The Santa Barbara area offers scenic beauty and many things to do! Plan an extra day before or after the Congress to see the coast, visit a garden or museum, or walk around the downtown area.
You are invited to register for Thursday late afternoon/early evening arrival to take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the area before the formal start of Congress on Friday afternoon.
Local Beaches
- Sands Beach, near Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve is walking distance from our Congress venue at Sierra Madre village, walking past Devereux Lagoon (see west campus map).
- Campus Point Beach is south of the UCSB lagoon and is walking distance from the main campus (see east campus map).
- Goleta Beach Park is east, beyond campus. It is a 3-mile drive from Sierra Madre village.
The City of Santa Barbara, south of campus, offers many attractions, including museums, gardens, and miles of public beaches. West Beach with historic Stearns Wharf is are about a 12-mile drive from Sierra Madre village.
Gardens and Parks
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden offers 5 miles of trails through California native plants.
- Lotusland features a huge diversity of exotic plants from around the globe, arranged in 25 gardens.
