J3600MSshawnb
17 Mar 2023
We took "The Veil is Lifted" tour on 3/16/23. Julie Brown served as our guide.
THE GOOD:
Julie oozes love and appreciation for Santa Barbara and its rich history. And she plainly possesses a wealth of knowledge about that history.
THE BAD:
Our four-person group found Julie to be a disjointed, confusing storyteller. Some may call it stream of consciousness. Others may call it verbal diarrhea. The point is that we found her presentation very, very difficult to follow. Part of that stemmed from her weaving in lots of irrelevant details, like the fact that one of her friends married a guy who specializes in rheumatology, has conducted a variety of Vitamin D research, and recently emigrated from Germany. It was really, really tough to sort through the blizzard of words and identify what was important.
And regrettably, Julie gave us a reason to question her credibility. Towards the beginning of the tour, she described a previous encounter that she had with a ghost. She specifically stated that she only "feels" the presence of ghosts and does not actually "see" them. Then, midway through the tour, she described a different encounter with a different ghost who wore a sparkly backpack, asked her a question, and appeared to be attempting to open a door with a key. So, within 45 minutes, she stated both that she has never seen a ghost and that she saw a ghost. We don't know which story was true and which wasn't, but obviously, both can't be true.
THE UGLY:
For our taste, Julie talked about herself way too much and displayed an uncomfortable level of self-aggrandizement. She emphasized that she only buys her clothes in London, that she is a member of prestigious yacht and social clubs, and that she is a professor. She also went into too much detail (again, for our taste) regarding her daughters (one of whom is apparently difficult), her careers (she once carried a Screen Actors Guild card and participated in lots of talent showcases), and her separate personal interests (church, community committees, etc.). Simply stated, we found it off-putting and irrelevant.
BOTTOM LINE:
There are worse ways to spend $220 ($55 x 4), but we would not take this tour again and do not recommend it for anyone who is primarily interested in ghosts and the paranormal. The value simply isn't there. If your primary interest is Santa Barbara's history, this tour could be worthwhile, particularly if Julie can find a way deliver relevant information in an orderly, understandable manner.
shanew8052019
04 Feb 2023
My group and I had an unforgettable experience on a ghost tour in Santa Barbara led by Julie on Halloween night. Julie's passion and knowledge of the city's history really added to the overall spooky atmosphere of the night. She shared intriguing tales and legends about each stop on the tour, and her storytelling skills kept the group captivated throughout the journey. The Halloween festivities only added to the excitement and made for a truly fun adventure. Julie's tour is a must-do in Santa Barbara!