SANTA BARBARA
April 4 – 6, 2026 · Veres Family · UCSB Campus Visit
Cheshire Cat Inn · Downtown Santa Barbara · 3 Days
🏨 THE INN
CHESHIRE CAT INN
Alice in Wonderland-Themed Bed & Breakfast · Downtown Santa Barbara
Victorian
Architecture
Downtown
Location
Breakfast
Included
Gardens
& Courtyards
Charming Victorian B&B with an Alice in Wonderland theme — gardens, courtyards, and cottages spread across the property. Walking distance to State Street, the Funk Zone, and the beach. Kids welcome in the cottage rooms.
📅 THE SCHEDULE
🎯 THINGS TO DO
Browse options, pick what sounds fun. Saturday and Sunday are wide open.
🌊 Outdoor & Explore
Dad recommends
🚲
Electric Bike Tour
Guided e-bike tour along the waterfront, through downtown, and into the foothills. Multiple routes available.
🥾
Hiking
Multiple trails near town — Inspiration Point (moderate, ocean views), Lizard's Mouth (easy, cool rock formations), Tangerine Falls (seasonal waterfall).
🏖️
Beaches
Butterfly Beach (Montecito) — calm waves, shallow entry, great for the whole family. Leadbetter Beach — Shoreline Cafe right on the sand.
🦁
Santa Barbara Zoo
Compact, beautifully landscaped zoo on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Great for a half-day visit.
🎨 Culture & Shopping
🎭
Funk Zone
Artsy warehouse district near the waterfront — galleries, boutiques, tasting rooms, and street art. Very walkable.
🌊
Stearns Wharf
Iconic pier with shops, Sea Center, and the famous Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. Walk out over the water.
🖼️
MCASB (Contemporary Art)
Museum of Contemporary Art — free admission. DJ spinning 12–4 PM on weekends.
⛪
Old Mission Santa Barbara
The "Queen of the Missions" — beautiful grounds, self-guided or docent-led tours.
🎨
Arts & Crafts Show
Sunday 10 AM – dusk along Cabrillo Blvd, beachfront. 100+ local artists — paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photography.
🛍️
Farmer and the Flea
Curated vintage + artisan market at El Presidio. Sunday 11 AM – 3 PM. Food vendors, local makers.
🏄
Channel Islands Surf Shop
Iconic SB surf brand — cool tees, boardshorts, and stickers. Great for souvenirs.
🎉 Family Fun
🔐
Escape Room — House of Clues
Two fun themes: Pirate Ghost Ship and Zombie War VR. Great group activity for all four of us.
🔍
Downtown Detectives Scavenger Hunt
Self-guided scavenger hunt through downtown SB. Book online, do it at your own pace — fun way to explore.
🪓
State Street Axe Club
Axe throwing — ages 10+ with a parent. Close-toed shoes required. Walk-ins usually available.
🎨
The Crafter's Library
Drop-in craft studio — great for Alison. Pottery painting, candle-making, jewelry, and more.
🐚
Sea Center (Natural History Museum)
On Stearns Wharf — touch pools, shark nursery, marine exhibits. Good combined with a wharf walk.
🎵 Events & Music
Recommended
🥎
UCSB Softball vs Hawaii
Saturday 2:30 PM at Campus Diamond. Conor's old principal has a connection to the program — fun way to see campus before the official tour.
🎶
Cutler's Distillery — Live Music
Craft cocktails and live music Saturday 7–9 PM. All ages, no cover. Located in the Funk Zone.
🎸
Live Music Listings
Full listing of live music around SB this weekend — check for shows at SOhO, Velvet Jones, breweries, and more.
🍷 Wine (Adults + Kids Welcome)
🍷
Urban Wine Trail
21 tasting rooms in downtown SB — many allow accompanied minors. Funk Zone cluster is the most walkable. Mix wine stops with galleries and shopping.
🎓 UCSB CAMPUS VISIT
UC SANTA BARBARA
Guided Campus Tour · Monday, April 6
Tour
Guided walking tour — 75 minutes, ~1.5 miles
Time
2:00 PM — arrive by 1:45 PM
Who
Suzanne, Conor, and Alison (Rob working remotely)
Meeting
Check-in at the Visitors Center
Parking
Lot 18 / Mesa Structure — ePermit via kiosk or ParkMobile app
While You're There
- Walk through the UCSB Library — beautiful ocean-view building
- Visit the Campus Store for Gaucho gear
- Stroll to the lagoon and bluffs for the coastal views
- Ask about CS department specifics at the admissions desk
- Comfortable shoes — the tour is 1.5 miles on mostly flat paths
🍽️ WHERE TO EAT
🥘
LOQUITA
🌿
THE LARK
Lunch Ideas
🌤️ WEATHER
Live forecast from Open-Meteo · Trip days highlighted
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ℹ️ GOOD TO KNOW
🚗 Getting There
~4.5 hours from Los Gatos via US-101 South. Mostly freeway, scenic stretch through San Luis Obispo county. Consider stopping in Solvang for lunch on the way down.
📅 Spring Break Note
SB can be busy during spring break weekends. Downtown and the waterfront will have more foot traffic than usual. Reservations already made for dinners.
🏨 Cheshire Cat Amenities
- Full breakfast included each morning
- Afternoon wine & cheese reception
- Garden courtyards and patios
- Walkable to State Street & Funk Zone