Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara is a sophisticated beachside city in Southern California. Visitors flock here year-round for its palm-lined beaches, Spanish-style architecture, and ritzy resorts. Whether you’re looking to have an unforgettable
The luxury hotel lowdown. Your guide to Santa Barbara’s ultra-luxurious hideaways.
Are you planning a trip to Santa Barbara and aren't sure where to stay? We've compiled a list of where to stay in Santa Barbara and its neighborhood
If you’re having a difficult time picking hotels in Santa Barbara or which areas to stay in Santa Barbara, this guide will help you find the perfect place for your trip!
When you’re traveling with young kids, where you stay is just as important as what you do on your trip. You want to look for a place with a spacious room, spots on-property where kids can be kids, available food and drink, and a friendly staff. Hotel Milo checked off all those boxes for our family
When visiting Santa Barbara, make your trip extra memorable by staying somewhere that’s just as unique as The American Riviera® itself. #SeeSB
Luxury travel blogger Mrs. O Around the World reviews luxury hotel Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara, California, one of the best Santa Barbara hotels
Heading to Santa Barbara? Here are my favorite recommendations for where to stay, eat, drink, and have fun.
Immerse yourself in Santa Barbara’s storied past with a stay at these historic hotels.
Santa Barbara offers an ideal escape for families seeking an enjoyable vacation. Whether basking in the sun on sandy beaches, discovering natural marvels and cultural sites, or embarking on adventures
First of all, I definitely was NOT disappointed by Santa Barbara, even though my expectations were sky-high. What’s the opposite of disappointed? Impressed? In love? Dazzled? Yes, I was dazzled by Santa Barbara.
Visit Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, complete with boutique tasting rooms, cafes, galleries, and shops that cater to Santa Barbara’s contemporary side. #SeeSB
Brush up on your Santa Barbara expertise with these quick travel tips. #SeeSB
Santa Barbara offers an ideal escape for families seeking an enjoyable vacation. Whether basking in the sun on sandy beaches, discovering natural marvels and cultural sites, or embarking on adventures
Santa Barbara is home to several 5-star hotels and Hollywood celebrities but theres a funkier side to the beachside town that is worth exploring. Here are 8...
These hotels will make you want to book a flight to Ponta Delgada, ASAP.
From Santa Barbara hotels to different things to in the city of Santa Barbara, we’ve got your trip all planned out. Cute wine bars near Santa Barbara wineries, kitschy SoCal bungalows, the best sushi restaurants, and the cutest retail shops are just a f
Any weekend plans? What about a Los Angeles to Santa Barbara Drive? This road trip itinerary will show you the best stops, things to do, and eats.
Heading to Santa Barbara? Here are my favorite recommendations for where to stay, eat, drink, and have fun.
Though it was a popular toy, dating back from ancient histories in China and Greece, the actual yo-yo, as we know it today, did not actually revolutionize and gain popularity in the United States til the 1920s-1930s. The inventor of the "sleeping" yo-yo was Pedro Flores, a Philippine immigrant from Vintarilocos Norte. After reading an article about a man who sold a ball attached to a rubber band for a million dollars, Flores was reminded of the Philippine game, yo-yo, he used to play as a kid and started his own business. Flores established his Yo-Yo Manufacturing company in Santa Barbara in 1928. He hosted yo-yo competitions across the nation and fueled the yo-yo craze in the U.S. with the distribution of the "Wonder Toy," the Flores Yo-Yo. In spite of the economic turmoil brought by the Great Depression, the Flores Yo-Yo possessed a strong appeal amongst children as prices ranged from 15 cents to a 1.50 each. The vast popularity of the yo-yo caught the attention of wealthy businessman, Donald F. Duncan. In 1930, Duncan's company bought out Pedro Flores' yo-yo for a quarter of a million dollars. While Flores practically reached the success of that story of the millionaire who sold a ball attached to a rubber band, Flores, a former bellboy at a hotel in Santa Barbara, never expected to make a fortune from his invention. He was quoted saying, "I just want to be working for myself. I have been working for other people for practically all my life and I don't like it." At a time when Filipino immigrants were usually migrant laborers or domestic workers who were racially discriminated against, as villainous creatures that took white people's jobs and women, the story of Pedro Flores defies the normative practices of Filipino immigrants in the early 1930s. Flores did not only receive $250, 000 from Duncan for his trademark yo-yo, but he also continued to work with Duncan as a key promoter for yo-yo contests and campaigns. Lucky Meisenheimer, MD, notes that, "Especially during 1931-32, Mr. Flores was instrumental in setting up many of the promotions in the cities where the early Duncan contests were being held." As a Filipino immigrant who was living in a racially segregated America in 1930s, where urban areas in California posted signs like "Absolutely No Filipinos Allowed," Flores had social mobility even within cities. Despite racial prejudices against Filipinos, Duncan saw Flores as an "instrumental" part of the growth of the Duncan Yo-Yo company. It seems as if the intrinsic appeal of the yo-yo, absolved Flores of racial issues. Yet, there is also the possibility that the histories illustrated at national yo-yo museums and American books have hidden the truth of Flores' struggles in the industry. Though there is a lack of scholarly/literary work on how Flores defied the constraints of racial discrimination, academic scholars like Cynthia Liu have made efforts to excavate this forgotten moment in history. In her documentary, World On A String, set for release in 2009, Liu revisits the life of Pedro Flores and his business partner, Joe Rodavan and retells authentic accounts of their life stories from the standpoints of Flores' friends and families in the Philippines. By: M.L. Sources: Duncan YoYo Website http://www.yo-yo.com/history.asp# National Yo-Yo Museum http://www.nationalyoyo.org/museum/pedroflores.htm World On A String http://worldonastringyoyo.com/index.php
Going on a Santa Barbara day trip is one of my favorite ways to spend a free day. Read all my recommendations on the best things to do, see and eat.
