Savoring the End of the Season at Lotusland’s Open Pathways Day

I never resist an opportunity to visit the glorious gardens of Lotusland, and this visit happened to fall on one of the Open Pathways Community Access Days, which provides reduced-rate entry to Santa Barbara residents, and was also the very last day of the 2023 season, November 18. 

In addition to self-guided tours, they had free mindfulness sessions and sound baths presented by Kind Mind and PALMA Colectiva, as well as a new Walks for Well-Being print guide available. Written by John La Puma, MD, and presented in partnership with Belle Hahn, the guide offered specific suggestions on special ways to experience the various areas of Lotusland and facts about some of the wellness benefits. For example, did you know that in a study that tested the memory and attention spans of walkers in an arboretum and compared the results to those who walked in an environment, the people walking among the trees did 20 percent better than the city walkers? 

All the more reason to take a walk through these beautiful grounds when you get the chance. Each year, Lotusland provides the community with transportation and free access for up to 3,000 4th-grade schoolchildren from Santa Barbara County schools. Operating under a conditional-use permit restricting annual visitor access to 20,000 people, this represents a deep commitment to its mission to promote education, and all of the education program is 100 percent funded by generous grants, making transportation and tours free for all students. 

The garden reopens on February 15, 2024 and reservations should be open in January. See lotusland.org.