Mild tides and moderate ocean temperatures mean surf culture is big in Santa Barbara County. While beautiful, Santa Barbara is not a place for skimping and saving. Rent makes a particular dent in a monthly budget. Harking back to its Spanish and Mexican colonial days, Spanish revival architecture is well and truly a feature of Santa Barbara. So while the road to obtaining permissions is quite slow, it does mean locals are able to enjoy a city free from the mass-produced and overly replicated buildings you see in other American cities.
California is a drought-prone state and Santa Barbara is no exception. While there, be sure to make extra effort to save water. This is especially important during the super dry summer months when forest fires can flare-up. Santa Barbara wine country was made famous by the film Sideways and still wears that crown with pride today.
The valley has the perfect conditions for cooler-climate grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. With wineries within 30 minutes of the city and tasting doors downtown, wine appreciation is a real past time on the American Riviera. But remember: Those you may see happily growing on trees are not for public picking. Seriously, people have been charged with felony grand theft for stealing avocados…albeit after many thousands of dollars of them.
While many of the ongoing wildfires are located in northern California, Santa Barbara experienced a recent wildfire in May of Known to spread rapidly, fires are dangerous and have led to billions of dollars in damages and millions of dollars to fight. The wildfire season in Santa Barbara usually begins in the middle of May and lasts until September or October. Sadly, as the fires continue, the smoky conditions have led to horrible air quality as the normally clear skies turn hazy.
Before moving to the area, it is important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency evacuation. It might be a good idea to invest in a nice air filter for your home and always carry around a mask. Have you always wanted to live by the ocean? Then you are in luck. Santa Barbara is characterized by its miles of sandy coastline and pristine beaches.
A hotspot for both locals and tourists, spending the day on the beach is a Santa Barbara pastime. Popular for its surfing and large waves, put on your wetsuit and prepare to hang ten. Arroyo Burro Beach : Also known as Hendry Beach by the locals, this spot is the perfect place to bring your dog for a day of fun. Not only is this dog-friendly beach flat and great for playing fetch, but there is even a dog-washing station located in the parking lot.
Butterfly Beach : A popular beach for celebrities, spend the day relaxing in the sun or stop by to watch the sunset. Make sure to stop at one of the nearby bars and restaurants for a fruity cocktail. East Beach : East Beach is all about adventure. Play volleyball, go swimming, rent a bike or stop at one of the many local cafes and restaurants. Goleta Beach Park : Featuring volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and picnic areas, this beach is the perfect place for the whole family.
You can even spend the day fishing off of Goleta Pier. Leadbetter Beach : One of the most famous places to surf, grab your board, and ride the wave. Beachgoers also enjoy boogie boarding or paddleboarding. While Napa Valley in northern California may be one of the most famous wine destinations in the state, Santa Barbara has a wine country of its own that deserves to be recognized. Home to many tasting rooms and wineries spread throughout the city, Santa Barbara is an up-and-coming wine region with sprawling vineyards and fertile valleys.
Established in , this winery is only 25 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Visit today for a tasting! Babcock Winery and Vineyards : A local favorite for over 30 years, this family-owned and operated winery is open daily for tastings and tours. Sanguis : Open in , what started off as a small dream has turned into a beautiful vision.
Making only the highest quality wines in the region, this winery and tasting room is a must-visit. Did you know that Santa Barbara was the first one to introduce the rest of California to the avocado? In , Santa Barbara brought the little green fruit up from Mexico. This means that without Santa Barbara there would be no guacamole!
In order to celebrate this exciting historical feat, Santa Barbara County hosts the California Avocado Festival every year which is held in Carpinteria. Avofest is definitely a bucket list item for any locals that love all things avocado. Surrounded by the beautiful valleys and picturesque mountains, it is no surprise that most residents like to spend their free time outdoors hiking and exploring. While the beaches may attract most of the attention, lacing up your hiking boots every now and then is a great way to get to know the area.
Arroyo Burro Beach. East Beach. Active beachgoers and families flock to East Beach for its active amenities, like bike rentals to ride up the coastal trail, plenty of beach volleyball courts for a little friendly competition, ample parking, picnic areas, restaurants, and restrooms. Mesa Beach. Tucked away at the bottom of numerous stairs behind More Mesa Park, this natural beach is a local favorite and secret — shhh! Just bare! Leadbetter Beach.
Napa may take the crown when it comes to California wine country, but Santa Barbara can hold its own bling in the ring, too. There are over wineries in the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valley, many within a minute drive of the city. Want a sneak peak? While no one is going to force you to drink any Merlot inside movie joke , be sure to try wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc — all grapes that thrive in the climate and soil here.
Here are a few staples to get you started:. The SBCC campus boasts equally distracting cliff-top ocean views and ranks as the second best community college in the country.
Niche gives the Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high schools in Santa Barbara an overall collective A grade and states that the public schools are highly rated. Folks here love anything that will help them break a sweat.
They enjoy festivals and take advantage of the surrounding natural beauty as much as possible. Here are our top 10 things you must do in Santa Barbara:. California is practically synonymous with avocados, and the state has Santa Barbara to thank for bringing the avocado up from Mexico back in So is it paradise after all?
Starting from square one? No problem!
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