Since the 1970's flower growing has been big business here, and blooms from Carpinteria's greenhouses and fields appear in wholesale and retail outlets all over the U.S. and Canada as well as on Tournament of Roses parade floats. There are several nurseries open to the public for individual or group tours.

Nature smiles kindly on the Carpinteria Valley, where fruit trees blanket the hillsides, sandy beaches stretch in the sun, and daytime temperatures range between 60 and 80 degrees

Carpinteria visitors have a way of returning year after year. They come to soak up sunshine at the beach, or simply to enjoy the small town pleasures of Carpinteria, where tree-shaded streets, parades and craft shows evoke a gentle way of life.

There are Dozens of antique stores, small shops and restaurants are clustered along the main streets of Carpinteria, making the Area a browser's paradise. Shoppers can sample prime fruit, vegetables and flowers - bounty from the surrounding hillsides - and chat with local growers at the weekly Carpinteria Farmers Market.

Once a year, the town's normally peaceful streets turn into a midway of adventure during the rollicking California Avocado Festival, an October spectacle devoted to good eating and family fun. Those in search of quieter pleasures can bike tranquil mountain roads, enjoy Sunday matches at the scenic Santa Barbara Polo Club, stroll through the excellent Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, or take in a play performed by the local theater group, Seaside Theatre Company.

Carpinteria Valley is located just 12 miles south of Santa Barbara.

FACTS & FIGURES: The City of Carpinteria Incorporated in 1965.
The Carpinteria Valley totals 11.6 square miles, with the City of Carpinteria covering 2.5 land miles.
The population is slightly over 19,000 total, the City having just about 15,194 residents.
 

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