I hate Santa Barbara (Los Angeles, San Francisco: prices, beach, oil)

[mesaverde]

Agreed. They are not "nasty" at all. In terms of the tar, it's pretty much going to be a factor all up and down the south coast. We just took my five year old to the beach in Ventura and he ended up with a few spots of it on his feet. It's just a fact of life here. No reason to discount the beaches altogether!

[on2u]

I am visiting Montecito this summer. I have been there several times and all along the coast. After living in Naples,Fla I find it difficult to compare the charm,beauty and pristine white sand of Naples. Monticeto is a better option than SB., which in my opinion is overrated. I would like to move to a coastal community in Ca to be near my grandchildren. Unfortunately, Naples has a lot more sophistication.

[Snort]

Naples has a lot more sophistication

Having spent many months in Naples about 20 years ago, it must have gotten a serious injection of culture to rate higher in sophistication than Santa Barbara.

Monticeto is a better option than SB

Montecito is basically a village right next door to Santa Barbara, and yes, if you have very serious money, it can be a better option than most anywhere....except when there's a firestorm in your backyard.

[Capt. Dan]

Is Summerland the little town between SB and Montecito? i think that is where we had a great breakfast many years ago. THE YELLOW HOUSE i think was the name?

[mesaverde]

Summerland is actually right before you enter into Montecito. And yes, the Big Yellow House is still there!

I've not been to the Big Yellow House for breakfast, but I have been to the Omelette Parlor on Lillie Ave. Now THAT is the best breakfast ever!!

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by rachelinala

I'm a travel nurse & was in the bay area for a few months. I loved San Francisco. Now I'm stuck in this horrible little town called Santa Barbara. It makes me sick thinking about it.

It has to be one of the most overrated places I have ever heard of. I'm so disappointed with myself that I bought into the nice things written about this place.

It's horrible. The beaches are ugly, you can't swim in the ocean, and you have to wear flip flops or you'll get tar on your feet. Sick. The shopping is really bad. I thought this was supposed to be one of the wealthiest cities in the country? You sure wouldn't know it from the horrible shopping and ugly homes here. The people are weird. The "downtown" (one long street only) is filled with sick homeless people who yell at you when you don't give them a cigarette. I'm a smoker, and even the heavy amount of smoking going on downtown bothers me. Surprised California is so lenient with smoking.

It takes like 2 hours to get to LA. Not a quick drive. How can people do this all the time? So weird to waste hours in your car. So, I never go to LA.

And another thing, that horrible UCSB school. Wow, a campus right on the beach? You'd think it'd be amazingly beautiful. But, it's ugly, cheap and run down.

I'm just grossed out by this whole dirty nasty city. I don't get the appeal at all!

And it's making me want to leave California for good. I adored San Francisco, so maybe I'll just go back up there for my next job. But, this place has me turned off from anything south of here. I'm worried I would be disgusted living in San Diego or LA now too.

It's so overrated here. Never move here!

Another place that is overrated is Malibu. Why do celebs live there? I drove there one day and thought it was pretty ugly. Sure the beach is amazing, but the homes are ugly and it's just one big nasty traffic ridden highway. How is this a nice little town? I don't get it.

Also, the people here seem..well, dumb. What a difference between working at Stanford and working at the dinky hospital here in Santa Barbara. Wow.

Tell us how you really feel
Why not come back up north?
Perhaps Carmel / Pacific Grove / Monterey would suit you better.
Or back to the bay area?

[olman889]

Originally Posted by rachelinala

I'm a travel nurse & was in the bay area for a few months. I loved San Francisco. Now I'm stuck in this horrible little town called Santa Barbara. It makes me sick thinking about it.

It has to be one of the most overrated places I have ever heard of. I'm so disappointed with myself that I bought into the nice things written about this place.

It's horrible. The beaches are ugly, you can't swim in the ocean, and you have to wear flip flops or you'll get tar on your feet. Sick. The shopping is really bad. I thought this was supposed to be one of the wealthiest cities in the country? You sure wouldn't know it from the horrible shopping and ugly homes here. The people are weird. The "downtown" (one long street only) is filled with sick homeless people who yell at you when you don't give them a cigarette. I'm a smoker, and even the heavy amount of smoking going on downtown bothers me. Surprised California is so lenient with smoking.

It takes like 2 hours to get to LA. Not a quick drive. How can people do this all the time? So weird to waste hours in your car. So, I never go to LA.

And another thing, that horrible UCSB school. Wow, a campus right on the beach? You'd think it'd be amazingly beautiful. But, it's ugly, cheap and run down.

I'm just grossed out by this whole dirty nasty city. I don't get the appeal at all!

And it's making me want to leave California for good. I adored San Francisco, so maybe I'll just go back up there for my next job. But, this place has me turned off from anything south of here. I'm worried I would be disgusted living in San Diego or LA now too.

It's so overrated here. Never move here!

Another place that is overrated is Malibu. Why do celebs live there? I drove there one day and thought it was pretty ugly. Sure the beach is amazing, but the homes are ugly and it's just one big nasty traffic ridden highway. How is this a nice little town? I don't get it.

Also, the people here seem..well, dumb. What a difference between working at Stanford and working at the dinky hospital here in Santa Barbara. Wow.

i think youre confused.santa barbara is just as beautiful or more than the bay area.i think youre upset cause sb doesnt have walmarts or discount stores all over the place.id suggest you give richmond ca a shot or maybe port arthur texas a look also.maybe something more youre looking for.id live in sb in a heatbeat sad you dislike beautiful weather and scenery

[Winston Smith]

Isn't it about time for this thread to die?

[ZhugeLiang]

Santa Barbara is indeed grossly overrated. I've always found Ventura a much better town. A fun beach city without Santa Barbara's pretentiousness.

[Snort]

This thread will never die. It will go down in internet history as the longest and most influential thread ever.
But.....will the question ever be answered? Santa Barbara, loveable or loser?
Stay tuned, folks.