On his first visit to Montecito in the 1920s, movie legend Charlie Chaplin fell so in love with the area that he put together a group of investors and built the Montecito Inn. The luxury Inn is still in operation today and now includes a spa and several restaurants.
Montecito is a part of Santa Barbara County, California
On his first visit to Montecito in the 1920s, movie legend Charlie Chaplin fell so in love with the area that he put together a group of investors and built the Montecito Inn. The luxury Inn is still in operation today and now includes a spa and several restaurants.
Montecito is a part of Santa Barbara County, California. The beautiful mountains, Pacific Ocean views, and temperate climate make it one of the top places to live in California and one of the most expensive, too. This small seaside village is an elegant part of Santa Barbara with many sophisticated shops, fine dining and great beaches for both swimming and walking. The near perfect year round weather (65 to 75 degrees) make this a perfect venue for outdoor activities such as walking, biking, or hiking on the many trails that wander through the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains.
If you are lucky enough to be able to rent an apartment in Montecito, you will have your choice of apartments, condo rentals and houses for rent. And none of them are cheap! This area is known as America's Riviera and has the price tags to match. But you get what you pay for, and in this case what you will get is the enjoyment of being surrounded by California's natural beauty and the good weather in which to appreciate it.
Before You Move
Get your checkbook ready and be prepared to pay your first month's rent and a security deposit. You will be asked for permission to do a credit check, possibly a background check, and to verify your employment. You may be asked for references from your current rental property and for personal references as well.
When to Look
Summer is always a prime moving time, but generally you will find a good selection of apartments for rent, townhouse to rent and house rentals during every season.
Coast Village: Coast Village Road is the Montecito's Main Street. As the name implies, it is situated near the Pacific Coast and several beaches are only a short walk away. Here you will find shops, boutiques, antique stores, art galleries and every type of restaurant. Try Mischief or Wendy Foster for women's clothes, Montecito Sports for men's and women's tennis, golf, running and yoga clothes, and Tailsman for fine jewelry. After a long day of shopping, stop in at Here's the Scoop for some gelato or Blenders in the Grass for a healthy smoothie. Dining choices include Cava for Nuevo Latino and Mediterranean food, Lucky's Steakhouse, and Trattoria Mollie for Italian food. While you're at Trattoria Mollie, don't be surprised if you run into Oprah Winfrey, a Montecito resident and a big fan of both the food and the owner, Chef Mollie. National Geographic Passport to the Best has selected Trattoria Mollie as one of the 10 Best Destination and Special Restaurants in the World.
Villa Fontana: Luxury is the word when it comes to rental apartments in Montecito. The Villa Fontana Montecito offers studios, one bedroom apartments, and two bedroom apartments. All have patios and views of either the ocean or mountains.
Upper Montecito Village: Located in the foothills section of Montecito, Montecito Village is a quieter section with its own charm and attractions. Several of its older buildings feature Spanish architecture. Manning Park, a former estate that was donated to the town and has picnic tables, barbeque pits, and a large toddler playground. Miramar Beach is located here, a curved beach with tide pools to explore. For dining, Pierre LaFond is a charming wine bistro that uses local, organic produce and free range, grass fed meat. Seating is available both indoors and outside. The Via Vai is a Trattoria Pizzeria with an extensive pasta and pizza menu.
Costa del Sol: Costa del Sol has condo rentals located near Miramar Beach.
With Montecitos beautiful climate and year round good weather, you will want to take advantage of the many outdoor activates it offers. Cold Springs is one of many trails located in the area. This one, about three miles long, is good for hiking and normally takes from one to three hours to complete. There are great views all along the San Ysidro Falls trail, especially the view when you reach the top. Montecito Peak Hike is another scenic and challenging route
Lotusland is a 37-acre estate and garden that features 3,200 different types of plants and flowers and is open to visitors daily, although you do need to call ahead and make a reservation. There are over 10 different gardens, each featuring a different type of flower or greenery.
There is a Farmer's Market every Friday on Coast Village Road.
There are many beaches in Montecito, but most agree that Butterfly Beach is the nicest one for watching the sunset. The limited parking keeps the crowds low during the day, making it a good beach to sit and relax. Enter Hammonds Beach from Eucalyptus Lane and you will find the beautiful Hammonds Meadow Trail that leads to the beach.
You will also find lots to do in the Santa Barbara areas surrounding Montecito. Horseback riding is available at many ranches and stables. There are several wineries including Grassini Family Vineyards, a family-owned boutique winery that offers wine tastings and is featured at many Santa Barbara events. For $50 you can get a winery passport good during the first weekend of June that will get you complimentary tastings and 10% off purchases at 23 wineries.
Sterns Warf has spectacular views and a diversity of restaurants that offer both indoor and outdoor seating. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is located in the Mission District near the Santa Barbara Mission. The Lobero Theater offers musical performances, plays, and children's productions.
The Santa Barbara Museum of Art has over 27,000 works of art. It originates exhibits that travel the world. Gallery tours are available and the Museum has its own delightful caf̩. Art lectures and other activities for adults and children are offered year round.
Montecito's natural beauty, great shopping and fine dining make living here like being in paradise.
