It only seems natural that Santa Barbara, and indeed the entire Central Coast, has been a favorite destination for California residents and international travellers alike year after year.

Whether arriving in the city from the north or south, or flying into the airport, the first glimpse newcomers get of Santa Barbara's blanket of red tile roofs, abundant trees and palms, tall mountain range and the Pacific Ocean usually captivates them forever.

Visitors who take the time to learn about Santa Barbara's fascinating history, explore its streets and architecture, walk its beaches, dine at its restaurants, shop at its stores and sip its wines quickly find Santa Barbara is really like nothing else on the West Coast, in the United States...or even in the world.

In 1913, Leila Weekes Wilson wrote in her Santa Barbara Guide Book, "There is no more equable climate in all California than in Santa Barbara. Intense cold is unknown, excessive heat is rare and the variations of temperature the year round is moderate in a degree no less than wonderful."

Today, Santa Barbara is often called "The American Riviera" by local tourism officials since the city has much in common with the popular seaside Italian and French Riviera resorts.

What Santa Barbara shares with its European counterparts is natural beauty, temperate year-round weather, a wide selection of restaurants, hotels and shopping, sailboats on the horizon, and a well-deserved worldwide reputation for being a relaxing destination for travellers.

Fortunately, Santa Barbara isn't a long flight overseas, but rather just a two-hour drive from California's largest metropolitan area which is why it has always been an easy visit for a day trip, a weekend or a longer vacation.

If you've been to Santa Barbara before, and are visiting this site to get more information and the best deals on hotels, vacation rentals and accomodations for your next trip, you already know what awaits you in Santa Barbara.

If you're planning for your first Santa Barbara vacation, we hope our website is helpful in making it a fun and enjoyable stay.

There's much to see and do in Santa Barbara. And if you don't have time to experience it all on this trip, just remember that like so many other first-time Santa Barbara arrivals, your first visit will likely not be your last!