Santa Barbara
- Lucian@going2paris.net
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
February 26, 2026
2PM (about 90 minutes behind schedule)
Train stop here. Lordy, this city is beautiful. Lots of memories of staying near UCSB and seeing all the surfers in the ocean.
I Googled “places like Santa Barbara” and got the following:
Places similar to Santa Barbara offer a blend of Mediterranean-style architecture, coastal, and charming downtown areas, primarily along California's Central Coast. Top alternatives include Ventura, Carpinteria, Goleta, and San Luis Obispo for a similar vibe, or Carmel-by-the-Sea for a more quaint, storybook feel.
Here are the best places similar to Santa Barbara:
Ventura: A nearby, slightly more affordable coastal town with a charming downtown, pier, and, like Santa Barbara, a great, walkable, beach-town feel.
Carpinteria: Located just south of Santa Barbara, this town offers a, tighter-knit, smaller-town, and more relaxed atmosphere, known for the \"World's Safest Beach\".
Goleta: Situated immediately to the north, this is often considered a, more affordable and quieter, family-friendly alternative with larger spaces but similar coastal access.
San Luis Obispo (SLO): Located slightly further north, this, inland town offers a, similar, historic charm, with close, proximity to beaches, vineyards, and a, thriving, downtown, scene.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: Known for its, , fairy-tale, cottages, walkable, streets, and, upscale, European-style, charm, it offers, a, similar,, luxurious, coastal, lifestyle.
Pismo Beach/Avila Beach: These Central Coast towns provide, more, affordable, options, with, classic, beach, vibes, and, scenic,, pier-side, dining.
Summerland: A, small, coastal, village, offering, a, quiet,, upscale, atmosphere, with, beautiful,, antique, shops, and, ocean, views.
Ojai: Similar in, aesthetic, with, Spanish-style, architecture, and, a, relaxed, lifestyle, but, situated, slightly, inland, in, a, mountain, valley.
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