Lifestyle / Things to Do
Summer Art, Festivals and Culture in Santa Barbara CA!!!
Categories: Community Events, Lifestyle / Things to Do
One of the amazing luxuries of living in Santa Barbara is the amount of culture and art that exists here. As the summer approaches for 2008, I wanted to point out a few of my favorite cultural highlights that I think should not be missed.
Music Acadamy of the West is a wonderful venue to see live orchestra and intimate concerts. The Music Academy of the West has been recognized “as one of the world’s preeminent summer music programs for gifted pre-professional classical musicians.” Their festivities kick off June 23rd.
The Lobero is a great venue to see live performing arts including music, dance and theatre. The Lobero Theatre is a huge asset to our community as a place for performing arts.
The Santa Barbara Bowl has been a major stop on the circuit for all musicians and for many of them it is one of the top 2 small venues in the entire country to perform. It is the largest outdoor amphitheater in Santa Barbara with around a capacity of 4500. Festivities kick off in June with upcoming acts such as Robert Plant, James Taylor, The Gipsy Kings and more.
Nights is a cultural stop at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art one night a month. Live music and performances, art exhibits and activities and multi-sensory delights. Upcoming Dates are June 19th, July 17th, August 21 and September 18.
First Thursday is a new and very enjoyable program highlighting downtown arts, entertainment and culture on the first Thursday of each month from 5-8 p.m. You can collect a venue map at most all locations. Stroll with friends from location to location for a wonderful night out to enjoy free access to art in a fun and social environment.
Further Reading: Treat Your Kitchen’s Home to Food from The Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market, The Secret of The Santa Barbara Channel Islands, Looking for an Active Vacation in The Beach Town of Santa Barbara?
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Will Santa Barbara’s Beloved Rincon Point Real Estate Switch to Sewer in the Near Future?
Categories: Carpinteria, Lifestyle / Things to Do, Real Estate News, The Oceanfront Areas
Nearing 10 years of at times rather heated controversy, the debate to switch from Septic to Sewer at Rincon Point has taken a large step to becoming a reality. Rincon Point is home to one of the best waves in all of California and definitely stirs up emotions for many when talking about the health of the ocean. Ethan Stewart, from The Independent, has written a very informative article about the latest up to date developments.
For many, Rincon is the pride and joy when it comes to the ocean for many locals both here in Santa Barbara and in Ventura. A laid back small beach enclave for many years, Rincon Point has seen its real estate values increase in the last few years to an average of $5-8 Million for ocean front property.
View Updated Closed Sales for Rincon Real Estate 2007 and 2008.
View Current List of Active Beachfront Homes for Sale. If you would like further specific information about beach front communities or beachfront real estate, please let me know.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to contact me or comment below with any thoughts.
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Looking for an Active Vacation in the Beach Town of Santa Barbara?
Categories: Lifestyle / Things to Do
Santa Barbara has a long history (at least from and American perspective) of being a playground for the rich and famous. During the turn of the century, Charlie Chaplin arrived in our small seaside town to make movies for the American Film Company’s Flying A Studio…at the time the world’s largest motion picture studio.
For the next century, many affluent people as well as Hollywood’s elite have vacationed, married, and honeymooned in our Spanish-style beach town. Among the celebrities that now call Santa Barbara home are Ty Warner, Jonathan Winters, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Oprah and many more. But the town of Santa Barbara is not just a hideaway and playground for the wealthy.
For many, a visit to Santa Barbara is viewed as a top vacation spot for the active minded person. The abundant natural beauty, topography and a “perfect” climate offer not just diverse scenery, but numerous recreational opportunities ranging from cycling, rock climbing and hiking to in-line skating, golfing, horseback riding and numerous water-sport activities.
The American Riviera has most angles covered for the adventurous tourist.
Great Santa Barbara Cycling Day Trips
1) The hills throughout Hope Ranch 2) The Waterfront from Hope Ranch towards Summerland 3) Back Roads of Montecito and Carpinteria 4) Highway 150 from Carpinteria towards Ojai
Great Santa Barbara Rock Climbing
1) San Ysidro Crag 2) Gibralter Rock and LieBack Annie 3) Lizard’s Mouth 4) Fire Crags 5) The Brickyard
Great Santa Barbara Hikes
1) Tunnel Trail 2) Inspiration Point 3) Coldsprings Trail 4) McMenemy Trail 5) Rattlesnake Trail
Great Santa Barbara Surfing Spots
(this truly varies on the swell, season and tides etc.)
1) Rincon 2) Sandspit 3) Leadbetter - for just learning 4) Mesa Lane 5) Santa Claus Lane
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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Tour of California comes to Santa Barbara Again
Categories: Lifestyle / Things to Do, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Wine Country
Once again the Amgen Tour of California will make its way to the Santa Barbara area, with the individual time trial this Friday the 22nd of February in Solvang and the beginning of stage six starting in Santa Barbara the following day.
Many locals are extatic each year to see the race come through our neighborhoods. Over the last many years with the fame of Lance Armstrong, the Santa Barbara area has become a biking destination and training area for many professional riders. I myself have viewed the race twice and was overly impressed. One year we lined oursleves on the sprint down in front of Shoreline Park and were truly overwhelmed at the speeds reached. Another great aspect of the race is the few hours preceding the start of the stage the following morning. You can gather down on Cabrillo Boulevard and for the most part engage riders with some small talk and questions, gaze at equipment, take some pictures and simply experience a good amount of what goes on with the team’s preparations.
The time trial begins at noon on Friday and is expected to take most riders about three hours to complete.
The 105-mile stage six of the tour is a long stage beginning in Santa Barbara on Cabrillo Boulevard between Garden Street and Calle Caesar Chavez on Feb. 23 at 11 a.m. For the first time in 3 years, the stage will wind through downtown Carpinteria as well.
The eight-day tour started in wet weather this year in Palo Alto on Feb. 17 with the prologue going to Juan Jose Haedo of Argentina. The final stage concludes Feb. 24 in Pasadena.
Links: Amgen Tour of California, Tour of California - Solvang (shows many of the best viewing spots for the time trial here locally)
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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The Secret of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands
Categories: Lifestyle / Things to Do
Hop aboard Santa Barbara’s The Condor Express, schedule a trip with Santa Barbara Adventure Company or hitch a ride on a local fishing boat…Good Luck!! However you manage, schedule a trip out into the Santa Barbara Channel and the Channel Islands.
One of the most scenic and enjoyable natural features of the Santa Barbara coastline is the local Santa Barbara Channel Islands. Located approximately 25 miles from Santa Barbara, the islands provide you with a great experience each and every visit. Unless you have your own boat though, you are pretty much sequestered to the 3 main Islands of Santa Cruz (the largest), Santa Rosa and Anacapa.
The crossing itself is filled with adventure and almost a guaranteed sighting of dolphins. Depending on the season, spotting whales in their natural migration is also very common. Once you reach the islands themselves, there is plenty to offer for the first time visitors from kayaking in sea caves, to nature hikes, to snorkeling and diving, to studying nature, to overnight camping.
Lined with seabirds, seals and rocky shores, kayaking the local Santa Barbara Channel Islands provides for a great adventure filled day. Personally, this is my favorite adventure at the Islands. I have kayaked several times on both Anacapa and Santa Rosa and recommend them both highly. Unless you are a very experienced kayaker, take a guide with you. Currents are strong and can and do change. A one-day trip is plenty for a first time visitor and usually starts around 8 a.m. and finishes around 5 p.m.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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Your Santa Barbara Weekend Home Getaway
Categories: Community Events, Lifestyle / Things to Do, Santa Barbara
For those longing for the feeling of getting away from Santa Barbara for a few days, a favorite weekend away for many has been El Capitan Canyon. This “luxury campground” is located only about a 25 minutes north of Santa Barbara CA and 15 minutes north of Goleta. The picturesque and semi rustic location in a seaside pocket on 300 plus acres on the Pacific coast, the nature lodging experience at El Capitan Canyon was created for those needing a few days to unwind, relax and touch base with nature.
The combination of many traditional resort amenities with the minimalism of the overall experience, El Capitan Canyon has created a pure comfort form many couples as well as families to come to enjoy. A small rustic home away from your Santa Barbara home, El Capitan is a return to many of life’s simple beauties.
Starting in April and continuing through early October, the Saturday night canyon concert series is one of my favorite excursions out of Santa Barbara. The intimate “concerts” are held in a great open-air venue in El Capitan Canyon that is extremely kid friendly with a huge outdoor fire pit and lawn area. You will find children roasting marshmallows over the open fire, people talking and dancing, while others are stuffing their bellies from the huge BBQ that is grilled up each time. You are also allowed to bring your own personal pick-nick baskets and drinks.
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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Treat your Kitchen’s Home to Food from The Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market
Categories: Community Events, Green Living, Lifestyle / Things to Do
The local Santa Barbara Certified Farmer’s Market is simply a huge blessing and treat for all those who live in the Santa Barbara area. Founded in 1983, the local Farmer’s Market was established to provide California farmers with the ability to directly access a market for their agricultural products to the local community. For the Santa Barbara community, it has provided a tasty and entertaining way to help support are local farmers, the environment, as well as put great food into our homes. Prepare yourself to come across several unusual fruits and vegetables you have never seen before. Innovative growers come up with many various hybrids of more common foods we are used to. This feeling of discovery is often one of the unique joys each week of visiting the Farmer’s Market.
For many, the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market has helped enhance a grassroots sense of community. Strolling from booth to booth, sampling food, listening to live music and entertainment and inevitably running into friends, the Farmer’s Market is a terrific addition to the Santa Barbara community’s quality of life.
Winter and Summer hours for the Farmer’s Market vary as well as produce depending on the season, so it is best to take a look at the website to find out the latest information.
• Sundays: Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta
• Tuesdays: Old Town Santa Barbara at the 500 and 600 blocks of State Street
• Wednesdays: La Cumbre Plaza; Solvang Village
• Thursdays: Goleta at the 5700 block of Calle Real; Carpinteria at the 800 block of Linden Avenue
• Fridays: Montecito at the 1100 and 1200 block of Coast Village Road
• Saturdays: Downtown at Cota and Santa Barbara streets
Kevin Schmidtchen - Thank you for reading. I hope you find Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice informative. Please feel free to comment below with any thoughts.
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