Only 12 miles outside busy Santa Barbara, Carpinteria feels like the quintessential tiny California beach town ... or sample local beers at Rincon Brewery. With its own Amtrak platform ...

Credit: Rebecca Caraway / Noozhawk photo Carpinteria celebrated a special Valentine’s Day gift on Friday with the purchase of the Rincon Gateway by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.

There are four major beaches in Santa Barbara: Leadbetter, Arroyo Burro, West and East. While Leadbetter has the harbor, Arroyo Burro is best for travelers with dogs and West Beach is home to the ...