The Santa Barbara Zoo, along with other California-based attractions, including Sesame Place San Diego, Six Flags Magic Mountain, GRAMMY Museum, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord, and Visit Visalia, have been leaders in the accessible travel space, creating an Autism-Friendly California Road Trip that features attractions across the state that are Certified Autism Centers.

The road trip will appear in the annual 2022 Visit California Road Trips Guide starting this summer.

“The Santa Barbara Zoo is a place where everyone and all families should be able to visit and explore with ease. We strive to create spaces where guests, staff, and volunteers have access to safe and inclusive experiences,” saaid JJ McLeod, director of education at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

“We’re honored to partner with such incredible attractions across the state to ensure that California is a place for everyone to feel supported during their adventures,” McLeod said.

In 2018, the Santa Barbara Zoo became the first zoo on the West Coast to be designated a Certified Autism Center by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards.

Since earning the certification, the zoo has made new connections and partnerships with organizations that support the autism community, and strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage and participate fully. 

Santa Barbara Zoo, like the other featured stops, is a Certified Autism Center; all programs are inclusive and moderated by trained staff. Sensory backpacks are available to rent while the zoo’s map outlines designated quiet zones. A sensory-sensitive pathway is available when entering the zoo, which offers a calmer alternative to the main courtyard.

For more on accessibility at the Santa Barbara Zoo, click here.