Garden Street Walk

Santa Barbara, CA Print   Leave a comment

Description

Walking along the top of Garden Street is inspiring and relaxing. In the shade of rows of lush weeping willow trees, you walk peacefully along the wide sidewalk past beautiful Santa Barbara homes and their landscaped gardens. Many of the gardens feature native and desert plants. You pass the graceful Saint Andrews Cathedral, which now belongs to San Roque High School.
Start this walk at Laguna Street where it crosses Pedregosa Street, just down from the Mission Rose Garden. Walk past some lovely Victorian homes and the impressive white Spanish-style Roosevelt School. Across Laguna Street from Plaza Rubio, the street that borders the Mission Rose Garden, walk through Junipero Plaza, a street that has no sign and looks like it is a private driveway. There is a fancy stone entryway and an iron gate which is open. It's a quiet street, which is rare to find in Santa Barbara's grid system. What clever homeowners for making it look like it's not really a street! Then turn right onto Garden Street and follow it up until it curves sharply to the left becoming Constance Avenue. To return back, turn left on Santa Barbara Street and follow it back to Pedregosa St. It's a nice loop walk in a lovely neighborhood! Look for my house there soon, when my writings make me rich and famous!!
Nearby, walk through three adjacent parks that are absolute heaven: Alice Keck Park, Alameda Park, and Kidsworld. Kidsworld has a great castle playground.
For another playground nearby, set in a wooded area with a short hike and a stream, check out Rocky Nook Park.
If you're hungry, there's a good Indian restaurant, Flavor of India, just a short drive around the bend from Constance Avenue. Turn right on State Street, and it is there at 3026 State Street. They have delicious everything! Try the mango lassi and the combo meals that come with naan bread and lots of spinachy and yogurty side dishes.

Photo Gallery

St Anthony's Seminary Chapel above the trees.	A giant cactus!	Lush trees and extravagant gateways await you!
Garden Street Academy campus, on upper Garden St.	The campanario on Garden Street Academy campus.	St Anthony's Seminary Chapel, now part of the Garden Street Academy campus on Garden St.
Chapel on Garden Street Academy campus.	House on the corner of Garden St and Mission St.	House on Garden St near Mission St.
Palm stretching to the sky beside residences on Garden St, near Mission St.	Mission Revival architecture from 1895, at Crocker Row, Santa Barbara's first planned residential development, 2050 Garden St.	Sandstone gates leading into peaceful Junipero Plaza.
Junipero Plaza, a quiet street that leads to the mission rose garden.	Looking through Junipero Plaza archway to the mission rose garden.	Shady path along Garden Street.
St Anthony's Seminary at dusk.	Spring flowers appear in early February!

Directions

Garden Street Walk begins at Laguna St and Pedregosa St, Santa Barbara CA 93101.
Exit Highway 101 at Mission Street. If exiting from the 101 northbound, turn right. If exiting from the 101 southbound, turn left. Follow Mission St about eight blocks. Turn right onto Garden Street and then left onto Pedregosa Street. Turn left on Laguna Street and park along the road.
For the walk, walk up Laguna Street a few blocks until you come to the Mission rose garden and then cross Laguna Street and walk through the stone entry way into Junipero Plaza (it's not marked, but it's directly across the street from Plaza Rubio). Turn right on Garden Street. Walk until it curves sharply to the left. Turn left on Santa Barbara Street and follow it back to Pedregosa St and your car. Have a great walk!
Flavor of India, 3026 State St, call (805) 682-6561.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Overall Visitor Rating:

James 12/22/2009 13:14	Thank you - best wishes to all of you! Looking forward to walks this christmas!
Amy 10/06/2009 13:53	Sooooo wish I was in Santa Barbara and could be there!