For my daughter’s birthday (and also to escape the scorching heat in the city), we decided to take a last-minute weekend getaway to Santa Barbara. My husband and I have always loved this enchanted city, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to experience it with our kids for the first time!
Our first stop in Santa Barbara was MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation. We have never been here before and let me tell you, we will definitely be back soon! This museum is filled with interactive experiences in science and art. Only opened for 18 months, it is Santa Barbara’s newest hands-on destination for families and kids of all ages. The museum is 3 stories tall, and took us well over 4 hours to explore all of the exhibits. Upon entering, you’ll see a gigantic guitar that kids can crawl into, and the best part is that it actually works! My kids loved the large suction tubes outdoors on the 1st floor that sucks up puff balls and shoot them out in different directions. My kids were predicting which direction the puff balls were going to go, which hole they'd fly out, and try to catch them.
My son’s highlight was the second floor where you’ll find a huge race track where kids can put together a wooden car and race it down the track three at a time. A computer videotapes the race and records the speed, letting the kids know who placed 1st-3rd. For your little LEGO enthusiasts and engineering lover, expect to spend a few hours on the 2nd floor!
If the weather is GORGEOUS in Santa Barbara (and 99.99% of the time it is), don’t forget to visit the Sky Garden, located on the 3rd floor of the museum. The area is filled with mixed musical sounds, kinetics, and a fully interactive water feature that includes a giant Archimedes screw. The view on the roof of the ocean and mountainside is spectacular since the museum is just a block from the beach.
If you’re in the Santa Barbara area, I recommend making a visit to the MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation. Its guaranteed fun for the whole family and there is something for everyone.
Bonus: Your price of admission is good for the entire day, so if you need to break away for lunch, visit one of their local eateries in town or, better yet, stop by McConnell’s Ice Cream Parlor- Voted one of the best ice creams to experience in America!
Disclosure: We were provided complimentary tickets for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
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