The Santa Barbara Zoo is located in Santa Barbara, California. The Santa Barbara Zoo is approximately 90 miles north of Los Angeles, 25 minutes north of Ventura, and 40 miles south of Solvang. From south on US 11: Heat Springs / Cabrillo Boulevard exit. Turn left on Cabrillo and continue to the first stop light. Turn right onto Niños Drive. The port plays on the right side of the fields. You will be charged $3 to park at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
Admission to the Santa Barbara Zoo is now $10 for adults (those over the age of 12), $8 for Seniors 60 and older, $8 for children ages 2-12, and children under 2 are admitted free. Although the Santa Barbara Zoo is a really nice zoo to visit, it’s not surprising or anything, and it’s a small enough zoo that the admission prices seem relatively high. Especially when you consider that the admission prices for the Los Angeles ticket, which is about three times the price and has all the exciting animals things they love to see in zoos are the same for adults, and much cheaper for kids! Something about this is not very added, but still those are the price of admission for the Santa Barbara Zoo.
The Santa Barbara Zoo is a cozy enclosure, with exhibits that are designed so that a tour through this facility feels more like a nature walk than a road. This can be nice during the holidays when the zoo is not too crowded. Unfortunately, on a day when the Santa Barbara Zoo is packed, the narrow walkways and paths just mean there isn’t enough space for everyone, and the space feels…..well, crowded!
Some of the best animal exhibits at the Santa Barbara Zoo include: Lions, Giraffes and Lorikeet enclosures. Some of the animal exhibits at the Santa Barbara Zoo are designed so that the animals that live in them are either extremely difficult or basically impossible. That is true of Gorilla exhibits and Eagle exhibits. The California Sea Lion exhibit has always been a favorite with our family, and in fact has always been my favorite exhibit there as well. from childhood The sea lions that were at the Santa Barbara Zoo have been replaced by penguins, which are far less fun to watch. Perhaps the administrators at the Santa Barbara Zoo believed they would have more business, except for the Penguin exhibit because of the recent popularity of Penguin movies. Who knows?
The Santa Barbara Zoo has an area where guests can buy and feed baby goats, which is always fun. In addition, there is a full-sized play structure and carousel located in the zoo, and these features are beautiful. The Zoo Train is a popular attraction at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Recently, the Santa Barbara Zoo has been painted the shade of the Zoo Train covered in bright blue, which makes it look like a big, ugly toy now, when it used to look big. Perhaps the administrators of the Santa Barbara Zoo were forced to slip up to make the train look like the one in the Disney Channel’s “Blue Zoo Train” video. Also, who doesn’t know?
As with most zoos, the Santa Barbara Zoo offers the opportunity to purchase food items and beverages. And, as with most zoos, the food is average and overpriced. Visitors are far better off dining at the nearby Santa Barbara Pier, or one of the many spectacular Mexican restaurants in downtown Santa Barbara.
Overall, the Santa Barbara Zoo has a pleasant atmosphere, with plenty of Eucalyptus trees, and a view of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a very small event, easily navigated in about an hour, and includes time to feed the goats and ride the train. It is good for visiting the zoo with very s small children, because it is easy to see the whole facility without exhaustion. so much so that the child cannot enjoy it. It’s a cute ticket to visit, but be warned it’s not very expensive, and it won’t knock your socks off.
