Goleta
Population: 77,400
Goleta, home to University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, hugs the coast about 12 miles west of Santa Barbara. The Spaniards initially named the place "The Good Land", but the official name changed to Goleta after a schooner with the same moniker arrived here in 1822.
Sniff. Is that the scent of lemon you detect wafting through the air? Yep. Lemon orchards once dominated the landscape; they're still here, and Goleta celebrates those lemons in a big way during the California Lemon Festival in October. Lemons aren't the only produce that's fêted in Goleta. A cornucopia of culinary delights is harvested from Goleta's fertile farms and sustainable gardens and served up in area restaurants and local farmers' markets year round. Wash it all down with locally brewed beers at Hollister Brewing Company, a big player in Santa Barbara's burgeoning microbrew scene.
Head for Goleta for outdoor adventures: Fish on the pier, surf at Campus Point, kayak and spot wildlife in the Goleta Slough, and hike on the bluffs above miles of beaches. Kids - take your parents to the Goleta Valley Depot and Railroad Museum to ride a miniature train, and walk the grounds around Stow House, a restored 1890s Victorian.
When planning your stay in the Santa Barbara area, keep in mind that Goleta hotels deliver accommodations to meet any taste or budget, from luxury locations to the discount names you know and trust. With so many things to do and see along The American Riviera®, you're sure to be satisfied no matter where you stay.
