Lotusland

This paradise in Santa Barbara was the home of Polish opera singer Ganna Walska from 1941 to 1984. She spent the four decades restoring the gardens and turning it into a botanical garden where pink lotuses are featured. Along with the lotus that originated from the Tibetan region of Asia, the gardens also are home to a variety of succulents, ferns, tropicals, butterfly flowers, and many more. Because of an agreement with the county, the gardens can only be toured with an advanced reservation and an entrance fee of $35. While it is a tidy sum of money, it goes towards paying for a private tour that lasts about 90 minutes. Because the tours are exclusive you can take a ton of photos without a bunch of people photobombing your precious moments.