The 9-acre Coronado Butterfly Preserve and the Ellwood Main Monarch Grove, for which it serves as a gateway, are among the best locales to see the beauteous orange and black insects. Massive numbers of monarchs fly up to 3,000 miles to roost in the coastal eucalyptus trees; birds and wildlife also thrive here. The best viewing is between December and February. Note: The parking lot is a half-mile walk from the butterfly grove.
Bird-watching is a prime activity at Lake Los Carneros, a public park once part of a private ranch owned by the Stows, a pioneer agricultural family. The adjacent Rancho La Patera preserves the family home and gardens, which include a collection of exotic trees and a grove of redwoods; phone (805) 681-7216. Another popular local outdoor attraction is Goleta Beach County Park, notably its 1,450-foot pier, a hit with fishermen; the catch includes bass, halibut, perch, mackerel and bonito.
The Old-Time Fiddlers’ Convention and Festival is an annual celebration of Appalachian folk music and a showcase of local talent held every October. Offered the same month, the California Lemon Festival is a family-friendly event featuring everything from arts and crafts to pie-eating contests.
Visitor Centers
Goleta Chamber of Commerce 5662 Calle Real Suite 204 Goleta, CA 93117. Phone:(805)967-2500
Shopping
Old Town Goleta, centered on Hollister Avenue just off US 101, once the only commercial district to serve the area, is a vibrant mix of mom-and-pop businesses, antique dealers, high-tech businesses and a low-budget multicultural restaurant scene. The Camino Real Marketplace, at the intersection of Hollister Avenue and Storke Road, offers big-box chain stores, along with the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market on Thursday afternoons and Sunday mornings.
Things to Do
South Coast Railroad Museum
Recreational Activities