Ninety minutes north of Los Angeles, perched on the shores of the Pacific, sits the American Riviera, otherwise known as Santa Barbara. With its Spanish Colonial architecture, perfect weather, world-famous food and wine scene, and rich culture, few places on earth are more ideal to be a homeowner.
Whether you are an adventurer, a culinary whiz, an intellectual, or a small business owner with a family, Santa Barbara has something for everyone. Not a day goes by where you won’t enjoy a different experience. One afternoon you might find yourself wandering the grounds of the Mission or enjoying a coffee and almond croissant at Handlebar Coffee while taking in the view of the Presidio or kayaking around the Channel Islands. If you plan your day right, you could do all three.
If you desire to mingle with the locals, stop off at one of the best farmer’s markets in the country, which run six days a week, to grab some locally sourced produce. Afterward, pop over to the Funk Zone, a small radius filled with dozens of wine tasting rooms, breweries, restaurants, and shops, all a few blocks from the water and just off the world-famous State Street, which is. If the weather is perfect, which it usually is, a trip to Arroyo Burro beach with the family and your dog may be in order. Catch porpoises cruising up the coast while your mutt plays in the surf with a gaggle of other dogs.
No matter what lifestyle you are after, Santa Barbara can provide it. A tight-knit community living in one of the most beautiful settings on earth, this is the type of town you live in when you want to feel like you’re always on vacation.