If you have a plan to take a road trip or visit USA’s West Coast, make sure to put Santa Barbara on your itinerary. Located just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, let the American Riviera blow your mind with its beautiful nature, fantastic food and wine, art scene, and great shops. Santa Barbara can be easily accessed with an Amtrak train that leaves regularly from Los Angeles Union Station or by car on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Santa Barbara has everything you ever imagined in a dream city.
Welcome to the American Riviera
The best way to explore the American Riviera is by taking the Santa Barbara trolley that has been a Santa Barbara sightseeing tour favorite for over 25 years. The one day pass will cost you 22 USD (free second day trolley ride) with tours beginning at 10 am through 4.30 pm. Tours visit the special spots throughout Santa Barbara all day. You can hop on and off the trolley anytime during the tour in the Old Santa Barbara Mission, the Museum of Natural History, the Harbor, Stearns Wharf, the Dolphin Fountain, and the Santa Barbara Zoo. Start your little adventure in the morning to give you a glimpse of the city and continue with lunch at Andersen’s Danish Bakery and Restaurant. Andersen’s, located in the heart of Santa Barbara, is famous for good quality Danish baked goods and European food. It’s no secret that California is well known for clam chowder, scallop ceviche, and fish tacos. If you are looking to eat these tasty meals then head straight to Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, Brophy Bros, and On The Alley for seafood lunch or dinner.
Beach. Shop. Wine. Repeat
Summer is definitely the best time to visit Santa Barbara. Spend the whole afternoon on the beach then walk to downtown Santa Barbara for a little bite to eat and do some shopping. The city knows how to spoil the locals and visitors through a unique shopping experience. With 9 shopping centers spread out in the city, from major retailers to a wide range of boutiques to vintage shops, you would love how each shopping center here has its own characteristics. The Funk Zone offers a shopping experience with a bohemian vibe, while Paseo Nuevo located in downtown Santa Barbara has all the upscale names and popular brands surrounded by lush greenery and bubbling fountains. If you’re looking for a souvenir, you can easily find them at the Waterfront and Stearns Wharf. Do us a favor to stop by the Deep Sea Tasting Room. This place has a great selection of wine and it overlooks the Pacific Ocean; just another perfect spot to relax, sip, and savor.
Art, music festivals, and so much more
Also, don’t forget to visit the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.The Spanish Revival style building was completed in 1929. The courthouse has four buildings and visitors are allowed to take the elevators at the clock tower to enjoy the breathtaking view of Santa Barbara with Santa Ynez Mountains as the backdrop.You can see how small Santa Barbara is, but the American Riviera has everything you need. Santa Barbara features world-class shopping, with some respected universities, and the entertainment and art scenes are big, so you shouldn’t worry too much about spending your holidays in town. From the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, to music festivals held in the Santa Barbara Bowl, to wine tastings at Deep Sea Winery, ballet performances at State Street Ballet and so much more, this is the perfect place to visit.
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Santa Barbara, the dream city
Welcome to the American Riviera, located just 2 hours away from Los Angeles. You’ll find the Mediterranean style buildings inspiring, the food and wine too good to be true, the mountain and Santa Barbara beach absolutely gorgeous, and the entertainment, shopping, and art scenes even better. You may be convinced to move to this dream city and never look back.
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