’s best wines while enjoying breathtaking views.

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