Featured May Events in Santa Barbara

Vivid. Bright. Picturesque. The month of May is a celebration of color and beauty along the coast and through the hills of Santa Barbara.

Like the oranges of a California Poppy. The soft pinks of a lotus flower. And the silver of a sunny morning.  Santa Barbara’s style is unmistakable and something not to be missed. If you’ve ever dreamt of frolicking through fields of wildflowers or surrounding yourself with natural inspiration, it’s time to pack your bags to see these six jaw-droppingly beautiful Santa Barbara locations:

ONE

Cue the music and Julie Andrews. The Santa Barbara hills are alive with California Poppies. Spend the afternoon immersed in a sea of wildflowers as you make the hike up to Grass Mountain. Located in Santa Ynez, don’t be surprised if you find yourself frolicking through the fields of flowers and snapping a photo around every bend. Catch the bloom while you can, as this view is seriously beautiful.

TWO

Fans and riders will get a postcard view of Santa Barbara as AMGEN Tour of California returns to Santa Barbara May 17th, 2016 for its Stage 3 Finish. For eight days, some of the world’s top professional cycling teams will compete in a challenging course that includes nearly 700 miles of scenic California highways and roadways. While in Santa Barbara, riders  will make the iconic Gibraltar Road climb and cross the finish line at La Cumbre Peak. Check back for more details of the race and festival in downtown Santa Barbara.

THREE

Palettes of color and culture come together each spring during the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival, May 28-30th  at Old Mission Santa Barbara. For three full days, Madonnari, or street painters, transform the Mission plaza using pastels on pavement to create 150 vibrant and colorful large-scale images. Don’t miss a detail — stay for the weekend at Hotel Milo, located on Santa Barbara’s waterfront. Each day you can return to the festival and see works of art come to life right before your eyes.

FOUR

Stroll through a wonderland of botanical flowers in Santa Barbara’s parks and gardens. Scattered throughout the city are pockets of paradise where you’ll find natural inspiration. Each one is a sight to behold and unique in its own special way. Once you’ve experienced them, you won’t be able to keep these beauties a secret. Here’s a list of 10 parks and gardens in Santa Barbara.

FIVE

If you’re looking for added adventure, look no further than Channel Islands National Park. Fittingly named the “The Galapagos Islands of North America,” the islands are one of the best-kept secrets in the national park system. Whether you want to hike, kayak, scuba dive or camp, the pristine beauty of the islands will take your breath away.

SIX

At the end of each day, the Santa Barbara South Coast is treated to a stunning performance of color and light as the sun sets over our parks and beaches. Whether it’s your first or hundredth, there’s nothing more mesmerizing than a Santa Barbara sunset. For best viewing, we’d suggest on the water during a sunset sail, in the air by helicopter, or on the beach at Butterfly, Arroyo Burro or Haskell’s.

(original information found at www.santabarbara.com)