Santa Barbara: Stunningly Romantic
By Andrew Collins

Given Santa Barbara's somewhat conservative, quietly affluent reputation, it surprises some people that the city has a sizable lesbian and gay community - there's even a well-attended Gay Pride Festival each May, and then for a week in June, more than 125 rainbow flags are hoisted downtown in honor of Gay and Lesbian Heritage Month. Of course, this is a blissful place to live or visit no matter your sexual orientation, so its popularity among gay folks shouldn't shock anybody. Although there's very little in the way of gay nightlife, the region exudes romance - it's ideal for stealing away with your significant other for a few days of carefree rest and relaxation. The stunning historic architecture, lush landscaping, and posh hotels are big draws, as are the gold-sand beaches, rugged mountains, and sunny year-round climate.

Some critics claim the area has lost its appeal because it's become too "discovered," especially the Wine Country of northern Santa Barbara County, which was immortalized in the movie Sideways. But the city and the surrounding countryside still look spectacularly beautiful without feeling overly touristy or excessively developed, and the region remains stellar for great dining and wine-tasting, and hiking, biking, and exploring the outdoors. As an added benefit, it's less than a two-hour drive north of America's second largest city, Los Angeles.

No visit to Santa Barbara is complete without a stroll along the waterfront, particularly around Stearns Wharf, which has several shops and restaurants. A paved bike trail (also good for blading and jogging) runs along the shoreline, passing close by the Andree Clark Bird Refuge - a lagoon that draws more than 220 bird species - and the Santa Barbara Zoological Garden.

State Street is the city's main commercial drag, a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare lined with shops and restaurants. Be sure to stop by the compact but reasonably impressive Santa Barbara Museum of Art, whose highlights include French Impressionist, German Expressionist, and regional American works, plus numerous antiquities.

Just a bit farther afield, nestled at the base of the Santa Ynez Foothills, the Santa Barbara Mission has one of the most dramatic exteriors of any in California. You can walk through the church and amid lush grounds, which include a colorful rose garden. From here it's a five-minute drive north to the fine Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and still a couple of miles north to the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden, the jewel of the city's plethora of gardens and parks. Several miles of trails traverse this 60-acre tract of exquisite landscaping.

Everybody who visits Santa Barbara seems to talk about the glorious shopping and dining. Santa Barbarans, on the other hand, talk more about the outdoors. There is much to see and do in the omnipresent mountains and rivers. Hiking, surfing, and kayaking are extremely popular pastimes, and the region has famously picturesque and tidy beaches. Just about any stretch of sand in the area is lively and fun, but the most popular spot for gays is Padaro Beach, off Padaro Lane in the village of Summerling.
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