Santa Barbara Downtown, California

Santa Barbara is snuggled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains on California's central coast. With a climate similar to the south of France, it is nicknamed the "American Riviera." This laid-back community is accessed by scenic Highway 101. Mission Santa Barbara, the "Queen of the Missions," was founded in 1786 among the Native American Chumash-Barbareño tribe. The mission- style white walls with red tile roofs of the downtown are representative of the area's architecture. Today the city has a population of just over 88,000 and is a favorite among the more than seven million tourists who visit each year.