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Discovering Santa Barbara -- City and County
Rate it! Votes (1) | Comments (2) By Cheri Sicard and Mitch Mandell Photos: Santa Barbara Conference and Visitor's Center Posted October 25th, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, USA -- There are several locales around the California that personify a specific aspect of the overall California experience – the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, the nostalgia of the Santa Cruz boardwalk, the opulence of Beverly Hills, the agricultural bounty of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, and the stunning natural spectacles of California coastlines and mountains, to name but a few. But visitors to Santa Barbara can get a taste of all these quintessential California experiences in a small geographic area that’s both casual and friendly, yet at the same time, sophisticated and multi-cultural.

Located just 90 miles from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is close enough to bring some of Hollywood’s glamour northward – it’s a common filming location, not to mention home to scores of stars. Likewise, you’ll encounter an abundance of lodging, restaurants, shops, spas, and activities that cater to upscale tastes and budgets.

But Santa Barbara is also a college town, and a beach town, complete with a creative bohemian side too. There are tons of live shows and music venues to appeal to a wide variety of interests, from classic concerts, theater, dance, tours of world class entertainers, all the way down to street fairs and funky little clubs, Santa Barbara’s diversity of cultural attractions will assure visitors can always find something of interest to do, see, and hear.

The sun shines 300 days a year here, making Santa Barbara a Mecca for all kinds of outdoor pursuits including swimming, sailing, boating, paddle sports, scuba diving and snorkeling, hang gliding golfing, biking, hiking, horseback riding and more. The sunshine also ensures an unparalleled agricultural and viticultural bounty, which in turn brings great chefs and restaurants

A Little History
Like much of California, Santa Barbara represents the convergence of many cultures and elements. Even its geographical location tucked between the mountains and the sea reflects the area’s contrasts. The city’s hybrid architecture reflects Spanish, Moorish, Portuguese and American Indian roots. Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo gave Santa Barbara its name during his voyage of discovery up the California Coast in 1542.

Spanish Franciscan monks arrived in the 18th century on their mission-building journey through Alta (Upper) California, encountering only the Chumash Indians, who had settled the area some 13,000 years prior. The Franciscans built 21 missions in California, including three in Santa Barbara County: Mission Santa Ines in Solvang, La Purisima Mission in Lompoc and Mission Santa Barbara, known as the “Queen of the Missions.”

After coming under Mexican rule for 24 years, Santa Barbara became a U.S. territory in 1846, two years before California was added to the Union. Fifty years later Santa Barbara evolved into the pre-Hollywood capital of the silent-film era, the back lot by the sea where more than 1,200 movies, mostly Westerns, were produced during a ten-year period. After such legendary film stars as Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin made Santa Barbara their playground, the coastal hamlet became a haven for wealthy Easterners and a hot spot for health-seekers lured by the area’s mineral baths. Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies and Duponts arrived via luxury rail car. In their wake came painters, poets and authors who took the first steps toward making Santa Barbara the art colony it is today.

Santa Barbara the County is More Than Just Santa Barbara the City
As charming as the town of Santa Barbara is, you may be tempted not to leave, but this area has lots more to offer, so plan on doing a little driving.

Turning right from Highway 101 at Highway 246, visitors enter the heart of North County, which includes the 100-year-old Danish town of Solvang and the spectacular wine country beyond (see Related Travel section below for articles on these destinations).

Solvang features traditional Danish architecture, terrific bakeries and restaurants, endless shopping, several museums and a 700-seat stage theatre for outdoor summer productions. Don’t miss the aebleskiver, Solvang’s signature sweet-and-doughy Danish indulgence.

Highway 154 is an alternate route to North County, leading from Santa Barbara to the other side of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Along the way you can explore swimming holes, fishing spots and hiking trails along the Santa Ynez River, and then proceed to the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, which offers camping, seasonal wildlife tours and excellent fishing.

Next stop is wine country (see Related travel section below), perhaps with a pause on the way to try your luck at the Chumash Casino gaming tables.

Spring and early summer are the best times to visit Lompoc, located 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara and famous for its rugged beaches, spectacular flower fields, the annual Lompoc Valley Flower Festival in June and the city’s many outdoor murals depicting local history.

Farther north is the county’s largest city, Santa Maria, known for its agricultural roots, country style and signature barbecue. Nearby is the agricultural town of Guadalupe, where the big attractions are the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes and the Oso Flaco Preserve. The 3.4-acre sanctuary’s white expanses of coastal sand hills are the second largest dune site in California. After filming The Ten Commandments here in 1923, Cecil B. DeMille left behind his stage sets, parts of which can still be found poking from the sand. Some 18 species of rare endangered plants and birds, including the least tern and the snowy plover, populate the northern end of the preserve.

Closer to Santa Barbara city are the sunny settlements of Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and Goleta. Still relatively undiscovered in its coastal setting 12 miles south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria attracts visitors with great weather, clean beaches and a small-town feel. Campers flock to Carpinteria State Beach Park. The town is also home to numerous flower farms that sell to the public, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, terrific cycling routes on quiet country roads and summer polo matches at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club.

Summerland is an antiquer’s paradise, with more than a dozen stores lining its main street and Summerland Beach is one of the nicest in the area. Ever since the turn of the 20th century, Montecito has been cultivating a well-deserved reputation as an enclave of grand estates owned by the rich and famous. The Montecito Inn, founded by Charlie Chaplin, at the end of Coast Village Road, is still a favorite, along with the fine restaurants and chic shops that line the eucalyptus-shaded drag.  The elegant Spanish-Moorish Four Seasons Resort continues to romance guests from its prime oceanfront location, and the San Ysidro Ranch remains a choice destination for lovers and others following in the steps of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, who honeymooned here.

More on Santa Barbara
After having been away for far too long, we recently checked out some new restaurants and attractions in Santa Barbara. Be sure to check out the related Articles and travel sections below. And check back, we plan to go back and do more coverage of this fabulous California area, because there was far too much to take in during a single trip.

The city of Santa Barbara is located just 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco, on the Pacific coastline. Visitors can arrive via scenic Highway 101, by Amtrak train, or Greyhound bus, or by flying into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport or Los Angeles International Airport.

Santa Barbara County encompasses the cities of Carpinteria, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland, Ballard, Buellton, Lompoc, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Maria, Santa Ynez and Solvang as well as Channel Islands National Park.

For travel and accommodation information and to request a free copy of the official Santa Barbara County Visitors Guide, contact the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission at 800-676-1266, 805-966-9222 or www.santabarbaraCA.com. If you’re already in town, visitor information is also available at the Visitor Information Center located at 1 Garden Street (at Cabrillo Boulevard) in Santa Barbara.

Climate:
Expect a moderate year-round Mediterranean climate with an average of 300 days of sunshine. Santa Barbara’s unique east-west coastline (the only one from Alaska to Cape Horn) provides soothing year-round southern exposure. Average day temperatures range from the mid-60s to mid-70s F and evening temperatures are refreshingly cool throughout the year. The area receives about 18 inches of rainfall annually. The inland and mountain portions of the county experience warmer high temperatures and cooler low temperatures. Layering clothing is recommended as temperatures shift throughout the day.

Around Town
The Old Town Trolley runs throughout the city from 10am to 5pm daily, departing from Stearns Wharf one low price for all day on/off privileges); the electric shuttle serves the downtown area, the Waterfront and Coast Village Road in Montecito. Bikes, segues, Vespas, motorcycles and cars are available for rental. Car Free transportation alternatives and discounts are available, for detailed information visit www.santabarbaracarfree.org.

Getting to Santa Barbara By Plane
Santa Barbara Airport (flysba.com, 805-683-4011) is located 8 miles (13 km) north of downtown. American Eagle, America West Express, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Horizon Air and United Airlines Express service the airport. Non-stop flights are available from Dallas/Ft Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Jose, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
Getting to Santa Barbara By Bus
Express bus service is available from major airports via Santa Barbara Airbus (800-423-1618) and SuperRide Shuttle (805-683-9636 or 800-977-1123).

Getting to Santa Barbara By Train
Amtrak serves Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta, and Greyhound bus offers service to the region.

	While many tourist Written by: Samui Guy Wednesday, 02 March 2011
	While many tourist go in for the more well known destinations of Los Angeles and San Diego, Santa Barbara has always been tops in my books for coastal California fun. Not only is it some of the most scenic and naturally beautiful of California's spectacular coastline, it is also frequently untrammeled by the maddening crowds! Regards, Simon Resort Samui
	I love SB Written by: Chelsea Wednesday, 10 December 2008
	I used to live in Santa Barbara and it is a very beautiful place! You're so right about how it brings the glamour of hollywood with the laid back style of Santa Cruz. I'd like to go back and further explore it...great article! I also have a blog on fabulous travel named FabTravel! Check it out if you get a chance :) MissFab FabTravel

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