TakiJaki

Green and flat rolling golf courses are what you will find along McCaw Avenue. Men in caddies and khaki shorts make up the many people that dot the courses as you are driving along. In the morning right before the sun is at its highest, the courses are beautiful. Thanks to underwater sprinkler systems the grasses at the Santa Barbara Golf Club stay green all year and you can enjoy those views if you are driving along McCaw Avenue. The road is hidden amongst other side streets which are mostly residential and home to a few special science and nature museums. There are some great hiking trails in McKenzie Park which is just kitty-corner of McCaw Avenue.

North Hope Avenue is somewhat sparsely populated considered to some other streets in Santa Barbara. This is a great road to unwind and take your time if you are looking to get away from the chaotic traffic. Thanks to two lanes on each side, motorists can travel at relaxing speeds without worrying about individuals behind you. There are plenty of trees. The large stops on the side of the road offer plenty of room for you to park your car and explore some of the surrounding woods if you are curious enough. There are no official hiking paths but the words are a popular retreat for many people. You wouldn't really get lost because there are houses within a five mile radius as well as businesses and other busier roads. One of the creepiest areas along North Hope Avenue is Calvary Cemetery which has grave sites that date back to the mid 1800's. Creepy.

Make sure you lock your car doors when you are driving down this street. Scary and mean looking people roam this street and they will come right up to your car window, if you are parked on the side of the street. I was parked once and waiting for a friend to get off work and this scary looking guy with tattoos covering his arm leaned right into my car window and asked for a cigarette. Lots of police cruisers hang out in this area and music is always blaring at all hours of the night. Children have no manners and will throw things as you walk by. This is no exaggeration, Calle Cita is a dangerous street. I would not advise moving, walking or driving down this street.

Enjoy your favorite burger or other entree on North Ontare Road. This is a great road to drive along when you are hungry because just about all major restaurant brands are located here amongst shopping centers and random businesses. Julie's Bistro is my favorite burger joint which is pretty close to State Street. The mixes of residential and business is quite interesting because there are plenty of buildings where the lower level serves as a business and the top levels are converted into apartment buildings. One of the biggest drawbacks about this road for me is the number of lights. There are so many stoplights and it seems they turn red at opposite times which means you will be waiting at each one instead of catching the green ones. At least that is always my luck. The street itself is in excellent condition though.

There are no restaurants or hotspots along Argonne Circle. If you have ever been to Paris and driven through the city. Argonne Circle might give you that Parisian feel. The circular drive is simply that, a circle drive connecting quite a few residential streets together. In the middle of the drive, is a splendid water fountain which is a wishing well for people. People throw in coins and make a wish. Homeless people clean out the fountain almost every night. There are no lights along Argonne Circle but there are speedbumps to prevent motorists from speeding. If you want to go to the wishing fountain you will need to park on one of the side streets.

Spanish tunes are forever part of the wind on Orella Street. Orella Street is a haven of the Latino community in Santa Barbara. This street is home to families from all over South America (mainly from El Salvador and Ecuador) The roots on this street are mostly second and third generations which have made their influence felt throughout Santa Barbara. Driving down Orella Street is quite entertaining. You can kill your radio because you will find plenty of Spanish tunes to help you find a beat, there are plenty of children outside playing and plenty of people on the sidewalks in chairs just killing time. If you speak Spanish you should take a stroll down this street and talk with some of the residents. Another major perk about this street is the original Spanish architecture which seems to serve the residents as they decorate them according to their personal style and taste.

My folks have a small two bedroom cottage on the small and quiet street of Mulberry Avenue. This street is lacking in the normal Santa Barbara architecture. The houses are simpler and smaller, representing the blue collar class. This is a great street for younger couples looking to buy their first home or older couples that are looking to retire despite it's rather dingy appearance. There are plenty of trees on this road which at times can give it a really eerie feeling. They come in handy during Halloween though because Mulberry Avenue truly looks like a haunted street at night. Everyone goes to bed early and there are never any lights on past ten p.m. When I was growing up there weren't that many kids that lived on this street either.

US Route 101 stretches along the Pacific before entering the heart of Santa Barbara. Route 101 is one of the busiest roads in Santa Barbara. Traffic pursues the this street 24/7. Route 101 is probably the most familiar road to the non-locals because it takes them right through the city and offers easy access to restaurants and hotels. Speed is a problem on this road and no one seems to have an appreciation for it's limits which is probably why there are quite a few motorist accidents on this road. The crossroads can be confusing at times as well because of the quick exits that pop up without warning. If you are looking to take the whole stretch of Route 101 make sure you stay in the right lane otherwise you might end up taking a wrong exit or getting stuck in traffic at one of the crossroads.

Mission Ridge Road a hilly road full of sharp and narrow turns. Many of the houses lack personal driveways and the street parking can become a nuisance to passing motorists. The scenery is lovely though! The sloping hills are filled with plants and trees and gardens of roses bloom in front of many of the houses. This is an upper scale area which is evident to the large and private estates that resemble early Spanish architecture. Francechi Park which loops right around Mission Ridge is a popular spot for dog lovers and playing a nice game of frisbee.

There is a strong Persian influence around the Bath street area that stretches into the Samarkand neighborhood. Vendor markets are a hot spot amongst locals and shoppers alike selling little Persian treasures. Bath Street is a fairly residential street that is dotted with cute California style bungalows and young palm trees. The street is narrow but there is ample amounts of sidewalk space. If you head North on Bath street you will end up at the county hospital and if you head south you will end up at the shores of the Pacific ocean. Be careful for pedestrians. Bath street is very active during the day with people.