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SB LIFE

Pam's guide to the leisure and luxury of Santa Barbara life.

Santa Barbara or SB, as the locals say, is dubbed the "American Rivera" for its mediterranean climate and panoramic ocean views, is 2 hours north of Los Angeles, nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and Pacific Ocean on the Central Coast of California. Spanish-style architecture and red tile roofs dot the landscape of green rolling hills that flatten out into sandy beaches and bustling harbor. Santa Barbara County encompasses nearly 3,800 miles which include; Montecito, Summerland, Carpinteria, Goleta, Hope Ranch and the wine growing regions of Santa Ynez & Santa Maria Valleys. The city, in addition to being a popular tourist and resort destination, has a diverse economy that includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and local government. 
Santa Barbara is a bright, happy place where it’s easy to embrace the finer things in life!

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Enjoy one of the world's most desirable communities where the art and culture of a metropolitan city meet the heart and history of a small, beautiful, coastal town. Santa Barbara's year-round mediterraean climate, makes it ideal for outdoor activities and draws tourists worldwide. SB's economy hinges on tourism, but also has a strong service sector with top employers in industries ranging from manufacturing to technology and education. Santa Barbara is a truly magnificent place to live and work.

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Montecito (Spanish for "Little mountain") is an unincorporated community located east of Santa Barbara. It is the wealthiest community in the county and one of the wealthiest in the country, with a number of celebrities either owning homes or residing there. Montecito is also home to great restaurants and shopping, as well as its beautiful scenery. Montecito boasts over 15 different hiking trails to appease the beginning hiker to the most experienced. Locals flock to the area’s most stunning stretches of coastline, from sparkling Butterfly Beach, Fernald’s Point, Miramar Beach and renowned surf break at Hammonds Point.

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Known as "Carp" by locals is lively oceanside community. The main street (Linden Ave.) is lined with a myriad of mom-and-pop shops, gourmet cafés, antique stores and home to the annual Avocado Festival, held yearly in October. You can get your fill of fresh avocado everything, from guacamole to ice cream.  Carpinteria State Beach offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tide-pool exploring and camping. Carpinteria Beach is known for its gentle slope and calm waves in selected sandy areas but also good surfing swells in some of the more rocky areas. Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May, as well as an occasional gray whale. Tidepools contain starfish, sea anemones, crabs, snails, octopi and sea urchins.

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Known as “The Good Land” for its beautiful coastal plains and agricultural land. Goleta is a growing family-friendly community, located 8 miles west of Santa Barbara, just minutes from the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Amtrak train station and Highway 101.
The popular surfing destination known as "Campus Point" is located
on the coastal point of the nearby (UCSB) University of California Santa Barbara campus and the student community of Isla Vista.

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Hope Ranch is an upscale community which lies along the coast, immediately west of Santa Barbara, California dubbed "The Ranch" for it's equestrian community, is home to 27 miles of riding trails and 10 percent of residents are horse-owners. Ranch residents enjoy a high degree of seclusion & privacy, as only three roads are public. The community offers its residents an abundance of recreational activities; a members-only golf club, tennis courts, picnic grounds and exclusive-access beach. It’s a palm-lined, peaceful oasis that’s a world all of its own.

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The town of Santa Ynez is just one of the communities of the Santa Ynez Valley. Located just two hours north of Los Angeles, the Santa Ynez Valley consists of six beautiful and unique communities:  Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang.  The valley is plentiful in Museums, breweries & wineries, restaurants, shopping & spas, not to mention plenty of outdoor and recreational activities, such as hiking and horseback riding.

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Santa Barbara is the outdoor enthusiasts dream with miles of sun-drenched, sandy coastline for surfing, strolling, volleyball and many more outdoor activities. Just a few steps inland will lead you to SB's lush landscape of public parks, gardens, and hidden sanctuaries that are ideal for family-friendly exploring, hiking, biking, picnics and bbq's.

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FARMERS MARKET

From the farmer’s hands to yours! A variety of seasonal foods and goods are available year round rain or shine. 

6 Markets | 6 Days a Week

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Santa Barbara has a lot to offer the senses and most importantly your sense of taste. From an SB institution to eclectic California cuisine, my top 5 favorite restaurants are:

Jill's Place

Chucks

Ca'Dario

Opal

Joes Cafe

Toma

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Whether your shopping small or big brand, shopping in SB is an intimate locale experience where everyone makes you feel like you're home. My favorite places to browse and shop are:

Love Bird

Angel Montecito

Wendy Foster Montecito

Upstairs at Pierre LaFond

Jenni Kayne Apparel + Home

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Education is well-represented in S.B. with four institutions of higher learning (University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, and Antioch University) offering comprehensive academic programs and modern facilities with beautiful mountain & seaside landscapes, creating a learning environment like no other. The Santa Barbara Unified School District is the main public school district that serves Santa Barbara and Goleta.

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