Montecito, California

One of the wealthiest zip codes in the nation, Montecito is a jewel in California’s coastal crown. With scenery reminiscent of Italy’s Mediterranean villages, this unincorporated community in southern Santa Barbara is rich in history, beauty, and much sought-after privacy.  Gorgeous oaks screen stately residences, many with breathtaking views into the majestic green hills and across the Pacific. Just over nine square miles in size, with a population of about nine thousand (2010), the small city residents enjoy a median household income of $124,844 (2013), more than twice the California median. The traditional home of the Chumash Indians for more than 10,000 years, and a 19th-century hideaway for robbers and bandits, the area now known as Montecito was later settled by Italians, who found the hillsides reminiscent of home and cultivated gardens and groves, and by affluent tourist drawn to the beachside beauty.

Calling Montecito home are numerous celebrities, most famously Oprah Winfrey, Drew Barrymore, Dennis Miller, Rob Lowe, and Jeff Bridges.  Nearby Santa Barbara disguised as “Santa Teresa,” will be recognized by fans of Sue Grafton’s alphabet mysteries who makes her home in Montecito. But more than its star-spangled neighbors, it is the small-town feeling that most attract people to this community known for its mild weather, scenic nearby wineries, art galleries, and memorable gardens. Before Hollywood was fully established as the heart of the entertainment industry, the Santa Barbara coast was already home to the stars. Charlie Chaplin loved the area so much that he built the Montecito Inn on Coast Village Road, as an upscale getaway. The” Inn that Charlie built” is still in operation and offers the best burger in all of Santa Barbara – a personal favorite. And just a few doors down is the new Honor Bar that dares I say offers the best Chicken sandwich in town with a great outdoor setting for people-watching.