Here are the Top 10 activities to try in Santa Barbara, whether visiting for a day or a long-time resident.
1. Beaches: Santa Barbara boasts some of the most pristine beaches in all of California and arguably the world. Tourists fill the sand by Stearn's Wharf; to get away from the action check out Sands in Goleta or Carpinteria State Beach in the south.
2. Wine Touring: Do as they did in the movie Sideways: tour Santa Barbara County wine country. Tucked away in the hills of Santa Ynez are dozens of world-class vineyards. Tours leave daily from downtown and give you a chance to drink without driving.
3. Golfing: The weather of Santa Barbara means the golf courses are open year round, perfect for fun in the sun anytime. There are four public 18-hole courses in the area, but check out Sandpiper, the only ocean-front course between Los Angeles and Pebble Beach.
4. Parks: The abundance of green parks in the area give Santa Barbara its lush feel. Alice Keck Memorial Park Garden is a favorite spot for white-collar State Street workers on their lunch break. Lotusland in Montecito is world-renowned; although it costs money to enter, it is well worth the price to see exotic plants and flowers from around the world.
5. Polo Club: Why not check out a match at the Santa Barbara Polo Club. Only $10 for entrance on Sundays to see some of the best polo on the West Coast. If you get bored of the action, walk to the parking lot to admire the view: the Ferraris on display are sure to catch your eye.
6. Hiking: Dotting the mountainside north of downtown Santa Barbara are dozens of trail heads, many of which offer pristine views of the Channel Islands at their peaks. San Ysidro Trail, Inspiration Point, and 7 Falls are all local favorites.
7. Santa Barbara Mission: Known as the "Queen of the Missions", the Santa Barbara Mission also houses one of three Spanish California Presidios. Tours run daily (either guided or self) and are relatively cheap. The Missions were a focal point in California's 17-19th century history and are well-worth visiting.
8. Santa Barbara Zoo: Consistently ranked as one of America's small zoos, here you'll find over 500 types of animals. Since its size is small it is easily walked by all ages, and there is a train that takes visitors around the outskirts showing different perspectives of the zoo's animal habitats.
9. Day Trips: Santa Barbara is the perfect place to depart from to a number of day trips. Solvang is a Danish village about an hour north; the Danish Royal Family once visited and praised its model design. Hearst Castle, the famous vacation mansion of newspaper magnet William Hearst, lies a few more miles north and defines the word 'Grandeur'.
10. Annual Festivals: There is something going on in Santa Barbara nearly year round: Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February, Summer Solstice Parade in June, French Festival in July, and Old Spanish Fiesta Days in August are just a few of the most popular ones.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Friday, December 27, 2013
Top 10: Hikes of Santa Barbara
Andrew Rose of Rose Coast Realty bringing you another Top 10 list for Santa Barbara. This week's list showcases Santa Barbara's wonderful array of hiking trails and locations.
1. Inspiration Point: This 3.5 mile hike with an elevation gain of 800 feet is one of the most well known and loved by locals. The wildlife is beautiful and the view at the top is breathtaking.
2. 7 Falls: As the name suggests, the trail leads up to waterfalls and 3 pools. A similar start as Inspiration Point, turn off the paved road and up the creek to get to the crest.
3. San Ysidro Trail: With a start just off the San Ysidro Ranch's property, this ~2 mile trail leads up to a waterfall usually running in the spring. Seasoned hikers can continue onward for another 9 miles roundtrip past the fall.
4. Red Rock: Not so much of a trail as much as a deep, natural swimming pool where teenagers and college students can be found on the weekends. Only about 1 mile out from the parking lot.
5. Cathedral Peak: The peak at the top is worth the 8000 feet elevation climb, with views stretching as far as Oxnard on the right days. Definitely bring water along as the trail becomes exposed and on a hot summer day can turn from tough to strenuous.
6. McMenemy Loop: Starting alongside the San Ysidro Trail, this loop branches off into preserved parts of Montecito. Suitable for horses as well, it is maintained and there are hitching posts along the way.
7. Ellwood Butterfly Grove: Known to locals for years, the butterfly grove is quickly becoming a tourist stop as well. Best to visit in the mid-morning when the butterflies are just waking up.
8. Lizard's Mouth: Most come to picnic, but the real adventurous rock climb at this family favorite. The trail is short but the hike is what you make of it.
9. Gibraltar Dam: Hiking past Red Rock the extra miles will take you to the dam, and even further to an old abandoned mine. Perfect for a pleasant lunch. Can also be biked.
10. Montecito Peak: Very steep parts but the peak is well worth the climb. Find the hidden box at the top to log your successful journey like the others.
1. Inspiration Point: This 3.5 mile hike with an elevation gain of 800 feet is one of the most well known and loved by locals. The wildlife is beautiful and the view at the top is breathtaking.
2. 7 Falls: As the name suggests, the trail leads up to waterfalls and 3 pools. A similar start as Inspiration Point, turn off the paved road and up the creek to get to the crest.
3. San Ysidro Trail: With a start just off the San Ysidro Ranch's property, this ~2 mile trail leads up to a waterfall usually running in the spring. Seasoned hikers can continue onward for another 9 miles roundtrip past the fall.
4. Red Rock: Not so much of a trail as much as a deep, natural swimming pool where teenagers and college students can be found on the weekends. Only about 1 mile out from the parking lot.
5. Cathedral Peak: The peak at the top is worth the 8000 feet elevation climb, with views stretching as far as Oxnard on the right days. Definitely bring water along as the trail becomes exposed and on a hot summer day can turn from tough to strenuous.
6. McMenemy Loop: Starting alongside the San Ysidro Trail, this loop branches off into preserved parts of Montecito. Suitable for horses as well, it is maintained and there are hitching posts along the way.
7. Ellwood Butterfly Grove: Known to locals for years, the butterfly grove is quickly becoming a tourist stop as well. Best to visit in the mid-morning when the butterflies are just waking up.
8. Lizard's Mouth: Most come to picnic, but the real adventurous rock climb at this family favorite. The trail is short but the hike is what you make of it.
9. Gibraltar Dam: Hiking past Red Rock the extra miles will take you to the dam, and even further to an old abandoned mine. Perfect for a pleasant lunch. Can also be biked.
10. Montecito Peak: Very steep parts but the peak is well worth the climb. Find the hidden box at the top to log your successful journey like the others.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Hostel Bought by SB Real Estate Firm
"An area real estate investment and development company, Capitoline Properties, LLC, recently took ownership of the Santa Barbara Tourist Hostel to capitalize on its prime location.
Santa Barbara’s first and only hostel is located at 134 Chapala Street, by the train station and the city’s blossoming Funk Zone. “We believe the Funk Zone’s proximity to the beach as well as the types of businesses that have opened up will make the area a very long term destination for locals and tourists,” said Jared Filippone, Vice President of Capitoline Properties.
Filippone said the company plans to purchase new furniture for the kitchen, lobby, dorm rooms, and private rooms, as well as take care of some deferred maintenance. “We will also be looking to form relationships with local bars, restaurants, bike and surf rentals and other activity vendors to provide our guests with all that Santa Barbara has to offer,” Filippone said.
The purchase was a slight stray from Capitoline’s usual investments in multi-family apartment complexes on California’s Central Coast as well as in Bozeman, Montana. This is the second local acquisition Capitoline has made this year, the first being The Tahitian apartments in Isla Vista.
That purchase was the largest sale of a multi-family property in the South Coast in 2013. Capitoline currently manages about 180 units, including The Tahitian apartments and a building in Orange, CA."
Source: http://www.independent.com/news/2013/oct/14/hostel-bought-sb-real-estate-firm/
Santa Barbara’s first and only hostel is located at 134 Chapala Street, by the train station and the city’s blossoming Funk Zone. “We believe the Funk Zone’s proximity to the beach as well as the types of businesses that have opened up will make the area a very long term destination for locals and tourists,” said Jared Filippone, Vice President of Capitoline Properties.
Filippone said the company plans to purchase new furniture for the kitchen, lobby, dorm rooms, and private rooms, as well as take care of some deferred maintenance. “We will also be looking to form relationships with local bars, restaurants, bike and surf rentals and other activity vendors to provide our guests with all that Santa Barbara has to offer,” Filippone said.
The purchase was a slight stray from Capitoline’s usual investments in multi-family apartment complexes on California’s Central Coast as well as in Bozeman, Montana. This is the second local acquisition Capitoline has made this year, the first being The Tahitian apartments in Isla Vista.
That purchase was the largest sale of a multi-family property in the South Coast in 2013. Capitoline currently manages about 180 units, including The Tahitian apartments and a building in Orange, CA."
Source: http://www.independent.com/news/2013/oct/14/hostel-bought-sb-real-estate-firm/
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Facebook Billionaire Zuckerberg Quietly Expands Real Estate Collection
"Ironically, when it comes to the personal life of Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, you won’t find much online — especially when it comes to his real estate.
But the cofounder of the world’s largest social media site, worth $22.9 billion by FORBES’ Thursday count, has been on quite a home buying spree.
Most recently, Zuckerberg snapped up four Palo Alto, Calif. homes that neighbor his main 5,617-square foot residence, according to the San Jose Mercury News, spending just over $30 million in total.
Don’t expect to find his name on any of the property records, however. The four Silicon Valley homes, located next door to and behind his Edgewood Drive digs, were technically purchased by legal entities associated with Iconiq Capital, a San Francisco-based money manager said to represent Zuckerberg and other uber-wealthy techies. A direct link between the LLCs used to make the purchases and Zuckerberg cannot be made, as the on-record paperwork trail ends with Iconiq."
But the cofounder of the world’s largest social media site, worth $22.9 billion by FORBES’ Thursday count, has been on quite a home buying spree.
Most recently, Zuckerberg snapped up four Palo Alto, Calif. homes that neighbor his main 5,617-square foot residence, according to the San Jose Mercury News, spending just over $30 million in total.
Don’t expect to find his name on any of the property records, however. The four Silicon Valley homes, located next door to and behind his Edgewood Drive digs, were technically purchased by legal entities associated with Iconiq Capital, a San Francisco-based money manager said to represent Zuckerberg and other uber-wealthy techies. A direct link between the LLCs used to make the purchases and Zuckerberg cannot be made, as the on-record paperwork trail ends with Iconiq."
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
FHA Will Continue to Lend During Government Shutdown
Great news: The FHA has announced that for the benefit of the housing mortgage market, the FHA will continue to process loans during the government shutdown.
Read the rest of the article here at Money CNN
Read the rest of the article here at Money CNN
Friday, September 27, 2013
Modern Twists on Santa Barbara’s Classical Architectural Style
"Predictably beloved by dreamy-eyed tourists but frequently mocked by innovation-minded modernists, Santa Barbara’s official architecture of red-tiled roofs and white-washed walls still rules the day, as any architect who tries to sneak a too-contemporary building past the city’s design review process will tell you. But as the upcoming annual tour through the city hosted by the American Institute of Architects will reveal, there’s increasing room for creative flexibility within the parameters of Spanish colonial revivalism — and, in some cases, bold examples of how modern design does indeed fit nicely, if at times almost secretly, into a somewhat homogenous cityscape."
Read the rest of the article at the Santa Barbara Independent.
Read the rest of the article at the Santa Barbara Independent.
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