Flashes of golden orange California poppies in bloom along the Grass Mountain Trail into Los Padres National Forest. Near the peak of the April bloom in 2016, with many flowers seen going to seed with their elongated green seed pods in the foreground. The Grass Mountain peak looms in the background with patches of orange poppy blooms against the green grasses of the exposed slope.

© Gary Kavanagh/Getty Images

Santa Barbara County

Frankly put, this area is damn pleasant to putter around. Low-slung between lofty mountains and the shimmering Pacific, chic Santa Barbara’s red-tiled roofs, white stucco buildings and Mediterranean vibe give credence to its claim of being the ‘American Riviera.’ It’s an enticing place to loll on the beach, eat and drink extraordinarily well, shop a bit and push all your cares off to another day. The city’s car-free campaign has brought electric shuttle buses, urban bike trails and earth-friendly wine tours. Mother Nature returns the love with hiking, biking, surfing, kayaking, scuba-diving and camping opportunities galore, from offshore Channel Islands National Park to arty Ojai, in neighboring Ventura County. Meanwhile, winemaking is booming in the bucolic Santa Ynez Mountains, west of Santa Barbara, where over a hundred wineries vie for your attention.


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A couple sit in colourful deck chairs in a California vineyard, laughing and holding wine glasses.

Wine

Raise a glass to Santa Barbara's best wine tasting experiences

Feb 18, 2022 • 6 min read

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