Walk With Me

September 24, 2023

High on the Lower Riviera

With its hillside location, streets that split, marvelous stonework, and oodles of quirk, the Lower Riviera is a quintessential Santa Barbara neighborhood—and yet few visitors explore it. 13

August 9, 2023

Campanil Is a Neighborhood in Flux

The area east of Hope Ranch was developed in the early 1970s, and many of the original houses have been getting replaced with contemporary architecture, resulting in a delightful kind of whiplash. 12

July 9, 2023

Out and Back on Ortega Ridge

As any driver knows, the views on Ortega Ridge Road are delightful whether you're headed toward the coast or the mountains. But you see a whole lot more when you walk it. 3

May 14, 2023

The Upper Upper East Is Busting Out All Over

With everything abloom, it's as if someone put an Instagram filter over the tip of the Upper East, ramping up the beauty on an already beautiful place. 3

April 16, 2023

Where the Eastside Meets the Lower Riviera

The streets around Diana Road and Diana Lane, where quintessential Santa Barbara architect Alex D'Alfonso built a microneighborhood, make for some of the city's most rewarding walking. 7

March 12, 2023

Scaling the Heights of Las Alturas

There's nowhere to hide when cars come around a corner, so snaking your way up the Riviera involves some risk. But the fabulous houses of all styles and jaw-dropping views in every direction more than compensate. 10

February 5, 2023

A Country Stroll on El Sueno Road

El Sueno Road is just outside Santa Barbara city limits, but it feels farther away—and it makes for a quick, fun excursion. 12

January 1, 2023

Walking in Circles in Alta Mesa

Quirkiness abounds in the area around Skyline Circle, with higgledy-piggledy streets, a panoply of architecture styles, and the little details that make a neighborhood feel unique.

October 27, 2022

In the Footsteps of Old Santa Barbara

Objectively speaking, there can't be a single best neighborhood in Santa Barbara. Subjectively, the Presidio wins hands down. Its nine square blocks have more character than most Southern California towns. 17

September 14, 2022

Brinkerhoff, Bradley, and Beyond

The part of downtown in the crook of Highway 101 has off-the-charts charm—as well as a savory dash of quirk. 8