Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara

Maybe it's the humanities major in me, but I really enjoyed the Santa Barbara Museum of Art more than the Mission... We came on Sunday afternoon towards the end of our trip. The admission fee for adults are usually $10, but if you have a student id you can get in for $6 :) yay for looking young enough to get college discounts still!! My favorite collections were definitely the Japanese and the Egyptian exhibits. I really admired the skill-based occupations of the time. In the world we live in, mass production takes away the meaning of art and what's special. So looking at the hand made artifacts really call out to a part in my soul (yeah I know, I sound super lame...) I really preferred the artifacts over the more contemporary photographs and painting. But that's all a preference thing, I have nothing against photographs and paints... I just enjoy the sculptures and artifacts at a higher level. My only complaint about this place is that I didn't have enough time to truly enjoy its' beauty. Towards the end of the trip, I felt like time was running out. If I come back to Santa Barbara, this will probably one of the places I check out on the first day so I can spend more time here :)

It’s fair to say this is my favorite museum in Santa Barbara. I was in town for the day visiting from LA and had heard many great things about this museum so decided to see for myself. Parking is easy and there are multiple areas to do it. It’s not very large inside but is two floors filled with beautiful works from all over the world. It’s subdivided into different regions and periods and it’s very easy to spend an hour here looking and reading. Coming from LA it’s way less crowded than I’m used to so that was also a bonus. I would recommend to anyone visiting Santa Barbara or if you’re a fan of art like I am and live within driving distance SB is a wonderful town to plan a day away.

Old post office turned stunning art museum. Recently remodeled with a surprisingly diverse collection. 60-90 min to navigate. It’s easy to miss the compelling gift shop as it is accessible on State Street, but it isn’t connected to the museum lobby, so make sure to seek it out!

I have visited this museum many times and for general admission, the price is much lower than their tickets for an exhibit which is $25. I decided to treat myself and my friend to the Van Gogh exhibit and it did not disappoint. If you love wandering and looking at art, then this is the place for you. I appreciate the workers who make sure people are respecting the art as well as answering any questions patrons may have. Buying tickets in advance is very cool. I would definitely do this so you can get started right away. I cannot wait until the next time I come to this museum. I always have a blast.

Drove from San Diego for the sole purpose of seeing the few paintings from Van Gogh on display at the SBMA and was not disappointed. The facility is small but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in content. The staff were friendly and the entire facility is just complimentary to the many exhibitions it houses. Highly recommend a visit if you are in town and want to add a cultural experience to your trip.