Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Santa Barbara's climate is often described as Mediterranean, and the city is known as the "American Riviera."
The Santa Barbara Airport serves the city, as does Amtrak. U.S. Highway 101 connects the Santa Barbara area with Los Angeles to the south and San Francisco to the north. Behind the city, in and beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains, is the Los Padres National Forest, which contains several remote wilderness areas.
On Sundays at the beach, don't miss the local artists' street fair. You will find a large range of outstanding art at prices you'll appreciate. At the beach you can rent surf boards, rafts, boats and bicycles. We can arrange a cruise on one of several boats traveling our coast line and to the Channel Islands.
The wharf is a delight with the Sea Museum as well as the many restaurants with views of the harbor and the water related activities alongside.
The children's zoo and the Botanical Gardens along with Lotus Land offer unforgettable varieties of landscapes you will treasure forever.
Santa Barbara's "State Street" is a visit you won't want to miss. The sidewalk cafes are delightful and the food exceptionally good. You probably won’t find a wider mix of unique shops than those mixed along State Street.
The University of California at Santa Barbara is one of the top universities in the nation, with five educators that have been recent recipients of the "Nobel Prize." Santa Barbara City College is one of the top Community Colleges in California. In addition the renowned Brooks Institute of Photography is situated in Santa Barbara. Also, Montecito has the outstanding Christian College, Westmont, known worldwide.
Although we have mentioned some of the highlights of interest herein, be sure to see the beautiful views from our Riviera and plan a day trip to our wine country in nearby Santa Ynez valley. We wish you an exciting and enjoyable experience in the Santa Barbara area.
