The San Ynez Mountains, the Pacific Coast, and a climate that has been called the “American Riviera”: These three things are just the beginning of what makes Santa Barbara, California, one of the greatest places on Earth. Located along the lengthiest stretch of the Pacific coast that has an East-West alignment, the similarities between Santa Barbara and the Mediterranean do not end with geography and weather, as the town, which is noted for its Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival architecture as well as buildings that date back to the historical periods in which each of these styles originated, also sports a culture which, like that found on the Spanish, French, or Italian coasts, is dedicated to the pursuit of happiness. It is, however, a distinctly Californian city, as the vibrancy and forward-thinking that delineate the largest and wealthiest of the Pacific states is found in abundance within its hilly, tree-lined streets. From nationally recognized landmarks like the Mission Santa Barbara, known throughout the Southwest United States as “The Queen of the Missions”, to the Victorian and large California-style Bungalows that dot its inner residential areas, Santa Barbara has taken on a look and feel as distinct and authentic as any other location along the Pacific. Located between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it’s also a Southern Californian city that has a climate and nature that samples from some of the best aspects of both of these major urban areas. Santa Barbara, however, is perhaps defined at a fundamental level for its essentially rural nature as, though now consisting of a population of 90,000, its immediate proximity to the San Ynez Mountains and Los Padres National Forest, as well as the popular hiking trails along Rattlesnake Canyon and the Chumash Painted Cave State Historical Park, grant its residents a strong connection to nature as well as a multitude of recreational options. Though, due to its beachfront location, mountainous backdrop, and peaceful, upscale downtown area, Santa Barbara’s economy is largely supported by tourism, the city is also noted for hosting a number of highly respected academic institutions and museums, including the University of California at Santa Barbara and Antioch University, as well as the professional, friendly cultural attributes such places of learning are associated with. For both part and full-time residents, whether they live in the wooded Mission Canyon or one of the Oceanside estates that populate the Mesa, these features, combined, translate to lives that are filled with comfort, reflection, and adventure.