Santa Barbara Essential Info
Overview
Santa Barbara is less than 100 miles from hyper-metropolitan Los Angeles but differs vastly from its huge neighbor to the south. With a mild climate and lush natural environs, the "Riviera of the West" is perfect for a day trip from LA, with its wide beaches, highly rated wineries, and a large variety of shopping and dining choices, that enables the town of just 90,000 residents to enjoy the sort of cultural and social amenities which are usually found only in much larger cities.
Although the common perception of Santa Barbara is as a playground for the rich and famous, the reality is that the average income is only slightly higher than California as a whole. Notable for its California Mission-style architecture (a long-standing local ordinance ensures that all commercial construction follow the Mission theme, which results in a plethora of red-tiled roofs and faux adobe supermarkets), local residents are intensely proud of their city's roots and traditions, and a number of hugely popular festivals throughout the year celebrate the many cultures found in the city.
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Basics
Best Time To Go
Year round
Current Time
Current Weather
Mostly Cloudy
Fun Facts
- Santa Barbara is known as “The American Riviera".
- The Coronado Butterfly Preserve in Santa Barbara is one of California’s largest monarch butterfly winter roosting locations.
- Pop superstar Katy Perry was born and raised in Santa Barbara.
- Spreading out over 160 feet, The Moreton Bay Fig Tree in Santa Barbara generates more than 21,000 square feet of shade.
- Though Hollywood and Los Angeles are famous the world over for their associations with both the television and movie industries, during the silent film era the largest movie studio in the world was Flying A Studios located in Santa Barbara.
Popular Foods
- Sesame Tofu
- Dungeness Crab