For more than a century this city has been a getaway for residents of Los Angeles. Prior to the time when Hollywood and the film industry became synonymous, most silent movies were produced here. Native American settlements could be found here as early as ten thousand years ago, and the town has survived at least two major earthquakes in the past two hundred years. Santa Barbara, CA today is a thriving city that has become a popular destination.
After the devastation of the 1925 temblor, the town was rebuilt in a style that has a distinctive Spanish flair, epitomized by the County Courthouse building. Although linked by the ubiquitous freeways of Southern California to the Los Angeles metropolis, that prevailing architectural culture has not completely overtaken the city, which still has a distinctive character that is immediately recognizable.
It is also a good place to stop and explore before heading up the central coast to the wineries in the Santa Ynez region, as well as legendary Hearst Castle, which has been preserved in an elegant time warp. The region has been dubbed the American Riviera because of the balmy seaside climate. Many visitors book an excursion to the Channel Islands, a protected group of offshore ocean mountaintops hosting unique wildlife.
One of the better-known landmarks in town is Stearns Wharf, which juts into the sea where State Street ends. Originally erected in the 1870s, the wharf has survived several disasters, and today is home to shops, restaurants, the Natural History Sea Center, and other attractions. Visitors come for the fine dining, but also enjoy seeing the churning surf on one side framed by mountains on the other.
For nature lovers, the Botanic Garden is a peaceful haven filled with displays of native and exotic plants. Tours are available, but visitors are also encouraged to stroll at on their own down the carefully maintained pathways to enjoy a changing panorama of vegetation unique to Southern California. Portions have been designated a County Historical Landmark.
Fans of history appreciate seeing the Old Mission, originally founded by the Franciscans in 1786, and still referred to as the Queen Of the Mission Stations. It was the tenth in California, and the interiors were decorated by skill native American artists. Although there has been extensive restoration work completed due to earthquakes, the facade still looks very similar to the original.
Additional notable sights include the historical Casa de la Guerra, a kind of community center that was used for various purposes, and which is now a portion of the El Pasea, a neighborhood intentionally imitating a Spanish street. The original city Presidio, a military fortress, became tactically irrelevant after the arrival of Americans in 1846, but the original soldier quarters and a few rooms are still intact.
Within a relatively short driving distance is the Chumash Painted Cave Historic Park, the transplanted Danish community of Solvang, and the craggy central coastline. There are numerous award-winning restaurants, and a wide range of hotels and motels for nearly any taste. Whether visiting for a weekend or in town for an extended stay, there is always something to see.
After the devastation of the 1925 temblor, the town was rebuilt in a style that has a distinctive Spanish flair, epitomized by the County Courthouse building. Although linked by the ubiquitous freeways of Southern California to the Los Angeles metropolis, that prevailing architectural culture has not completely overtaken the city, which still has a distinctive character that is immediately recognizable.
It is also a good place to stop and explore before heading up the central coast to the wineries in the Santa Ynez region, as well as legendary Hearst Castle, which has been preserved in an elegant time warp. The region has been dubbed the American Riviera because of the balmy seaside climate. Many visitors book an excursion to the Channel Islands, a protected group of offshore ocean mountaintops hosting unique wildlife.
One of the better-known landmarks in town is Stearns Wharf, which juts into the sea where State Street ends. Originally erected in the 1870s, the wharf has survived several disasters, and today is home to shops, restaurants, the Natural History Sea Center, and other attractions. Visitors come for the fine dining, but also enjoy seeing the churning surf on one side framed by mountains on the other.
For nature lovers, the Botanic Garden is a peaceful haven filled with displays of native and exotic plants. Tours are available, but visitors are also encouraged to stroll at on their own down the carefully maintained pathways to enjoy a changing panorama of vegetation unique to Southern California. Portions have been designated a County Historical Landmark.
Fans of history appreciate seeing the Old Mission, originally founded by the Franciscans in 1786, and still referred to as the Queen Of the Mission Stations. It was the tenth in California, and the interiors were decorated by skill native American artists. Although there has been extensive restoration work completed due to earthquakes, the facade still looks very similar to the original.
Additional notable sights include the historical Casa de la Guerra, a kind of community center that was used for various purposes, and which is now a portion of the El Pasea, a neighborhood intentionally imitating a Spanish street. The original city Presidio, a military fortress, became tactically irrelevant after the arrival of Americans in 1846, but the original soldier quarters and a few rooms are still intact.
Within a relatively short driving distance is the Chumash Painted Cave Historic Park, the transplanted Danish community of Solvang, and the craggy central coastline. There are numerous award-winning restaurants, and a wide range of hotels and motels for nearly any taste. Whether visiting for a weekend or in town for an extended stay, there is always something to see.
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