So...

...You've just arrived at UCSB, SBCC, Westmont or Brooks. “‘Bye, [insert name of Relationship that just forever changed], who gave me a ride… Hooo boy…“ For most people in this circumstance, the Santa Barbara area seems big and confusing. Nothing could be further from the truth -- or further than about a half-hour to get to!!! Take a deep breath, and know that you have chosen well -- very, very well. If your world seems suddenly to be about four walls big, then you've come to the right places -- Santa Barbara, and this “Inside” page! This will help get you started on the wonders and fun of SB... ;-)

This page is devoted to you - and this is unlike any other TripAdvisor Inside page for any other locale - because you are a part of the largest group that starts out as "visitors" to Santa Barbara (and we're going to begin changing that, right now).

CAVEAT: You might find this tilted a little toward UCSB people. Why?? Because much of what's here is right outside for SBCC people, and just down the hill from Brooks and Westmont -- e.g., you're right in the middle of it and you simply will wander into a lot of it within the next week. UCSB has its own nearby haunts, but it's a bus ride into Town. (But ONLY a FREE **rememberyougetitwithyourstudentfees** 1/2 hr. bus ride!!!)  SBCC people, the bus runs both directions. You knew that. If not, there‘ll be a test -- below and on Halloween.  Remember:  Bus 24X.

OK, the first thing you probably want to know about is nightlife -- No??? Well, there is a Nightlife page that's part of TA’s Inside Santa Barbara, and it's got all the " devil-in-the-details". So, we'll just talk here about the highlights -- get you oriented. You can look there for details. And another CAVEAT: Unlike that page, much of this one is not about watering holes or where to get handles, because practically speaking, that’s useless to at least half of the people reading, since we’re talking about going out.   Now, to your first class...

Orientation 1:

The major areas… There's State Street, Santa Barbara's main drag. There's Lower State and Upper State.  Lower State is the heart of the night in SB. Upper State has restos (all kinds) and pubs. Closer to UCSB, there's I.V.  There's Storke Plaza shopping center -- um, over on Storke -- aka "Marketplace". There's Calle Real (a street) just over on the east side of the freeway. And there's Old Town Goleta -- on Hollister, mostly between Fairview and Patterson. Finally, back to square one for SBCC, Brooks and Westmont people - in case you need to be told - there's The Beach. Sand, long pier, boats, restos, views, all the usual that comes with beaches. But this is the least boring beach you will come to!!!

Duly noted that you may not have Attained the Age yet... So, "going out" usually = "food".  So, let's tend to that first. By area…

Lower State: The heart of the night… It Rocks… And it's got pretty much everything. All kinds of entertainment, prices, and styles -- even lots of stores. Festivals. Theaters (cinema). Theatres (live). Clubs. Funk. Pubs. Burgers. El Cheapo Restos. Expensive Restos. Meat/Potatoes (OK, steak). Barbecue. Ethnic (Mexican, seafood, Mexican, Chinese, Mexican, Italian, you get the point, Indian, Indonesian, Peruvian, sushi etc. etc., and multiples of some of these -- did we mention Mexican???). Indoor. Outdoor. And people-watching that doesn‘t stop until you do.

Safe, you don’t ask??? Very safe. But if your real worry is blisters, or carrying stuff until you get back, there are trolleys that do loops up and down State and along the beach that cost -- drumroll -- 25 cents a ride. Except for the busiest days of the year (beginning|end of school year, Old Spanish Fiesta Days, The 4th, Cinco de Mayo) The Powers That Be must waste money on them, because they’re not crowded.

Upper State: Upper State gets less intense the further up you go -- a lot less people strolling around looking cool and looking at each other. But still lots of restos, pubs, clubs, and Chuck’s (see below). And it has La Cumbre Plaza mall -- THE fashionista hub of SB. (OK… that’s not nightlife either. But admit it, for some, it‘s the life they‘ve always known, lol.)  

Isla Vista, aka "I.V.": UCSB students, it’s found you already. Legend has it that THIS is the real "Surf City". But that's a debate for another day.  [ More Believe It Or Nots: There is a granite marker on the Pardall sidewalk at the exact location of the master seed of all Kinko’s-es of the world… Yep, where it actually emerged from Middle Earth. I.V. is the place that the bank (Embarcadero Hall to you) burned in the ancient of days. In 1970, 5,000 people amassed on what was called “Perfect Park“ at the top of Embarcadero del Norte and Embarcadero del Mar to protest the war in Vietnam, and thus began the “Isla Vista Riots“, in which one person was shot to death. And Campus Point IS one of the Bomb surfing spots on the whole West Coast, don’t ask us, tipping the scale toward I.V. being the real Surf City… We digress.]

OK, legends are still being created, and you will play a part. Sure you’ve heard about Halloween???  No. The biggest party in Southern California? Extreme Nightlife?? Right here in little, literally edge-of-the-world, I.V.??? Well, don't be surprised when The Powers That Be turn night into day all over I.V. with the biggest Klieg lights you've ever been close to on All Hallows' Eve. And don't be surprised when your friends at Cal Poly, UCLA, USC, CSN, Santa Monica CC (!) -- even Westmont, USD, the Claremont and Lutheran Colleges -- call and wanna crash at your place that night, and the next. [SBCC, Brooks and Westmont people, here’s your first mid-term: The bus # is ___?] Then thanks to the other 60,000 (truth!!!) of your new best friends, the whole place morphs. This is why this is the only time - since the riots of the '70s - that the campus dorms go into total lockdown mode (keeping people OUT without legit ID, sign-in/out sheet, no friends over...OMG!!!)  All right, if you don’t live in a dorm, and your friends are down with getting up the next day (and they WILL have a car, right?) there’s…

Um, food…

I.V. has the easiest places to eat and hang -- morning, noon and all night long. The icon is Freebird’s - right at the crossroads - del Norte and Pardall - its aromas ready to pick you off - 24/7. Its burritos are The Bomb, and students are harsh critics. Aren't you? Well, maybe not in your own apartment, but you are if you're going out! I.V. has sandwich shops, ethnic, grocery stores, all within a couple of blocks. Within a week, you’ll be able to get to them with your eyes closed(!) For those who have Attained the Age, there are numerous handy pubs in I.V., as well. But so you don't get bored, there’s…

Storke Plaza: Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Japanese etc. -- restos you know by name, and some you don't. Most double as watering holes. (And an Albertson’s. And Rite Aid. And a Bed, Bath and Beyond. And a CompUSA!  And a KMART! And a HOME DEPOT!! And a COSTCO!!!) (OK, not nightlife.) And - yesssss - a 24-hr. drive-thru Jack-in-the-Box!!!! You will find yourself at Jack’s at O-dark-thirty more than once... You know you will… LOL

Calle Real: Over on the east side of the freeway. Lots of casual restos, like pizza and barbecue and Italian and Mexican and sushi, and several fast-food familiars. (And Long's.  And Von’s! And Trader Joe’s!!) And a bowling alley… You remember bowling...

Old Town Goleta:  Many very interesting, little, inexpensive eating establishments. Aaaaand.... A Goleta legend… drum roll… The Habit! Many are familiar with The Habit! because it has spread around Southern California. Well, pilgrimage to The One Where It All Started, right on Hollister Ave. in Old Town! Famous for its Chiliburgers, Barbecue Burgers, and Steak Tip sandwiches... Walk-up and extremely casual.  (Secret: One started in I.V. at exactly the same time, but the guy who opened them was kinda casual, lived closer to the one in Old Town, and, well…)

Amazing how much can go into a discussion of Nightlife for college people…

Nightlife Interrupted:

Major department stores are on Lower State and in La Cumbre Plaza, as are things like the usual phone and electronics stores and the like. And there are several cheap bed and furnishings stores on de la Vina, which parallels State. You’ve seen their ads in the free papers around campus and IV. Know that they deliver. This and the tips above re Storke Plaza about cover your major purchases.

Above and Beyond… (OK, that‘s a bit cheesy, but read on):

If/when you get a car, for the absolute best - world class - views: Camino Cielo, the road that runs along the crest of the Santa Ynez, those mountains you look at most days. Drive up San Marcos Pass Road (Hwy. 156) and turn right. Mulholland Drive, eat your heart out!!!  Go.

Beaches you can get to: Campus Point. I.V. Beach. Devereaux (aka “Coal Oil Point“, a name that lives in infamy (since the huge oil spill in 1969). Goleta Beach, all right beside UCSB. East Beach, Butterfly Beach and Ledbetter Beach in Town. El Cap(-itan) and Hollister Ranch a few miles up 101. And, one last legend: For those who have 45 minutes to get there, **Jalama** is up Hwy 1. The longest waves you’ll ever see until you get to Costa Rica and South Africa. (Righton...) Yes, it was in Endless Summer, the movie. Another debate: Better than Rincon??? Well, Rincon’s a lot closer to the rest of the world. Sweet. Advantage: you. Go.

OK, OK, OK, yes……part of Summerland Beach is… um… well, nevermind. (If you have to ask!!!)

Over the Hill: Of course that’s where The Gloved One lived; and it’s where Solvang is, where the elders will want to go when they visit. But it’s also the site of the Chumash Casino, one right of passage for when you Attain the Age, but can’t get all the way to Vegas, for one reason or another. (The main one being that you didn’t just suddenly become wealthy, too…) Plus, there’s this amazing ostrich farm on the way, where they can walk right up to you.

Your first **footnote** here:

Where do you want people with bucks to take you when they finally come back to visit you -- especially if it doesn’t happen until you graduate??? In no particular order: Chuck’s Steakhouse on Upper State. Holdren’s for steak. Miro at the new Bacara Hotel & Spa, way out at the west end of Hollister Ave. (sunsets to die for!). El Encanto for views over the city from “The Riviera“. The Patio at the Biltmore. The Wine Cask. Bouchon. Any restaurant on Stearn’s Wharf (the pier) for seafood & views. Harry’s Plaza, an SB institution. There. You at least have some names to drop… Final CAVEAT: Except for the very last two, you’re probably gonna have to iron first… Helloo-oo… Not down with ironing?? So, you’d rather keep it more casual?? Sorry, you’re on your own…What can we tell you… You’re no longer a “visitor”… ;-)

Resource:

The Santa Barbara Independent newspaper (weekly, free!!!). You are its target. It animates what is “outlined” above. THICK with what‘s happening within 50 miles, and a couple of months forward. The hardcopy is better, but for your Bookmarks|Favorites: