Picturesque Santa Barbara, with its overwhelmingly mission revival style architecture, is the seat of Santa Barbara County, California, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It has a climate akin to the Mediterranean coast, and as such is sometimes called the "American Riviera". Santa Barbara has a long history, beginning with the Chumash Indians who lived there before the Spanish settlers came and built the Santa Barbara Mission in 1786. In the intervening years, Santa Barbara has risen as one of the jewels of California's coast, and one of its most expensive places to live. For the visitor, it offers numerous arts and entertainment activities, as well as educational and cultural opportunities in the form of museums, world renowned gardens, theater, music and film.
