Luminous palm-lined beaches, jasmine-scented gardens and whitewashed adobes topped with red brick tiles have lured artists, writers and movie stars to Santa Barbara for over a century. Even F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous characters Daisy and Tom Buchanan vacationed here. Once a well-kept secret, the California Riviera is now a popular vacation spot. Art lovers make their way to Santa Barbara’s Museum of Fine Arts and the galleries in historic El Paseo on State Street, and history buffs appreciate the Old Santa Barbara Mission, designed in 1812 to resemble an ancient Latin temple in pre-Christian Rome. Hikers take the Cold Spring mountain trail, surfers hit Rincon beach, and wine lovers find award-winning vintages in local tasting rooms. Shoppers hit their stride in the Spanish-style courtyard of Paseo Nuevo mall, and fine dining is informed by Pacific fusion, Latin American tradition, organic gourmet and, of course, a view of the sun setting over the Pacific.