Santa Barbara Travel Information
Yes, there really is such a place as Santa Barbara but no, it is not
home now (nor was it ever), to the infamous Capwell family of the
long-running soap opera, “Santa Barbara”. Daytime drama aside, this
region can claim true fame for its local wines, its appealing climate
(think Mediterranean temperatures within driving distance of Los
Angeles), historic architecture and culturally savvy populous, not to
mention balmy beaches, major universities and good surf.
Sheltered by the Santa Ynez Mountains and set oriented east-west on
the Central California coast, this city of roughly 89,000 draws a
steady stream of vacationers for the aforementioned reasons, but lures
in an additional crowd of outdoors enthusiasts bound on by boat or
plane for Channel Islands National Park, due south.
Santa
Barbara itself is readily identifiable by its red-roofed
Spanish-Mediterranean style buildings, its broad boulevards shaded by
breeze-blown palms which only further this destination's reputation as
the “American Riviera”. Though wine tasting and beach basking
are two of the most popular area activities, its worth whiling away an
afternoon in the city to catch local cultural highlights before
steering northwest for the vineyards or south towards the sea. Sights
of note around town include historic Mission Santa Barbara, the Santa
Barbara Historical Museum, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and El
Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park (once a Spanish
fort). There’s also a maritime museum and a kid-friendly sea center
(Ty Warner Sea Center) near the waterfront, a zoo and a lush botanic
garden good for a leisurely wander on one of Santa Barbara’s famously
fine days.
There is a fine list of beaches to chose from when
the time is right, including East Beach, West Beach and to the south,
Carpinteria State Beach. Scuba Divers, as well as hikers, and wildlife
watchers, will find it relatively easy to book passage (by plane or
boat) on to the Channel Islands, a national park comprised of eight
islands, which also boasts a selection of sandy beaches as well as
inland trails and snorkeling hot spots.
Wine country takes in
rolling vineyards and more rural landscapes that, dotted with tasting
rooms, is increasingly the haunt of urban oenophiles in search of the
season’s best beverage. Organized tours are easy to arrange for those
groups short a designated driver.
Santa Barbara is located on
the southwest California coast, about 90 miles west of Los Angeles.
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