Mesa Ln, West Mesa

Mesa Lane leads down from Cliff Drive straight to the top of the Thousand Steps, which in turn lead down to a gorgeous, world-class beach. Cliff Drive itself is the quintessential Santa Barbara beach street, with quirky houses on either side of the road obviously owned by former beach bums who've made it financially. You're more than likely to see at least one truck or van being unloaded or loaded up(depending on the time of day) with surfboards and gear; the Mesa is a pretty decent surf spot.

The Lane is made all the more beautiful by the median that runs down the entire street, from which grow numerous eucalyptus trees. The eucalyptus trees give the street a delightful aroma and the bark it sheds make the street seem especially arboreal and pleasant, like a constant New England autumn.

During certain times, the street can get very crowded - the fact that it leads down to the beach is no secret, and it can be frustrating when overloaded with tourists. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful street, and the beach it leads to is fantastic.