Santa Barbara–Santa Maria
Around Santa Barbara–Santa Maria
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Metro area · California · 444k people
Santa Barbara–Santa Maria
Locals say Central Coast · “American Riviera”, “The Good Land”
Santa Maria · Santa Barbara
Where the mountains tumble into the sea
UCSB GoldUCSB BlueVineyard Green
Welcome to the Central Coast, where the mountains meet the sea. Whether you're here for the waves, the wine, or the tri-tip, you'll find a laid-back vibe that's hard to beat.
Clubs for Santa Barbara–Santa Maria
No clubs for Santa Barbara–Santa Maria yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Santa Barbara–Santa Maria. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Santa Barbara–Santa Maria. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Stearns Wharf Historic wooden pier with shops, restaurants, and ocean views
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse Spanish-Moorish building with a clock tower and murals
- Santa Barbara Zoo Small, family-friendly zoo with ocean views
- Lake Cachuma Reservoir in the Santa Ynez Valley for boating and fishing
- Gaviota State Park Beach, hiking, and a historic pier
- El Capitan State Beach Camping and beach access with coastal bluffs
- Outdoors Surf at Rincon Point
- Outdoors Hike Inspiration Point
- With kids Visit the Santa Barbara Zoo
- With kids Explore the Sea Center on Stearns Wharf
- Evenings State Street bar crawl
- Evenings Wine tasting in the Funk Zone
- Locals love farmers markets
- Locals love beaches
Through the year
- Santa Barbara International Film Festival February Celebrities and indie films
- Santa Barbara County Fair July Carnival, livestock, and concerts
- Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival May Strawberry-themed fun and food
- Lompoc Flower Festival June Parade and flower displays
- Summer Solstice Parade June Colorful parade in downtown Santa Barbara
The Central Coast has a Mediterranean climate – mild year-round, with summer fog and winter rain. Best time to be out is late spring and early fall. Best: Spring and fall are the sweet spot – warm, sunny days with cool evenings.
Talk like a local
- “SB”
- Santa Barbara
- “IV”
- Isla Vista
- “Carp”
- Carpinteria
- “Funk Zone”
- The Funk Zone
Getaways
- San Luis Obispo Lively downtown and Cal Poly
- Oxnard Beaches and the Channel Islands harbor
- Bakersfield Gateway to the Sierra Nevada
- Visalia Near Sequoia National Park
Local flavour
Teams
- UC Santa Barbara Gauchos NCAA Division I
- Santa Barbara Foresters California Collegiate League
Also rooting for Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Lakers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams
Eat and drink
- Santa Maria-style tri-tip Grilled over red oak, served with salsa and pinquito beans
- Pinquito beans Small pink beans simmered with spices, a barbecue staple
- Garlic bread Toasted over the grill, essential to Santa Maria BBQ
- Central Coast Pinot Noir World‑class wine from the Santa Barbara County vineyards
- Santa Maria strawberries Sweet, locally grown berries from the valley
Where people go
- Wineries The Santa Ynez Valley and Funk Zone are dotted with tasting rooms and vineyards
- Beaches From East Beach to Jalama, the coastline offers surf, sand, and sunsets
- Missions Mission Santa Barbara and La Purisima are historic landmarks
- Coastal bluffs Dramatic cliffs and trails above the ocean
- Farmers markets Fresh produce, flowers, and local goods in every town
- Surf spots Known breaks like Rincon and Sandspit draw surfers
Heritage and traditions
The Central Coast is proud of its Spanish mission heritage, Chumash roots, and laid-back beach culture, along with its world-class wine and agriculture.
This time of year in Santa Barbara–Santa Maria
- Wine harvest Fall Grape picking and crush in the Santa Ynez Valley from late August through October.
- Chumash Intertribal Pow Wow October Gathers Native American tribes for dancing, drumming, and arts at the Santa Ynez Reservation.
Say it like a local: “The Mesa” — The mesa neighborhood in Santa Barbara, known for its views and laid-back vibe.
Festivals
- Old Spanish Days (Fiesta) August A week-long celebration of Spanish heritage with parades, flamenco dancing, and a rodeo.
- Solvang Danish Days September Celebrates the town's Danish roots with folk dancing, æbleskiver, and a parade.
- Chumash Intertribal Pow Wow October Gathers Native American tribes for dancing, drumming, and arts at the Santa Ynez Reservation.
- Santa Maria Elks Rodeo June A classic rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and a downtown parade.
Landmarks with a story
- Mission Santa Barbara Known as the 'Queen of the Missions', founded in 1786 with twin towers and a beautiful garden.
- Mission La Purísima Concepción A fully restored mission in Lompoc, now a state historic park with live animals and workshops.
- El Presidio de Santa Bárbara The last Spanish military outpost in California, founded in 1782, now a museum.
- Chumash Painted Cave A small sandstone cave with ancient Chumash rock art, accessible by a short hike.
- Old Mission Santa Inés A 1804 mission in Solvang, known for its art and the nearby Danish village.
Food traditions
- Central Coast olive oil Local groves produce extra-virgin olive oil, often paired with fresh bread and wine at tastings.
Music and arts
- Santa Barbara Symphony Performs classical and contemporary works at the Granada Theatre.
- Lobero Theatre A historic 1873 venue hosting music, theater, and dance performances.
- Plein air painting Artists have long been drawn to the light and landscapes, with a thriving outdoor painting scene.
- Spanish Colonial Revival architecture The city's signature style, with red-tile roofs and white stucco, is a living art form.
A little history
- 1782 Spanish Presidio founded
- 1786 Mission Santa Barbara established
- 1824 Chumash revolt against mission rule
- 1925 Great Santa Barbara earthquake
- 1941 Vandenberg Air Force Base established
Rivalries
- UCSB Gauchos vs. Cal Poly Mustangs Central Coast college rivalry
- Dodgers vs. Giants fans Friendly baseball banter between LA and SF supporters
- Game day UCSB Gauchos basketball
- Game day Santa Barbara Foresters baseball
- Outdoors Visit the Channel Islands National Park
- Outdoors Hang glide at Elings Park
- With kids Visit the MOXI museum
- With kids Ride the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
Locals speak with a relaxed Californian accent, often dropping 'the' before freeway numbers and using Spanish place names like 'Santa Barbara' and 'Goleta' with a soft 'r'. Surfers add their own slang, and you'll hear 'dude' and 'stoked' casually.
Only here
- The 'American Riviera' nickname for Santa Barbara's Mediterranean-like climate and scenery.
- The Spanish tile roofs and white stucco architecture are strictly regulated to maintain the city's look.
- Lompoc's flower fields paint the valley in rainbow stripes each spring.
- Vandenberg Space Force Base launches rockets, visible from miles away.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the fog: 'June gloom' can linger into July, but it usually burns off by afternoon.
- Learn to navigate the 101: Traffic can be heavy during commute hours, especially near Santa Barbara and Goleta.
- Try Santa Maria-style BBQ early: The tri-tip with pinquito beans is a local rite of passage.
- Know your wine regions: The Santa Ynez Valley has distinct AVAs like Sta. Rita Hills and Ballard Canyon.
- Get to the beach early on weekends: Parking fills up fast at popular spots like East Beach and Goleta Beach.
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Nearby
Every areaSan Luis ObispoCaliforniaWhere the Pacific meets the vines.BakersfieldCaliforniaCountry roots, valley sun.Ventura CountyCaliforniaSun-soaked coasts and fertile valleysHanfordCaliforniaGolden fields, warm hearts.VisaliaCaliforniaRooted in the valley, reaching for the pines.FresnoCaliforniaSun-soaked fields and friendly facesSalinasCaliforniaWhere the fields meet the seaLos AngelesCaliforniaSun, surf, and a thousand stories.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.