Solvang & Santa Barbara California July 2005 - 61 photos - 1775 views

Solvang, the Danish Capital of America, is a wonderful small town with an Old World architectural styles blend with flower-lined streets. Also visited the old mission, which is one of the most beautiful missions in the state, and was the tenth of 21 Franciscan missions in California. Also made a stop at the county court house, a magnificent Spanish-Moorish building with a spectacular 360degree view from the top of the tower. The courthouse complex is comprised of four buildings totaling 150,000 square feet. There is a full basement that contains the mechanical equipment, parking and storage. When constructed in 1929 there were just two courtrooms located in the Figueroa Wing, with other county government offices. In 1967, when non-court functions of county government moved into a new building across the street and the vacanted space was remodeled into additional court rooms and support spaces for court functions.  
 
Later the day, we visited the Santa Barara Zoo. With 30 acres, over 500 animals and its scenic location the Santa Barbara Zoo is a wonderful place to spend the day. Known as the world's most beautiful zoo, the Santa Barbara Zoo is located in a lush botanic garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The Santa Barbara Zoo Carousel features hand-carved exotic animals, Giraffe Feeding with the tallest residents of the Zoo, and Kallman Family Play Area. An average Zoo visit lasts about three hours. There are loads of other things to do in Santa Barbara including visiting the Mission Santa Barbara, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. At the Museum, there are more than three million artifacts and specimens in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, vertebrate and invertebrate biology, geology and paleontology, art, library, and archives. The collections are used by 14 Museum scientists and colleagues from around the world.