Santa Barbara sunset

Photo credit:Corbis

Santa Barbara makes up what could be considered California's Riviera. Affluent, historic, upscale and gorgeously beach-lined, it's no wonder the rich come to settle along this stretch of tranquil beauty between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The Santa Ynez Mountains tower behind the town's distinctive Spanish-Mediterranean architecture, cobbled pathways, red tile roofs, and mission-style adobes. So postcard-perfect, Santa Barbara has attracted artists, celebrities and queers for generations.

Santa Barbara's wealthy population ensures world-class sophistication for a city this size, including a year-round music, opera, dance and theater scene, with not one but four ballet companies. The town hosts several film festivals, with the world-renowned Santa Barbara International Film Festival in late January filling the town with major stars who make the trek up from Hollywood. State Street, the city's primary commercial thoroughfare and geographic center, is lined with tony boutiques, cafes, restaurants and art galleries. Brinkerhoff Avenue, Santa Barbara's antiques alley, is another area where shopaholics will thrive. The beautiful Santa Barbara Mission, established in 1786 by Father Junípero Serra and built by the Chumash Indians, is one of the city's best monuments. And the well-regarded University of California at Santa Barbara campus, perched on stunning cliffs overlooking the Pacific, adds an intellectual component to the area as well.

Gays and lesbians are found throughout Santa Barbara, an area where queers are easily welcomed. Although it doesn't have a highly visible gay community, the town has not one but two pride festivals -- one in May with an arts show, car show, dancing and parades, and another in July in Chase Palm Park. There's a Get Out and Golf Women's Classic benefiting gay organizations in May, and also an "OUTrageous" LGBT film fest in November. And any time of year, you'll find gays along the area's several nude beaches north and south of the town.

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