Santa Barbara Harbor Live Cam

Santa Barbara lies 332 miles south of San Francisco and 92 miles north of Los Angeles. Santa Barbara attire is casual. Most people wear comfortable sport clothing year-round during the day. At many Santa Barbara night spots dressier clothing is appropriate. A sweater or jacket is recommended for cooler winter evenings.

In general, drinking alcoholic beverages is prohibited in outdoor public areas between 2 and 6 a.m., including most parks. Beaches are an exception to this rule, although glass bottles are not permitted.

Geographically, the two Rivieras share much in common: towering mountains and a sweeping shoreline overlooking nearby islands. Both enjoy a unique south-facing position, resulting in a renowned, temperate climate. (Santa Barbara, in fact, is part of the only stretch of Pacific coastline from Alaska to Cape Horn that happens to run east-west.) Sheltered between mountains and islands, the regions bask in sunshine from dawn to dusk.

But Santa Barbara differs from its European relative in several important ways. First of all, this lush, tropical paradise features all the advantages of a world-class resort - minus the crowds. Second, Santa Barbara has a unique ambiance - a captivating blend of colorful history, distinctive architecture, and the legendary Southern California lifestyle. Known all over the world for its exceptional beauty, Santa Barbara boasts crystal-clear air, stunning scenery, and glistening, palm-lined, white-sand beaches.

While exuding the warmth, friendliness, and relaxed atmosphere of a small city, Santa Barbara offers the outstanding variety of attractions one might find in a major metropolis. Where else can you go whale watching, mountain biking, wine tasting, and sailing and enjoy museums, art galleries, hundreds of great restaurants, and major dance, theater, and music performances year-round? Located just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is surprisingly accessible and affordable. AMTRAK train service stops here three times daily, and Greyhound Bus Lines also provides service to the area. It's a perfect getaway destination, with hundreds of activities for every season.

Discerning travelers, including many celebrities, have chosen Santa Barbara as a holiday destination for over a century. Our name is now recognized on many continents, partly because of the area's reputation as, the "Western White House" (Ronald Reagan's ranch and Bill Clinton's beachside retreat are located here) as well as the unexpected popularity of a TV soap opera named after us.

The "American Riviera" offers accommodations, attractions and dining for every taste and budget, and these pages will help You find them. Telephone numbers listed are area code 805 unless otherwise noted. Use these Pages to help plan your stay, whatever your interests. We look forward to your visit to Paradise!

Until just over 200 years ago, the Chumash Indians thrived in this area, clustering in small villages along the Santa Barbara coast and Channel Islands. For thousands of years, protected by the rugged mountains and ocean, they enjoyed a comfortable, easy lifestyle afforded by an abundance of wildlife and natural resources. Then, in the short time span of two centuries, these peaceful, secluded villages developed into a world-famous resort. How did this come about?

European "civilization" first arrived in 1542, when Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo entered the Channel and claimed the land for Spain. The Chumash greeted the visitors with great friendliness and exchanged gifts. On the eve of December 4, 1602, just after weathering a severe storm, three frigates under the command of Sebastian Vizcaino entered the Santa Barbara Channel.

From then on, life was different in Santa Barbara. The Spaniards governed the area until 1822, when California became a Mexican territory. Thus Chumash, Spanish, Mexican, and North American influences merged together, forming a unique blend of language and culture.

Santa Barbara remained a sleepy pueblo until the late 1800s, when wealthy easterners, after reading rave newspaper descriptions of the wonderful climate, hot and cold springs, and relaxing atmosphere, came for vacation.

For a short period, Santa Barbara was even the film capital of the world! In 1910, before the motion picture industry centralized in Hollywood, the American Film Company opened the Flying A Studio on the corner of State and Mission streets. The studio was the largest of its kind in the world for many years. More than 1200 movies (mostly westerns) were made in the studio's ten-year life span.

Though Santa Barbara ceased to be the center of the motion picture industry, it continued to be a favorite get-away destination for film stars and other celebrities. Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford owned property in the Santa Barbara hills.

In 1928, Charlie Chaplin built the Montecito Inn to cater to the Hollywood crowd of the roaring twenties. Actor Ronald Colman and Alvin Weingand bought the stylish San Ysidro Ranch resort in 1935, operating it as an exclusive hideaway for friends and guests such as Bing Crosby, Jack Benny, Audrey Hepburn and Groucho Marx. Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier were married at the Ranch, and in 1953, John and Jacqueline Kennedy spent part of their honeymoon there.

As you explore Santa Barbara for the first time, you will notice many reminders of its colorful past: old adobes with quiet courtyards; streets that bear names of historical figures; and the Mediterranean-style architecture that dominates the town, inspired by the Spanish residences of the city's early years. All these pay tribute to the unique circumstances that created the Santa Barbara we know today - a resort known around the world for its very special character.

Santa Barbara architecture has a style all its own, a mixture of Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, early California/Mexican, Monterey, Moorish, and Islamic.

Buildings have low-pitched tile roofs, plaster walls in warm earth tones, arched facades, scenic enclosed patios, and wrought-iron embellishments. However, Santa Barbara didn't always look like this.

A population boom in the late 1800s brought with it a variety of architectural styles, introducing Victorian architecture and other designs. A legacy of that period and a Victorian landmark, the Upham Hotel remains the oldest continually operating hotel in Southern California.

Concerned citizens began a beautification movement to develop an Hispanic Mediterranean image in the city in 1880; this movement continued into the 20th century. In 1925, a severe earthquake destroyed much of downtown Santa Barbara. This otherwise tragic event determined modern Santa Barbara's unified look.

A temporary Architectural Review Board was created immediately. The board was able to establish lasting guidelines for construction which reflected the city's Spanish/Mediterranean links. An official Architectural Board of Review was established in 1946 - a powerful entity which still reviews all renovation and construction plans for the city.

Dr. Pearl Chase, Santa Barbara philanthropist and longtime head of the Architectural Board of Review, is credited with being the most powerful force behind the city beautification movement. Dr. Chase persuaded oil, rail, and other companies to conform to the new "Santa Barbara look." Led by Miss Chase, citizens promoted the planting and preservation of exotic trees and landscaping. They also contributed money to build the Cabrillo Bathhouse and the Yacht Harbor. Miss Chase continued her civic efforts with vigor for well over 60 years. In honor of her invaluable contribution to the city, her name was given to Chase Palm Park.