Tourists from all over the world come to Santa Barbara for various reasons and now they have another. The report says that Santa Barbara only experiences 6 days below freezing out of the year and only 3 days above 90 degrees with an average of as few as 79 cloudy days per year.

Santa Barbara’s Museum Mile is an easy way to visit the city’s 12 downtown museums while enjoying fresh cuisine and local spirits along the way. From State Street to the waterfront, Santa Barbara offers vibrant, enriching experiences for all ages.

Along State Street, The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum holds some of the world’s largest collections of original documents. Peruse the work of Beethoven to Darwin at this local favorite before heading across the way to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. This stop boasts more Monet paintings than any other West Coast museum, and will be sure to impress even art aficionados. Immerse yourself in Santa Barbara’s rich, Spanish history at the preserved Casa de la Guerra and El Presidio De Santa Barbara State Historic Park. 

Take a stroll in the stunning courtyards at the nearby Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which pay homage to the romance of early Spanish California. 

Kids and adults will love stopping into the quirky Susan Quinlan Doll & Teddy Bear Museum & Library and Santa Barbara Carriage Museum as you make your way down to the waterfront. Once there, find Santa Barbara’s newest museum, MOXI—a creative playground for all ages. This world-class museum combines creativity and the sciences with hands-on learning..  From there, dive into wonders of the sea with Santa Barbara’s Maritime Museum and Santa Barbara’s Museum of Natural History Sea Center.

National Geographic has ranked the Santa Barbara region as one of the happiest cities in the United States.

Dan Buettner, National Geographic, Gallup and New York Times best-selling author and National Geographic explorer, has announced the 25 Happiest Cities in the United States, based on The National Geographic/Blue Zones Index.

The Index was specifically developed to measure a population’s happiness based on 15 metrics including civic engagement, walkability and healthful food options.

Santa Barbara ranks as No. 12 on the list.

In National Geographic’s November cover story and newly published The Blue Zones of Happiness, Buettner reveals the rest of the world’s happiest places, and explains environmental and lifestyle factors that contribute to the overall happiness in these geographic regions.

Buettner, National Geographic and Gallup developed a methodology for measuring where Americans are living their happiest lives.

Eight of the 25 cities recognized are in California.

The City of Santa Barbara Transportation Division of the Public Works Department has recently developed a Real-Time Parking web application that provides up to date parking availability for all of the Downtown Parking lot locations. The Real-Time Parking web application is accessible through all internet connected devices, either using your home computer, tablet, or a friendly mobile version if you’re on the go using your smart phone.

Updated every 15 seconds, the public can now view how many spaces are currently available in the parking lot nearest to their destination. For visitors and shoppers not familiar with downtown Santa Barbara, the Real-Time Parking interactive map will sync with their phone’s GPS to provide turn-by-turn driving directions to the parking lot of their choice. Whether you’re a local making your way downtown for Fiestas, or a tourist visiting for the weekend, the Downtown Parking Program now has made it even easier to find the parking lot that best suits your destination.

View the Real-Time Parking Web App here: SantaBarbaraCA.gov/RealTimeParking

Goleta Named as One of the 50 Safest Cities in California

The City of Goleta is once again being recognized as one of the safest places to live in California, according to a study conducted by SafeWise. Goleta placed in the top 50 safest cities in California, coming in at number 50. In order to compile this list, SafeWise uses recent FBI crime data and takes into consideration factors such as security programs and initiatives.

“The City of Goleta has always placed a high priority on public safety and it is rewarding to see our efforts acknowledged once again,” said Mayor Paula Perotte.  “I believe the close connections between law enforcement and the community are a significant contributing factor in creating the safe community we enjoy.  I would also like to recognize the efforts of our Goleta Police Department.  Their dedication and vigilance is commendable.”

This is just one of several times that the City of Goleta has been recognized as an exceptionally safe community. For instance, in 2013, Neighborhood Scout ranked Goleta as number 95 in a list of the safest cities in the entire United States and SafeWise ranked Goleta as the 22nd safest city in California.

Since the City of Goleta was incorporated in 2002, the City has contracted with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services and protection.

To see the SafeWise list of the 50 Safest Cities in California, explore http://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-California-2015/.

State Street in Santa Barbara Designated as One of ‘10 Great Streets’ in America

The American Planning Association has announced that State Street in Santa Barbara has earned the designation as one of the 10 Great Streets in America. Since Great Places in America was launched in 2007, APA has designated 230 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces. Places are announced annually and represent the gold standard in terms of having a true sense of place, cultural and historical interest, community involvement, and a vision for tomorrow.

“Recognizing these special places highlights the role planning plays in adding value to communities,” said William Anderson, FAICP, president of APA. “Planners, working with others, help build better communities in a variety of settings, from urban to rural; the result - better neighborhoods, cities, and regions. We applaud these efforts and congratulate this year’s designees.”