WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL
COAST
LIFESTYLE
With ocean
and mountain beauty, the Spanish and historical flavor, friendly residents, and
freedom from urban crowds, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties offer a
rare quality of life. The picturesque town of San Luis Obispo was selected by USA
Today as the "most desirable micropolitan” city. Santa Barbara serves as one of California’s
most desirable seaside communities. Offering some of the best Institutions of
higher education, a temperate climate around the four seasons, and a
world-class wine country add to the region's considerable magnetism. Nearly 100
miles of stunning coastline, attracts surfers, kayakers, boating enthusiasts,
and sailors. Road and mountain biking sites are abundant, and the county hosts
many popular competitive events.
The
county's character and breathtaking coastal vistas are the ideal complement to
some of it’s small-town friendliness and relaxed pace.
The Charles Paddock Zoo, San Luis Obispo Children's Museum, and Morro Bay's
Natural History Museum are some of the highlights on a long list of family
attractions. More than 80 wineries offer prize-winning selections and current
releases, while the peerless majesty of Hearst Castle built by newspaper
magnate William Randolph Hearst in the early 1900s never fails to amaze
visitors with its opulence and artistry. Other highlights include historic
missions, galleries, premier golf courses, abundant wildlife, and colorful
annual events. The marina at Santa Barbara is home to beautiful boats and hosts
an annual boat festival.
A bustling
local art scene makes the region a stimulating cultural retreat brimming over
with art galleries and cultural experiences. Live-stage performances and major
productions are showcased at the various regional performing arts centers and on
the campus of California Polytechnic University. Musical performances,
theatrical acts, and local fare fill the calendar with exciting dates to
remember. From the bounty of farmers markets to antique shops and boutiques,
this area offers cosmopolitan shopping experiences in a quiet setting. For the
ultimate in California coastal and rural living, this region is unparalleled as
a beautiful and comfortable place to call home.
SERVICES
Serene and
beautiful, fast-growing Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties offer
exceptionally attractive communities that are nestled between the ocean and the
mountains. Newcomers will be delighted with the rare blend of "big
city" culture and sophistication with small-town friendliness and warmth.
Healthcare services and facilities in this region are outstanding, anchored by
a network of hospitals within the Cottage Health System that include Santa
Barbara Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage
Hospital, and Cottage Children's Hospital in Santa Barbara County. In San Luis
Obispo County healthcare is provided by Arroyo Grande Community Hospital,
French Hospital Medical Center, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, and Twin
Cities Community Hospital.
Students of
all ages can look forward to an outstanding education in the region, where
quality public schools are complemented by a number of options for private
education. Vocation and career training, college-track programs, and continuing
education courses are available within two community college systems, Allan
Hancock College and Santa Barbara City College. The latter serves the south
coast of Santa Barbara County and is recognized as one of the leading two-year
public institutions in the nation, attracting students with an outstanding
faculty, small classes, and state-of-the-art facilities. Several private
colleges are available in this area as well, including Antioch University Santa
Barbara, Brooks Institute of Photography, Fielding Graduate University, Santa
Barbara Business College, Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine, and
Westmont College.