Santa Barbara is a Spanish colonial-style town on California’s south-facing coastline. It’s sunny for most of the year, making it great for leisurely hikes, adventure sports, and water-based adventures The downtown area presents a picturesque warren of red-tile roofs and white stucco structures, and it’s always abuzz with people in bars and restaurants who chat, dine, and drink throughout the warm nights.
Follow the palm-lined route down State Street and you’ll hit the clear waters of Santa Barbara Beach. The Mediterranean illusion continues to the north, with the Old Mission in the Franciscan Province. Friars founded the church in 1786. It still stands today with impressive stone arches, terracotta domes, and exotic gardens.