West Santa Barbara - Goleta, CA

Spanish explorers initially settled in Santa Barbara and gave the city its name in the 18th century. Missionaries also founded Mission Santa Barbara in 1786. After the area became part of Mexico, cattle farmers dominated the landscape until the United States took over in 1848. Santa Barbara still retains its Hispanic heritage with its widespread Spanish architecture and numerous cultural events.

To learn more about Santa Barbara, head to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, which celebrates the sailing and nautical nature of many Santa Barbara residents. Casa del Herrero in Montecito, built in the 1920s, hosts tours of the Spanish colonial historic home. The city puts on many annual celebrations, such as the Old Spanish Days Festival, French Festival and its own film festival.

Santa Barbara's status as a major tourist attraction on the California coast has set it up to be one of the go-to places for restaurants and nightlife. Residents in the Outer West can relax in their homes on the hills, but can get down to State Street to visit many highly-rated restaurants and bars. Most of Santa Barbara's best restaurants feature new American fare, but others specialize in Mexican and Italian food.

Los Agaves, a popular Mexican restaurant in West Santa Barbara, does Mexican food right, with its halibut and shrimp enchiladas and Cuban tortas sandwiches. Order a giant quesadilla, or go for more enchiladas in green sauce for a truly zesty flavor. Locals like the salsa bar loaded with six different salsas, as well as the massive burritos. Those who really feel hungry for lunch or dinner fill up their stomachs at Los Agaves.

Those looking for brunch find a hearty meal at Jeannine's, where locals recommend the lobster eggs Benedict or the salmon Benedict. Try the Kahlua banana French toast for a crazy spin on a breakfast staple, or go for a breakfast burrito to feel satisfied for a few more hours. Indulge in Italian food at Via Maestra 42, where residents come to taste authentic Italian in a cozy setting. Try the ravioli zuccota with pumpkin and ricotta, or the spinach ravioli with sage sauce. The restaurant even extends its authenticity to the dessert menu, with gelato imported from the home country.

West Santa Barbara locals in need of a drink have several options for watering holes. The Deep Sea Tasting Room on Stearns Wharf delights those who like to taste wine while gazing at an amazing ocean view. Seven Bar & Kitchen, in the artsy Funk Zone neighborhood, serves New Orleans-style food and drinks, and hosts live music. The James Joyce on State Street also features bands, including jazz groups.

The Santa Barbara Bowl functions as Santa Barbara's largest music venue, where locals go to watch national headlining acts. A number of nightclubs dot the center of State Street, including Statemynt, which brews Irish coffee.

In the compact city of Santa Barbara, many locals choose to walk to get exercise and do errands. The western and eastern parts of the city closest to State Street allow for easy walking. However, Santa Barbarans rely on their cars to get to grocery stores and shopping centers. U.S. Route 101, which runs through the city, allows locals to get south to Los Angeles and north to Santa Maria.

Santa Barbara Yellow Cab gives rides to visitors and residents, as does Uber. Locals can park in the neighborhoods while driving around, but major areas on State Street become packed with traffic during the touristy summer season. MTD Santa Barbara, the county’s bus system, provides service on the major roads from the outer west neighborhoods all the way to the east.

Bicycling continues to grow in popularity in southern California, and proves to be a cost-effective way for University of California, Santa Barbara students to safely travel around the area. The hills around the city make bicycling strenuous at times, but can make for good exercise.

Santa Barbara’s environment and weather allow for year-round outdoor recreation. Rocky Nook Park, a Santa Barbara County park located near the Santa Barbara Mission, features playgrounds and hiking trails. Kids love to climb the park’s sandstone boulders to get a good view. Have a picnic in this free 19-acre park, and bring your leashed dog along to enjoy the day.

Another good picnic and barbecue site, Stevens Park, gives exercise fans a jogging and hiking trail to use to get into the mountains. Kids can play on the playground, and the park allows leashed dogs. For a hiking experience during a sunny day, come to Stevens Park or travel east to Parma Park, a large area with a 5-mile hiking trail.

Many of the individual, smaller parks don’t hold special events, but cultural festivities and big parades keep Santa Barbara residents busy. Locals like to attend the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show east of Stearns Wharf, as well as the Summer Solstice Parade, which attracts about 100,000 people every year.

Life in Santa Barbara has a much higher cost of living than the national average. Plan to pay about $1,730 in rent for a one-bedroom apartment in West Santa Barbara. The average price of gas comes in at about 16 percent higher than the national average, and a glass of beer at a typical pub in the area costs about $4.

Fortunately, travel on Santa Barbara buses costs a little less than expected — a one-way ticket costs $1.75 for most customers. Seniors aged 62 and older pay 85 cents for a one-way fare.

The closest shopping center for many Outer West Santa Barbara locals, Paseo Nuevo, draws in many tourists because of its beauty, highlighted by Spanish-style architecture and fountains and trees adorning the outdoor mall. Macy’s and Nordstrom give shoppers a chance to find high-end fashions. Designer shops such as Anthropologie and Coach sell high-end goods along State Street.

Downtown Santa Barbara hosts a number of boutiques, including DIANI, a local shop with two locations. At DIANI, locals like to pick up designer clothes and shoes — and a purse to match. Kids love the local toy store Replay, which carries toys orginially sold decades ago. Many patrons come by Replay to find toys from their childhood and other hard-to-find items.

Grocery shopping is done primarily at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Gelson’s Market sells local produce and fresh-baked breads and pastries. Lazy Acres Market functions as the gourmet market in Santa Barbara, with unique and exotic dishes and premade foods. The Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market brings in crowds every Tuesday with its vegetables, fruit, jams, grains and more.