Santa Barbara

"Santa Barbara is so full of history, you can't throw a stick without hitting history around here," boasts historian and author Neal Graffy. From the native Chumash to Spanish explorers to American settlers, this Mediterranean slice of California coast has a rich past that dates back thousands of years. And there's no better way to follow in the footsteps of history than to travel the California Coastal Trail. Established approximately along original trade routes that connected oceanside settlements, the trail offers the chance to wander the coast like early explorers. Whether toured by bike or on foot, Santa Barbara and the California Coastal Trail are windows into a fascinating past and glimpses of a bright, interconnected future.