Page 10 - Experiential Magazine - Vol 6

HOT SPOT

The American Riviera walls and red-tile roofs. Downtown streets
reflect the city’s European past with Spanish
names such as Ortega, Gutierrez and Cabrillo.

Santa Barbara bills itself as “The American Spanish explorers and settlers returned The best way to immediately experience
Riviera,” and, like its French counterpart, in the late 1700s. Gaspar de Portola and Santa Barbara’s geographic splendor is to
could easily lay claim to one of the most Franciscan priest Junipero Serra arrived by head to the waterfront walking and biking
scenic places on the planet. The central land from Mexico and built missions and path parallel to Cabrillo Boulevard. The path
California city’s gorgeous Pacific coastline forts. On this Short Escape, be sure to visit – also popular with joggers, skateboarders and
and beaches are enhanced by the towering, the Old Mission and El Presidio de Santa rollerbladers – provides quick access to shops,
tree-covered Santa Ynez Mountains and the Barbara State Historic Park. The 5 1/2-acre restaurants, wine-tasting rooms and craft
city’s stylish Spanish architecture. park in downtown Santa Barbara preserves breweries. A must-see stop is Stearns Wharf,
the site of the last Spanish fortress founded a deep-water pier that extends far into the har-
Spanish settlers are responsible for the city’s in Alta (Upper) California in 1782. Two of the bor and provides a magnificent vantage point
architecture, including Old Mission Santa fort‘s original adobe buildings – El Cuartel for viewing the city and its glorious mountain
Barbara and the Santa Barbara County and the Canedo Adobe still exist – and are setting.
Courthouse. Sailing from Spanish-ruled open to the public.
Mexico in 1602, explorer Sebastian Vizcaíno Near the waterfront is the revitalized Funk
survived a big storm on the eve of Saint Bar- Most of the city’s old architecture was Zone neighborhood. Formerly a manufactur-
bara’s feast day and named Santa Barbara destroyed by a massive earthquake in 1925, ing area filled with old warehouses, it now
Channel and Santa Barbara Island – today but civic leader Pearl Chase convinced city boasts a flourishing subculture of artists’
part of the Channel Islands – in the saint’s planners to rebuild in Spanish Colonial studios, wine-tasting rooms, craft brewers,
honor. Later, a city sprung up adopted the Revival style. Thus was born many of today’s a distillery, coffee shops, craft shops, restau-
same name. structures and their whitewashed adobe rants and the Santa Barbara Surfing Museum.

HOT VENUE Harley-Davidson Museum,

The Harley-Davidson Museum isn’t your typical museum. Much Milwaukee, WI
more than a nostalgia trip for motorcycle enthusiasts, the Museum
offers a unique glimpse of American history, industry and culture.
Interior spaces nod to Harley-Davidson’s industrial heritage and
its design legacy, right down to the doodles in every room by Motor
Company Chief Stylist Willie G. Davidson. Greenly lush outdoor
spaces bounded by downtown Milwaukee and the Menomonee
Valley seamlessly extend the Museum experience beyond its walls.
And the complex and its surrounding waterfront campus provide
a perfect backdrop for gatherings and special events. Whether it’s
hosting groups of 20 for team-building and incentive awards or
corporate events involving up to 750 people at a sit-down dinner,
attendees will enjoy more than 450 motorcycles and artifacts dat-
ing back to Serial Number One, the oldest known Harley-Davidson
motorcycle; stories of extraordinary products, people, history and
Harley-Davidson culture; tours of never-before-seen archives; and
other unforgettable sights and artifacts.
Phone: 215-345-0210
Website: www.mercermuseum.org

10