Santa Barbara County Camping

The three of us went camping in Santa Barbara County over the weekend and had a great time. This was a new campground to us, but not far from Paradise, where we've been before. It was a small campground but the spaces were large and the neighbors were quiet. Very peaceful.

We also had some nature shows! This great blue heron was hunting lizards, and then we noticed he had a gopher! Oh my!

We also had hawks in the trees overhead, being loud and eating prey, as well.

For the first time, we went to Lake Cachuma, which had a lot to offer - a nature center and garden, marina and restaurant/bar with live music, camp store, amphitheater, campsites and restrooms. 

Violet was excited to try fishing again, or, casting, as the case may be. Not much catching going on. 

We then went into Solvang, where we found a bakery to get desserts and a coffee.

After Solvang, we drove around Santa Ynez before returning to our campground to make dinner.

And a lovely dinner it was! Salad, hamburger, grilled onions and mushrooms.

Breakfast the next morning was just as nice.

On our way home, we stopped at Cold Spring Tavern, which was a restaurant on the stagecoach route in the late 1800s. It was very popular on a Sunday afternoon with motorcyclists and families. 

We then stopped at Chumash Painted Cave, which we learned about at the Lake Cachuma visitor center. 

It was out of the way and very interesting.

Near the painted cave was this lovely stream.

Then, it was time to head south. We made one more stop, in Carpinteria to put our feet in the sand, before heading home.