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Welcome to Santa Barbara & Montecito
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The magical gardens of Lotus Land.
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Santa Barbara-by-the-Sea in southern California, just over an hours' drive from Los Angeles, must be one of the lovliest towns in the world. While the beaches are white and lovely, pleasure boats bobbing out to sea, young people playing volley ball, surfing or just lying in the sun, would be enough to make this location perfect not to mention it's climate, the architecture that is all a variation of a Spanish base, the tree-lined State Street, the laid back, leisurely way of life, the world class shopping in malls that are more like small villages than shopping malls, not to mention the cubby-hole shops all over town make this place very special indeed.
The Mission establishes a history to the valley. The colleges and universities fill the town with young people that imbues a vibrant energy of youth. Sidewalk cafés abound for people
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watching. Specialty coffee shops, bakeries, ice cream parlors....and the list goes on.
The pier is loaded with restaurants from which to watch the sunset over the Pacific and the last of the fishing boats returning with their navigation lights twinkling. The bike path along the beach is heaven for skaters, bikers, walkers. You can even rent 4 person peddle "surreys" by the hour.
Galleries, antique shops, museums, theatres, music festivals all offer much of interest and fun. Greater Santa Barbara enfolds the townships of Goleta to the north, the exclusive enclave of Monticito and Sunland to the south, and even further north lies Santa Ynez valley with its fine wine regions, upscale ranches and horse raising.
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The Eucalyptus lined main street of Monticito
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Beach at the Santa Barbara Biltmore Four Seasons
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The Empress Palace Chinese Cuisine, Santa Barbara, California, USA
This great Chinese restaurant is Santa Barbara's best kept secret! Serving Hong Kong, Cantonese & Szechuan Cuisine with a focus on seafood and barbecue cooking, this is food filled with the rich tastes only really good chefs (from Canton on the mainland) working with very fresh and high quality ingredients can achieve.
One and a half Chef Rating.
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San Ysidro Ranch-Hotel, Montecito, California, USA *****
This old California retreat is a gold Relais & Chateaux country retreat. Its ambiance is understated, upscale country with a lived in feel, your own cottage away from home with all amienities and excellent food with your having to lift a finger. A tranquille, lush garden setting surrounded by California Oaks and Eucalyptus.
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Tratoria Mollie, Montecito, California, USA
This fine Italian restaurant offers the best Italian cuisine in the Santa Barbara area. Mollie who trained many years in the best of Italian restaurants, brings her talent and professionalism to Montecito. Her home baked breads are to die for.
Two Chef Rating.
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Pan é Vino & Via Vai, Montecito, California, USA
Good authentic everyday cooking from all over Italy. Great country soups, superb thin crust pizzas served on wooden platters, pastas done just right, herbed chicken lovely. All served at both restaurants inside or out by an Italian serving staff to give the right ambience.
One Chef Rating.
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D'Angelo - Bakery & Restaurant, Santa Barbara, California USA
A Mediterranean Bistro with fresh, delicious food from breakfast to dinner. Eat inside or on the patio. A definite find and unexpectedly good food in a what seems like just an upscale coffee shop from the outside. Some of the best bread south of San Francisco.
One Chef Rating for Restaurant
Three Chef Rating Bakery.
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Pascucci, Santa Barbara, California USA
A lively Oyster Bar on one side and a more sedate Seafood Grill on the other, these two restaurants in one offer some of the best and freshest fish dishes in Northern California.
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