| Dreaming about sea breezes, balmy nights set against a backdrop of the Los Padres coastal mountain range? Then dream no more. Join the 15,000 residents in a town that hugs Pacific Coast Highway just a few miles south of Santa Barbara, in a oasis originally called La Carpinteria— 'the Carpenter's Shop' by the Chumash Indians in 1769.
Simply known today as Carpinteria, this small town harbors a salt marsh, a famous surfer's paradise, lush avocado fields, along with high tech companies and a diversity of rich sea life, birds, and native plants.
Tree-lined Linden Avenue, Carpinteria's main artery from Highway 101 to the beach, boasts a thriving number of antique, collectible, and resale shops. If that isn't enough shopping for that one-of-a-kind item then set your sights on the last Saturday of every month when bargain hunters assemble at the flea market held on the grounds of the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History on Maple Street.
"The beauty of its natural setting, the mountains, the ocean, and the best climate in the world makes this town a standout," says David Griggs, director/curator, Carpinteria Valley Museum of History. "It's the classic small town. You can't run an errand in 10 minutes because everyone stops to talk."
Griggs says Carpinteria is a land of many firsts. "North America's first commercial lima bean, the first off-shore oil well in the Carpinteria Valley, and the tallest Torry Pine that towers 128 feet over the town."
"Carpinteria is a farm and a beach town where agriculture is still number one. We are one of the last small towns along the coast," says Griggs. "There is a strong sense of not expanding."
If it's all about location than it's the beach in this seaside town. Protected by an offshore reef with little or no rip currents, this sandy stretch of oceanfront has been called the world's safest beach.
From the beach to the growing fields, 2001 celebrates the California Avocado Festival's 15th year of honoring the avocado as king with a huge street party. Over 140,000 festivalgoers meet on Linden Avenue to enjoy food, music, entertainment and arts and crafts during two days of munching on avocados.
"People come for the food," says Lin Graf, president of the Avocado Festival and executive director, Chamber of Commerce. "All our food for the festival has to have avocado in it. We even have avocado ice cream. The best part about the festival is that you get to sample avocados and buy them here."
Surrounded by the growing gardens of avocado and field flower, a local started QAD, a software company, 20 years ago.
"The largest employer in Carpinteria, our company is very civic minded, getting involved with various fundraisers sponsored by the city," says Eric Christianson, global travel manager, QAD. "My office is on the bluffs of Carpinteria. I look out over the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. I have to turn my back on this magnificent view or I would be mesmerized."
Extolling the merits of small town life, Christianson says, "We have employees who surf on their lunch break."
With nine city parks, three county parks and one State Park all within the city bounties, there's plenty of places to take a leisurely walk and commune with nature.
"As the parks director I like to think of Carpinteria as a park with community inside as opposed to a little community with parks," says Matthew Roberts, director, City of Carpinteria Parks and Recreation. "My great-grandparents settled in Carpinteria and I've been here since 1980."
According to Roberts, the perfect day at the beach is clean white sand, blue skies, an island view, an umbrella and a couple of beach chairs. "Rincon Point is still queen of the surfing spots on the California coast," a hold over from an old Beach Boys song.
At the end of Ash Avenue is Carpinteria's Salt Marsh Park. "Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park's land was
purchased by several groups. It's restored marshland
composed of about 9 acres," says Andrea Adams-Morden, volunteers, Salt Marsh Nature Park.
"We have butterflies and birds that settled into the salt marsh," says Adams-Morden. "Tours are given every Saturday at 10:00 am by our 15 volunteer tour leaders."
Over one million visitors come to town annually to swim, camp, hike, walk, shop and recapture that small town essence of another era. On any given day, Carpinteria will capture your heart and imagination. Just ask all the people who were once visitors and now call Carpinteria home.
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