"Very posh town..." Santa Barbara by venteeocho

Beautiful, easygoing, basking in year-round sunshine, beachside Santa Barbara is the hub of a large and spectacular coastal California county. Lying seductively between Los Angeles and San Francisco, just off scenic Highway 101, city and county alike are amazingly rich in diverse surprises, pleasures, and attractions.

Visit Santa Barbara at any time of year and experience the legacies of our colorful history. See our rich Spanish heritage in the city’s distinctive architecture, the cobbled pathways, red tile roofs, and mission-style adobes. Explore the western-style towns of Los Olivos and Santa Ynez or relive the county’s cultural history at one of our many fascinating museums. Visit the quaint Danish village of Solvang with its windmills and timbered Tudor facades. In Santa Barbara County, history whispers from every corner.

Santa Barbara County is famous around the world for its breathtaking setting. Natural beauty beams from the dramatic mix of mountains, valleys, beaches, islands, and the sea. Inspired perhaps by this ravishing scenery, Santa Barbara County’s cultural arts scene is one of our star attractions. Visitors can enjoy world-class performances of music, opera, dance, and theater year round. Santa Barbara is also a hotbed for the visual arts with a reputation as one of the top five art colonies in the West.

Blessed with this bounty of natural treasures and rich cultural diversity, no wonder the county is a hotspot for world-class dining. Few cities in the world boast as many restaurants per capita as Santa Barbara. Creative mouth-watering cuisine is prepared with fresh local produce and paired with superb vintages from the Santa Barbara Wine Country. Taste the fruits of our sunny valleys and sip your way through more than 60 premium wineries.


To all these pleasures, add a vigorous lineup of outdoor activities and adventures: first-rate golf, tennis, polo, horseback riding, cycling, hiking, and an impressive array of water sports. Top it off with some exceptional shopping in our specialty stores and chic boutiques. Enjoy a relaxing massage in one of our luxurious spas. Pamper your mind, your body, and your soul.