Santa Barbara Vacation Rental Tips for Touring Historic Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is an area full of rich cultures going back thousands of years. Whether you want to learn more about the indigenous Chumash tribe that first settled the area, the influence of the Spanish and the Mission Santa Barbara, the Mexican rancho era, the incorporation of California into the United States in the mid 19th century or what the good life has been like since then, your Santa Barbara vacation rental is within shouting distance of a wealth of history and aesthetic treasures.

The best place to start exploring outside of your Santa Barbara vacation rental is probably with the self-guided downtown red tile walking tour. Named for the ubiquitous color of the roofs along the route, it is a very pleasant 12-block stroll, which will help you get situated among some of the city’s historical buildings and events.

If you want a more targeted tour try the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara. Their knowledgeable guides weave fascinating tales of history, buildings, the events that happened there and the men and women who were involved. No detail is too small and no painted tile goes unturned. There is also an innovative art tour offered through Santa Barbara Walking Tours, which incorporates art and history.

If your Santa Barbara vacation rental doesn’t have enough flora to suite you, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden is an excellent place for a stroll. There are 65 acres of plants in their native settings with 5½ miles of meandering paths.

There are also dozens of historic and artistic walking tours including a self-guided tour or virtual tour through the Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Historical Museum, Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation, the Pearl Chase Society, Santa Barbara’s hidden paseos or walkways, the harbor and Shoreline Park.

Many historic homes in the area are open to the public. One of the most striking is Casa del Herrero, or House of the Blacksmith, which was built and enjoyed by the Steedman family a century ago. It’s not a Santa Barbara vacation rental, but it is considered a prime example of Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture, and is open to the public for tours and special events.