My Santa Barbara

I love the My Hometown feature at Real Simple and I immediately wanted to weigh in with my own hometown favorites. Unfortunately, my current town is not much of a destination stop. Instead, I decided to post about my former hometown, Santa Barbara, California. I lived in Santa Barbara during college and visit several times a year for my anniversary, with family, and for day shopping trips. Soon enough I'll be able to post about my new, absolutely fabulous hometown, but until then...

My Santa Barbara: Janet Wallace

Age: 27

Occupation: Teacher

I lived there for: Two years

I lived there because: I was a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara

My neighborhood: Isla Vista

My favorite restaurant: The Palace Grill. There's always a line, but it's worth it.

If you go to this restaurant, be sure to order: The Palace Swan

My favorite museum: Santa Barbara Museum of Art

My favorite tourist destination: The Courthouse

Best insider spot: State Street during Fiesta!

My favorite area: Downtown

Best place to go shopping: State Street and the Sunday Arts and Crafts Show

When you visit, don’t forget to pack: A bathing suit

But leave room in your suitcase for: Local wine

The one local cuisine you should try when you’re in town is: A Freebirds burrito and Sambos pancakes

The best way to get around: Your feet and a kayak

If I had to describe this city in one word, it would be: Paradise

I tell my friends to stay at: The Cheshire Cat, Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, or Bacara

The one thing most outsiders don’t know about this city is: The first Motel 6 was opened in Santa Barbara in 1962.

They say “Virginia is for lovers.” So fill in the blank: Santa Barbara is for "the almost wed and the almost dead." But, really, it's for everyone else, too.

Tell us about your hometown and leave a link, please! If we get enough, I'll put together a permanent page with links to all of our local favorites. Unless there is some copyright issue or something. I better get lawyery and look into that.

That was fun. Maybe I will do My Lancaster. And maybe My DC since I lived there, too.

Comments

[Barquan Johnson]

Its a good thing that you didn't fill that out for Lancaster, cause most of those questions would be blank!

[janet]

oh this is a great post! I really need to get to SB someday soon. I will think about doing one for DC, but I admit even after 3 years I don't feel like I know the city that well. It would be interesting to see what's similar and different on our DC ones if we do them.

[Mom 2]

Lancaster is not one of the 100 best places to live or anything. Lancaster is however 1 1/2 hours from anything you want to do. Go shopping, water skiing, snow skiing, snow boarding, a day at the beach, the Abby, mountains, lakes, fabulous restaurants and anything else you can think of. It's a good thing. Ask Martha!

[benji]

I recently met some people from the East Coast, in our drive it takes to LA they can drive through 2 states and get to NYC.

[SaraJane]

Thanks for the heads up on that! The Minneapolis post is very helpful!

[Steven]

My friend Vicky goes there so the mental notes have been taken! :D thx for the tips

[Maya]

My Santa Barbara: Maya

Age: 27

Occupation: Wedding Planner

I have lived there for: My whole life

I lived there because: I was lucky enough to have been born here.

My neighborhood: Oak Park/downtown

My favorite restaurant: Opal!

If you go to this restaurant, be sure to order: Phyllo wrapped tiger prawns. Heaven! (ask the bartenders to make up a drink for you.)

My favorite museum: Santa Barbara Museum of Art - followed closely by the natural history museum.

My favorite tourist destination: Carpinteria Beach.

Best insider spot: Thousand Steps beach. Muy romantico - and a good workout!

My favorite area: The beach!

Best place to go shopping: State Street, from top to bottom.

When you visit, don’t forget to pack: Money. Lots of money.

But leave room in your suitcase for: Your bikini/trunks.

The one local cuisine you should try when you’re in town is: Local? I love SB Brew House.

The best way to get around: Walk, take the bicyle rickshaws or convertible.

If I had to describe this city in one word, it would be: Beautiful.

I tell my friends to stay at: My house! Barring that, the Orchid Inn.

Thing people don’t know about this city is: We were the first Hollywood - the original silent movies were made here.

They say “Virginia is for lovers.” So fill in the blank: Santa Barbara is for anyone who appreciates culture enough to pay a bit more for things.

[Katey]

My Atlanta: Katey

Age: 33

Occupation: Graphic Designer/Cat Herder

I have lived here for: 10 years

I lived there because: I was dumb enough to follow "some guy" here after college, dumped the guy, kept the town.

My neighborhood: Milton

My favorite restaurant: OK Cafe

If you go to this restaurant, be sure to order: Dessert and the Blue Plate Special (in that order)

My favorite museum: The High Museum

My favorite tourist destination: Piedmont Park

Best insider spot: Riverside Park in Roswell.

My favorite area: Cabbagetown/Virginia Highlands

Best place to go shopping: Virginia Highlands and Lenox Mall (Oh and Sam Flax is pretty damn cool, too!)

When you visit, don’t forget to pack: A GPS.

But leave room in your suitcase for: New clothes (or yarn, if you're a knitter, there are a TON of yarn shops here!)

The one local cuisine you should try when you’re in town is: Anything from Agnes and Muriels or Einsteins

The best way to get around: Drive

If I had to describe this city in one word, it would be: Perfect.

I tell my friends to stay at: Big money? The InterContinental Buckhead. Not so big money? Anywhere in Dunwoody.

Thing people don’t know about this city is: Only tourists call it "Hotlanta"

They say “Virginia is for lovers.” So fill in the blank: Atlanta is for anyone who doesn't mind getting lost.

[lso]

janet,
i read your blog and think it's great. i've never commented, but i had to respont to this post. i lived in santa barbara from 1997 to 2002 and absolutely loved it!!!
i live in the northeast now (boston and then connecticut)...any 70 degree day i always say, "oh it's a santa barbara day..." i lived on the mesa. our friends owned the study hall in isla vista (dan and carolyn), and i ate free birds or la salsa about three times per week. my favorite restaurant was stella mares.

i ran on shoreline and walked my boston terrier there every day. i'm sad just thinking about how much i miss it!!! thanks for this post. good luck in law school.

[Wende]

Oh, I adore Santa Barbara (and I'm a sucker for Montecito) We're actually vacationing in SB this year in Sept/Oct. Yippee.

[Laura]

I love the Palace Grill - I love their muffins. Oh and the garlic rosemary french fries and SB BrewCo are my favorite...

I would do a My Ventura, but Ventura just isn't as cool as Santa Barbara. At least we're not that far away! :)

[RA]

Janet, I loved thinking about my town like this! Thanks for the nudge...

http://definitelyra.blogspot.com/2007/05/my-kennett-square.html

Did you live in the Lancaster that's in PA?

[jesser]

Cool idea! I'll have to write about my town. :)

[Isabel]

I'm totally going to play along today. Fun idea. Thanks for sharing.

[Kate]

This is so cool - we are going to be staying in Santa Barbara for a couple of nights in two weeks when we come over the pond for our holiday in California/Las Vegas. This is super helpful!!! I will post about my hometown in case anyone visit England soon!