Santa Barbara, CA

Elevation: 0 - 4,000 feet. Population: 95,000. Normal high temperatures for June, July and August are (°F) 74, 77 and 79 while normal lows are 54, 57 and 58 respectively.

Welcome to the American Riviera®...Where Life Itself is a Fine Art. Lush, sun-drenched, relaxed and nestled seductively between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Santa Barbara is one of America's best-kept secrets. From State Street and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the Channel Islands and the wine country, Santa Barbara basks in sunshine, natural bounty, creativity, cultural sophistication and an appreciation for taking life at your own pace.

Santa Barbara is located 100 miles west of Los Angeles on the Pacific Coast. The Santa Ynez Mountains, an east-west trending range, rise dramatically behind the city, with several peaks exceeding 4,000 feet. Covered with chaparral and with sandstone outcrops, they make a famously scenic backdrop to the town.

Santa Barbara offers escape and relaxation, along with opportunities to contemplate the ocean, mountains, and engaging vistas, and to explore a bit of history and humankind’s relationship to coastal ecology. The area offers a multitude of activities for active and passive vacationers: everything from swimming, boating, hiking, and sports fishing to the more exotic jet skiing, kayaking, whale-watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, and more. Or you can select your beach lounge chair, watch the scenery, and relax Santa Barbara-style. Santa Barbara enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate that is generally mild and sunny all 12 months of the year, with relatively stable temperatures; there is no real "off-season."

Attractions

Touring Santa Barbara

The self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour, which is bounded by Victoria, Chapala, Ortega and Santa Barbara streets, touches many of the city's landmarks. Of special interest is the County Courthouse (1100 Anacapa Street), an architectural masterpiece completed in 1929. The Spanish-Moorish structure features tropical gardens and lush lawns. In addition, historic adobes and El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park (123 E. Canon Perdido Street; 805-966-9719) are snapshot-worthy. Hop aboard the Downtown Waterfront Trolley, which cruises the length of the Red Tile district for just 25 cents, or rent a whimsical quadricycle on State Street or Cabrillo Blvd.
     Santa Barbara's historic Stearns Wharf features the Sea Center (Stearns Wharf; 805-962-0885), with live displays and touch tanks, and the Arts and Craft Show (Sundays; along Cabrillo Blvd.).  From Stearns Wharf you will see a multitude of sailboats and fishing boats in and about the nearby Santa Barbara Harbor. A centerpiece at the Harbor is the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (805-962-8404). This wonderful seaside museum features ship models, historic exhibits and floating exhibits.
     If you're in search of a garden spot, there's a place for you. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission Canyon Rd; 805-682-4726) offers trails that wind through canyon, desert and other settings. Discover a variety of delectable items and much more when you visit the Farmers Market (Tuesdays; 500 and 600 blocks of State Street; and Saturdays; between Santa Barbara and Cota streets; 805-962-5354).
     One of Santa Barbara's treasures, the Old Mission Santa Barbara (2201 Laguna St.; 805-682-4713) was founded in 1786. Its unique stone facade, which was copied from an ancient Roman book on architecture, has made the mission a popular subject for photographers. Rooms filled with artifacts and an old cemetery are open for exploration.
     The Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.; 805-963-4364) is known for innovative exhibitions and an unforgettable permanent collection, plus education programs for kids of all ages. Marvel at Greek and Roman antiquities, as well and works from nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American, French and English artists.

Child's Play

Keeping children happily occupied is easy in Santa Barbara. You can choose from the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (500 Ninos Drive; 805-963-5339), with sea lions, elephants, giraffes and more; the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (2559 Puesta del Sol Rd.; 805-682-4711); and Kid's World (Alameda Park, Micheltorena and Garden streets), a community-designed, community-build playground. Santa Barbara's historic Stearns Wharf features the Sea Center (Stearns Wharf; 805-962-0885), with live displays and touch tanks.

Beaches

Santa Barbara just wouldn't be Santa Barbara without the beach and the ocean. Thanks to the temperate climate, you can enjoy the outdoors most of the year. Its a great feeling to think about the rest of the country in the dead of winter, while you're playing on the beach in shorts, T-shirts and bathing suites. East Beach (E. Cabrillo Blvd) is the large stretch of sand along Chase Palm Park to the east of Stearns Wharf. It's often acclaimed in various magazines as one of the best beaches in the nation. There are places for picnics, volleyball, showers, a playground and a beach side grill. West Beach (W. Cabrillo Blvd)  is directly west of Stearns Wharf and also next to the Santa Barbara Harbor. You can rent a kayak just a block from here on State Street and spend the day paddling the coast. There are nearby playgrounds and a kids swimming pool during the summer.  Leadbetter Beach (Shoreline Dr at Loma Alta Dr) is a fantastic family beach just west of the Santa Barbara Harbor. The waves are usually calm, there are great picnic facilities with barbeques in addition to restrooms and showers. The center piece of this beach is the Shoreline Beach Cafe where you can sit at tables with your toes in the sand! Butterfly Beach (in nearby Montecito at Olive Mill Rd) lies across the street from the posh Biltmore Hotel. If you're hoping to run into celebrities, you have a fairly good chance here and we recommend you do your best to leave them alone! There are no facilities here, but it is a nice beach for swimming and sunbathing and at low tide you can take a great walk to East Beach

Transportation

Two families (7 individuals) can drive to Santa Barbara in less than one day. Three families (8 individuals) are within 1,000 miles of Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara is located 98 miles northwest of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and 90 miles northwest of Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)is served by Alaska, American, Delta, Horizon Air, United, and US Airways airlines. Flights to LAX are probably the least expensive.

Minimum flight costs to Santa Barbara

Housing

• vr (vacationrentals) #33499. 3BR/2BA; sleeps 8. $2,900/wk. This charming house located at the top of Summerland with great views of the Pacific ocean as well the Santa Ynez Mountain range. It is only 4 blocks from the beautiful beach and town.
• vr #924. 5BR/3BA; sleeps 10. $2,400/wk. Located in the quiet and centrally located San Roque neighborhood, this five bedroom home, with mountain views from both the master bedroom and formal living room, is the perfect place to enjoy your stay in Santa Barbara. This home features a Jacuzzi, two balconies, and spacious patio living to help you take full advantage of the mild coastal climate. This home will accommodate up to ten people with a queen bed in the master bedroom, full-size beds in two bedrooms, two twin beds in one bedroom, and a queen bed in the fifth bedroom.
• vr #16802. 3BR/2BA; sleeps 10. $2,500/wk. The property offers a mountain-view roof terrace with its own outdoor fireplace. Although built in the 30s, the home has been lovingly modernized and is spotlessly clean and comfortable. Your vacation will enjoy all modern amenities, including huge flat-screen TVs, jacuzzi, wireless internet, a great sound system, etc.
• vr #30133. 4BR/2BA; sleeps 8. $2,500/wk. This large home is centrally located close everything Santa Barbara has to offer: beaches, mountains, golf, theaters and dining, Located a few blocks away, you can walk to the Santa Barbara Mission, downtown, shopping, restaurants and coffee. Located close to the beaches but out of the coastal fog zone!

Resources

• Santa Barbara Visitors Center
• Santa Barbara CVB Visitor Information
• Wikipedia Santa Barbara