Santa Maria

Santa Maria

Santa Maria has its own style of barbecue (tri-tip cooked over red oak with pinquito beans and salsa), which is a legitimate regional tradition that locals will fight you about. The surrounding Santa Maria Valley is becoming serious wine country (especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). It's quieter and more affordable than its central coast neighbors. The Pacific is right there.

Greenville

Greenville built a city around a waterfall. The Reedy River drops right through downtown in Falls Park, with a suspension bridge curving over it that locals show off like a trophy. Main Street is a textbook of how to revitalize a small American city: brick, trees, patios, and a steady stream of festivals. BMW's largest factory in the world is a few miles up the road. The Blue Ridge foothills start just outside town.