This is Santa Barbara (+ Montecito + Summerland + Goleta)

When I moved back to California in 2023, a very chic white-haired car salesman on the east side of SB walked up to me and asked if I had heard what they say about Santa Barbara. “No…” I replied, still thawing out from Paris. He smiled back and pointed upwards towards the beaming sunshine: “We don’t live in paradise, but we’re in the same zip code.”

He was right. Santa Barbara is the closest place to paradise I’ve ever lived. It can also be a very fraught place, with palpable and visible tension (between locals and newcomers, between the wealthy and the poor). The area also feels fragile — prone to flooding, mudslides and fire. It’s impossible to ignore the way the coastline is crumbling, and just how quickly. But on a perfect sunny morning at the farmer’s market, everyone is just so happy to be there. And so was I.

My mom lives in SB, which is the reason we moved there, and my daughter was born at Cottage Hospital, so this city holds a very special place in my heart. SB is full of people, places, and things I love, and I'm excited to share them with you.

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE:

+A carefully curated edit of my favorite places to visit, shop, eat, swim, and relax. On the food list: the best pizza, the best BBQ, the best burger, the best pastry, the best bread, the best breakfast, the best fish and chips, the best fish tacos, the best birthday cakes, and many more.

+ALL of my pregnancy/baby resources, including my OB/GYN, lactation consultant, pediatric OT, pediatrician, acupuncturist, parents groups, where to get scans, where to buy baby supplies, etc

+Trusted services/contractors for daily life things, like: tailor, dog grooming, electrician, plumber, real estate agent, notary, shipping services, etc

+Pre-schools/parent-child workshops - We did a ton of our own research and spoke with all our parent friends in SB about the various options, and we landed on a few wonderful places.

I will continue to update this as I discover new places!