"Santa Barbara County Courthouse, Santa Barbara by Amanda Proudfit. The SB Courthouse is a must visit, especially if you’re not having to go for legal reasons! Built in 1926, the Santa Barbara Courthouse is a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival building that occupies an entire block and still functions today as both a place for local law and visitors to walk around it’s beautiful grounds. There are several areas open to the public, including: the Mural Room, the Law Library, the sunken garden, and the observation tower (saved the best for last). The whole building is interesting to walk around, but be sure to make it up to the Observation Tower, which is perhaps the best view you’ll get in all directions of Santa Barbara, with a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. It’s free to enter, and surrounded by plenty of 2-hour free parking spaces."
