Carpinteria

The Carpinteria Valley is located the southeast corner of Santa Barbara county. It's a little piece of coastal paradise tucked midway between Ventura and Santa Barbara, seeming to shy away from the glare of tourism's spotlight, but at the same time welcoming all who chance to discover its charms.

Carpinteria's splendid natural setting and small town charm remain relatively undiscovered. Enjoy the small town pleasures, where tree-shaded streets, parades and craft shows evoke a gentle way of life. Dozens of antique stores, small shops and restaurants are clustered along the main streets of Carpinteria and nearby Summerland, making the area a browser's paradise.

Carpinteria is home to a world-renowned surfing area off Rincon Point, and a beautiful swimming beach. Nature smiles kindly on the Carpinteria Valley, making it home to many nurseries.

Summerland

When Summerland was founded as a Spiritualist colony in 1889, terraced streets lined with small lots that sold for $25 apiece. The newcomers built a temple where they hold séances & contacted spirits, assisted by mediums who could communicate with departed friends and relatives. Summerland is a relaxed, tiny, hillside community reminiscent of a New England village nestled on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You won't want to miss the many antique stores that line Lillie Ave, the main street of Summerland.

 

the riviera

Bridging the 2 mile span that separates Mission and Sycamore Canyons, the sylvan uplift which padres knew as the "mission ridge" has been known as "the Riviera" due to its resemblance to slopes along the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy. Unsurpassed views of the city, mountains, ocean, and islands are enjoyed on the Riviera.

The Riviera is famous for its semitropical appearance. The flowing curves at the west end of Alameda Padre Serra today mark the old streetcar right of way, the curves being essential to provide a gradient which electric cars could negotiate.

One of the older neighborhoods in the city, the Rivera also ranks as one of the wealthiest and best-educated. No need to travel to Europe to experience the charm of the Riviera!

Upper East

WCity planners regard Eastside as perhaps the most important factor in Santa Barbara's growth. This is a higher percentage of older single-family homes in the Eastside than in other city neighborhoods. The Upper Eastside has been identified as a home of the wealthy elite since 1895.

Westside

The "Westside Story" of Santa Barbara is told in our city's first suburb. Cottage Hospital and its surrounding laboratories, rest homes, professional buildings, clinics & other medically-oriented satellites, make it very convenient for the local residents. City Hall recognized the Westside as the oldest established residential area in town: six out of ten houses were built prior to 1940.

the mesa

Mesa, a Spanish word meaning "table", has been applied to the flat beach-fronting neighborhood along Santa Barbara's southwestern borders near the ocean. The Mesa is one of the oldest historical areas in the city, paradoxically it is one of our youngest residential districts.

Artists and writers have a special affinity for the Mesa as a carefree place to live. City weather records show that the Mesa's winter temperatures are 10 to 12 degrees warmer than downtown, and 10 to 12 degrees cooler in the summer. This climatic attraction, plus the spectacular marine views, caused a housing boom after World War II.

Mission Canyon

Ethel Barrymore, the late empress of stage & screen, once told a friend, "Fortunate indeed is the person who can live in Santa Barbara, and doubly blessed if his home is located in Mission Canyon."

Newcomers during the 1850's were quick to appreciate the sylvan beauty of Mission Canyon, and they began to move in and build home. Above them were a series of rocky cascades known as The Seven Falls. Homes in Mission Canyon range from the humble adobe, to magnificent mansions like Glendessary, on the shady lane of the same name. This sprawling half timbered Tudor manor house was one of the fine homes built before the turn of the century by Christoph Tornoe, a gifted Danish artisan.

Samarkand

Samarkand meant "the land of heart's desire" in the archaic Persian tongue. As the dominating landmark of a hilly, elevated neighborhood, the Samarkand gave its name to an area bounded on the east by Oak Park.

Most of Sarmarkand utilities are underground, offering best advantage of mountain and city views. The Samarkand neighborhood could point with pride to one of America's most beautiful & prestigious retirement centers, originally a hotel.

San Roque

Few residential neighborhoods of Santa Barbara can boast the rich historical background of the San Roque and Rutherford Park areas. The neighborhood got its name when pioneers arrived in 1769 with Governor Potola. They camped at the mouth of the San Roque Creek, which they named to memorialize the patron saint of invalids, Saint Roque, a Carmelite friar of the 14th century.

San Roque has a micro climate that provides mild weather year round. Now built-up, it is admired for its sweeping curved streets, its luxuriant landscaping, and its harmonious blend of many architectural themes - Spanish Colonial, English Tudor, French Normandy, California Redwood, Italianate and American Colonial, mostly built since 1925.

With shopping and banking facilities at their very doorstep, residents of San Roque feel they are living in one of Santa Barbara's choicest residential neighborhoods.

Hope Ranch

From 1888 until the 1920's, the Pacific Improvement Company shaped the destiny of Hope Ranch, molding it into its present image as a wealthy suburb of Santa Barbara. Many of the amenities offered to members of the Hope Ranch Park Homeowners Association since the 1930's include a private beach club fronting the ranch, a polo field, archery range, tennis courts, and 30 miles of bridle path.

 

Goleta

Tucked between lush green hillsides & the sparkling Pacific lies Goleta Valley. Just minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, the Goleta community is characterized by comfortable single family homes, and outstanding public elementary and secondary schools. Plan on enjoying the many recreational opportunities, historic sites and seasonal festivals. Combining all that the area offers with a mild year-round climate and idyllic natural surroundings, it is easy to see why Goleta is the "Good Land".

Solvang / Santa Ynez Valley

Solvang was founded by Danish-Americans in 1911 who traveled from Iowa to establish a settlement on 9,000 acres. Solvang means "sunny fields" in Danish. The Danish Days annual festival continues to celebrate Solvang's heritage during the third weekend of every September.

The gentle rolling hills, windmills, quiet streets, horse drawn carriages, family bicycles, golf courses, horse ranches, wineries, Danish bakeries, authentic Danish costumes worn by some shop keepers, Danish smorgaasbord restaurants, museums of racing and Solvang history, in the Danish atmosphere and architecture are waiting for you (No passport needed to visit the little Danish replica village).

The Santa Ynez Valley is situated on the Central Coast of California, and just 30 minutes from Santa Barbara, over the Santa Ynez Mountains, with its breathtaking vineyards, pastures and ranches where real cowboys still ride the range. The Santa Ynez Valley is made up of five small towns, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Los Olivos, Solvang, and Buellton. Each town has it's own elementary and junior high school & Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, located on the border of Solvang Santa Ynez, accommodates the entire community.

The Santa Ynez Valley is unique, due to fact that one may purchase a home on a small lot or a ranch and estates on 100 acres or more. There are many separate areas of five acre, ten acre or twenty acre communities. These cater to the horse lovers or those who simply want larger parcels and more privacy. The Chumash Indian Hotel & Casino is very popular. Vineyards are abundant and offer fun and wine tasting!