Do a little retail therapy in Santa Barbara’s historic downtown .

If you like cobblestone, bubbling fountains, towering palms, cascading bougainvillea, historic buildings, and fresh sea breezes, you will love downtown Santa Barbara. This lush, sophisticated destination offers world-class shopping, cuisine, arts, and entertainment. Wander along brick-lined sidewalks, through outdoor plazas, and hop from boutique to boutique at your own pace. You'll find major retailers such as Lucky Brand, Levi's, and Banana Republic, as well as high-end boutiques like Betsey Johnson and Juicy Couture. There are also fun local specialty shops selling comics, rugs, and jewelry, so your bound to find a trinket or treasure to take back home.

Discover how ceramics were made, used and traded in early California with the newest exhibit at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, Ceramics Rediscovered: Science Reshapes Understanding of Hispanic Life in Early California. Based on a decade-long investigation of ceramic production using archaeological evidence and scientific analysis, the exhibit offers a rare glimpse into daily life during California’s Spanish and Mexican periods (1769-1848). Featuring period artifacts and reproduction pottery, this groundbreaking exhibit traces the evolution of California’s earliest potters and the material culture they helped shape.