Santa Barbara, CA

This gem sits on the shores of the Pacific, about an hour north of LA. Fog swirls in and out from the ocean. Palm trees stand in long solitary lines, guarding the beach front. The buildings are single story and stucco, tastefully painted and fringed with red brick. Behind the town, the hills climb and dip off to the horizon.

Residents and tourists wander the cobbled pavements, window shopping with a latte in hand. Santa Barbara feels like Arcadia personified. It's warm and balmy; the weather is always good. The food is fresh and tasty, as if plucked straight from the field or ocean. The people are bronzed, relaxed, happy, and generally retired. Sitting back sipping a cold Modela Negro as the sun sets, it's hard not to be seduced by California's gentle embrace.