Santa Barbara and the Reagan Ranch!!!!

This photo is taken on Route 1, on our way from L.A. to Santa Barbara. We had about 2 days and 2 nights in Santa Barbara. We will be leaving early tomorrow morning, June 18th, for San Fran (and Monterey on the way to see Brandon and Natalie Rounds---Friends from Liberty)








What a beautiful city! No wonder President Reagan found himself buying a Ranch in the mountains. Not only were we able to see the beautiful city for ourselves, but we were able to get a 'behind the scenes' tour of Reagan's Ranch Rancho del Cielo (thank you Meredith and Joey-you were great "tour guides"). It was such a modest cottage for one of the greatest leaders the world has seen, but at the same time it felt larger than life because it was Reagan's.
Before Reagan's Ranch, we stopped into YAF's (Young America's Foundation) Ranch Center, and were able to see the gallery and many other pieces of Ronald Reagan's past. (Including one of his cars, many photos, and the table that was at his ranch where he signed the biggest tax cut in history. Katie visited the Reagan Ranch Center and ranch four years ago. So much progress has been made since her last visit-she is very proud of her Uncle Ron and Young America's Foundation. Today, June 17th, we spent lounging around the pool and shopping on State Street here in Santa Barbara. We also had a nice picnic dinner at the beach but left early because it has getting chilly. Santa Barbara has one of the most constant year-round temperatures in the nation. The temperature is usually somewhere between 65-75 degrees. Today is was 73 degrees.














Here are some photos from the Ranch:














President Reagan's "Rancho Del Cielo" (Ranch in the Sky)





































Ronald Reagan's Pet Cemetery - he would personally chisel each gravestone and bury the animal (there are horses, dogs, cats, and oxen)















"Rawhide" was the Secret Service's code name for President Reagan while at the Ranch. This poster is hanging in the Secret Service's bunker which remains on the grounds of the ranch. "Rainbow" was the code name for Mrs. Reagan.















This is "Heart Rock" where President Reagan carved his initials along with the initials of his wife Nancy Davis. His children and their spouses names are also carved in the rock.














The main entrance of the ranch.














The Santa Ynez Mountain range - Michael Jackson's Neverland is nearby the Reagan Ranch.















The Jeep used by President Reagan to jostle Barbara Walters around after an interview full of personal, tough questions.















We unexpectedly met the ranch's oxen on our ride back to the main house.















The largest Fig tree in North America located behind the Reagan Ranch Center (look REALLY close and you will see me in the middle at the base of the tree-click to see a larger version of the picture).