With a population of over 200,000 people in its greater metropolitan area, Santa Barbara, California, is the largest city in Santa Barbara County and the county seat. Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is famous for its Spanish architecture, downtown beaches, and pristine weather.
While most of the state of California faces west, with regards to city planning and expansion, Santa Barbara faces south, which is why it is also known as the South Coast. The city is bounded on one side by the Santa Ynez mountain range, providing a dramatic backdrop to the city and creating landscape scenery renowned far and wide. Several peaks exceed 4,000 feet. Over half of the city’s official area is water because of the fact that the city limits extend miles into the ocean. Throughout the year, the high temperature looms around the mid 70s while the low temperature rarely drops below freezing.
A large part of Santa Barbara’s culture is the dining scene, one which is enhanced by the abundance of farmer’s markets and fresh seafood. Because of this, it is said that the city has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the country. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art boasts a significant collection of local art, Santa Barbara home to a sizable artistic community. Collections at the University Art Museum and the UC Santa Barbara campus are also representative of the city’s artistic community. Much of Santa Barbara is covered in parks, with many natural reserves throughout the city limits ranging from tame to semi-wilderness.
Santa Barbara is a popular tourist destination because of its location and weather. Many also enjoy the Spanish architecture for which the city is famous. Many historic Spanish buildings, such as the Mission Santa Barbara, draw tourists because of their connection to Spanish colonial times. Fiesta, which is held every year in August, is also a popular tourist attraction.
