Santa Barbara, California, United States of America - The American Riviera
Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara is a solid vacation destination with its wide beaches, renowned wineries, and some of California's finest shopping and dining options. Located just over 100 mi from Los Angeles, the city is one of the country's most affluent urban centres, its economy resting on the service sector, education, health care, finance, technology, and tourism. Santa Barbara is home to five major colleges, housing a young student population that serves as a counterbalance to the area's older retirement communities. Just beyond the city lies a vast national forest, its protected wilderness areas sheltering several threatened and endangered species.
