Santa Barbara
The “American Riviera”
The City of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is situated on 25 miles of prime coastline on the West Coast of the United States. The city is found 92 miles north of Los Angeles and 332 miles south of San Francisco along the Pacific Coast and lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the sea. Behind the city, in and beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains, is the Los Padres National Forest, which contains several remote wilderness areas.
The city is famous for its beautiful beaches, most of which lie along a unique south-facing stretch of coastline that affords beach visitors sun all day long and greater shelter from winds and surf.
The stretch of coast along southern Santa Barbara County is often referred to as the “American Riviera” because its geography and similar climate to that of the French and Italian Rivieras.
Santa Barbara boasts one of the most pleasant year-round climates in the country. Temperatures range from the mid-60s to mid-70s (degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the year, though late summer highs climb into the 80s. Evening temperatures are refreshingly cool all year long. The area receives about 18 inches of rainfall a year. Because of the city’s proximity to the ocean, onshore breezes significantly moderate temperatures, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers.
Santa Barbara is a year-round tourist destination renowned for its fair weather, downtown beaches, and Spanish architecture. It has a robust economy which includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and local government.
Five institutions of higher learning are found here: The University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, Antioch University, and the Brooks Institute of Photography.
Popular Santa Barbara attractions and events include:
- Mission Santa Barbara
- The Santa Barbara County Courthouse
- The Presidio of Santa Barbara
- The Annual Fiesta
- Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival
- The Annual Summer Solstice Parade
- Stearns Wharf
- Ty Warner Sea Center
- Rafael Gonzalez House
- Santa Barbara’s Moreton Bay Fig Tree
- Burton Mound
- De La Guerra Plaza
- Covarrubias Adobe
- Hastings Adobe
- Hill-Carrillo Adobe
- Cold Spring Tavern
- El Paseo Shopping Mall (California’s first shopping center)
- Santa Barbara Zoo
- Santa Barbara Museum of Art
- University Art Museum
- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
- Santa Barbara Historical Museum
- Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
- The Contemporary Arts Forum
- The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
- Two open air museums - Lotusland and Casa del Herrero
With its abundance of seafood, awareness of farming methods, and nearby wineries, Santa Barbara has many restaurants along with parks, ranging from small spaces within the urban environment to large, semi-wilderness areas which remain within the city limits.
City of Santa Barbara Senior Services
Senior activities abound in Santa Barbara at two conveniently located centers – The Carrillo Recreation Center and the Louise Lowry Davis Recreation Center.
Available classes include:
- Stretch and Tone
- Weight Conditioning
- Professionally-instructed dance in Ballroom, Swing, Tango, Salsa, Country 2-Step, Folk, Belly and Line dance.
- Personal Enrichment
- Foreign Language
- Bridge
- Crafts
- Painting
Activities that promote a healthy lifestyle include golf, swimming, tennis, table tennis, basketball, and lawn bowling.
Santa Barbara Retirement Community: Vista del Monte
Vista del Monte, a vibrant retirement communities for seniors, sits in a beautifully landscaped setting of lush lawn, flowering trees and stately pines. It is a retirement community serving seniors from all walks of life.
Residents of the Vista del Monte enjoy quiet seclusion with an intimate atmosphere of peace and privacy among the park-like grounds of the community flower garden and patio gardens with the freedom to explore the enchanting city of Santa Barbara right next door. It is as picturesque, relaxing and healthful as Santa Barbara complete with scenic splendor and a mild climate.
The wellbeing of residents is a lifelong priority with quality personal care services and support are tailored to their needs. Vista del Monte is proud of its Personal Care and Adult Day Care programs, full-service Care Center, its resident lounge and library, health clinic and outstanding Fitness and Aquatic Center.
Vista del Monte is a Continuing Care Retirement Community licensed by the California Department of Social Services. It offers four levels of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Support.
In addition, Vista del Monte has the only state licensed Adult Day Care program in Santa Barbara County that is open to the community at large.
Vista del Monte is a member of the Front Porch Communities and is supported philanthropically by the Foundation to Assist California Teachers (FACT).
For more information, visit their website at www.vistadelmonte.org or contact them toll free at 805-687-0793.
