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santa barbara: general info
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· history
things to do
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SANTA BARBARA
Calling Code: +1
Idyllic Santa Barbara County is a rare jewel among the California
coastline where northern California and southern California converge. Located
between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it offers unparalleled beauty, cultural
sophistication and an appreciation for life at your own pace.
Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara's dramatic combination of ocean,
mountains, valleys, islands, beaches and gardens provides the perfect playground
for relaxation or outdoor adventure. The waters off the coast of Santa Barbara
also attract another kind of visitor - the Pacific gray whale. View these magnificent
creatures as they migrate through the coastal waters from December to May on whale-watching
cruises that depart daily from the Santa Barbara Harbor.
The city of Santa Barbara's red-tile roofs and mission style adobes salute its
Spanish heritage while the Western attitude of Los Olivos and Santa Yne pay homage
to the county's deep cowboy roots. The windmills and Tudor facades of Solvang
reflect this city's Danish founding fathers and the Solvang Winterfest Celebration
in December offers a month of special events, pageantry and a myriad of tiny twinkling
lights.
Santa Barbara County has been inspiration to many filmmakers for nearly a century.
In the early 1900s, Santa Barbara's was the film capital of the world before it
centralized in Hollywood. Catch a sneak peek at more than 150 films at the 10-day
Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Wine aficionados and novices alike will enjoy exploring the Santa Barbara Wine
Country and its more than 80 wineries. Take the self-guided Sideways tour
of 18 locations from the Oscar winning film. Highly acclaimed dining, culinary
attractions and tasting tours further peak interest for gourmets.
Santa Barbara is a hotbed for visual arts, as is evidence in its impressive art
scene. Cutting-edge galleries, museums, and open studios are matched by noted
music, opera, dance and theatre performances.
Artful spa getaways provide relaxation long before the sun goes down. Santa Barbara's
luxurious spas and spiritual retreats offer therapies that rejuvenate the soul
and refresh the spirit. For a little retail therapy, shoppers will be delighted
with the specialty stores, galleries and boutiques.
If there's a place you've stayed or something you've done, but we haven't listed, review it for us!
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