Memorial Day Trip 2006: Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California is a year-round tourist destination renowned for its warm weather, downtown beaches, and Spanish architecture. That explains patially why it is the 4th city across the US full of rich people. The average housing price is about 1 million dollars.
The history of Santa Barbara started on Dec. 4th, 1602, when Sebastian Viscaino sailed into the Channel of Santa Barbara. Since that day is sacred to the memory of Saint Barbara, virgin and martyr, he named the place as Santa Barbara — the Spanish version of Saint Barbara, who is the patron of artillery and mining, and who helps against lightning and fire.
After the Civil War, people from the East began pouring in and Victorian houses soon outnumbered Spanish Colonials. However, on the early morning of June 28, 1925, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake woke up most of the Santa Barbara residents. Local towns folk realized that most of the Victorians had burned and most of the buildings left standing were the Spanish Colonials, that relied more heavily on indigenous building techniques. An ordinance is passed making the downtown area Spanish Colonial. Thus the 1925 earthquake is responsible for the distinctive architecture in the city that has made Santa Barbara a popular tourist destination for over 70 years.
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In the memorial day holiday, I visited Santa Barbara with my roommate. He had a nice family re-union while I enjoyed the beauty of the city. The following places are worth visiting:
- Old Mission Santa Barbara: It was originally built in 1786, labeled as the “Queen of the Missions”. Every year during Memorial Day weekend, there is a street painting festival called i madonnari.
- Shoreline Park: One could have a nice bird view of Santa Barbara Harbor.
- Stearns Wharf: Originally built in 1872, it is THE best place for a luxury dinner in the city.
- Palm Park: Every Sunday, there is arts and crafts show in this park along shoreline drive.
- East Beach: A beach full of activities, such as sand volleyball.
- The Santa Barbara County Courthouse: As THE most beautiful courthouse in US, it is a historical landmark for wedding pictures. From its tower , one can get 360 degree view of the entire city. Its gorgeous Mural Room presents the history of the city on the wall.
- UCSB
- Henry’s Beach: It is actually called Arroyo Burrno County Beach Park. It is the right place for sunset, where you can see the campus of UCSB cross the sea water.
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