Santa Maria Valley Named National Geographic's 25 Happiest Cities in the United States List

Dan Buettner reveals the world’s happiest places

SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA, USA, October 19, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- (Santa Maria, Calif.) – The Santa Maria-Santa Barbara area is smiling. National Geographic, Gallup and New York Times best-selling author and National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner have announced the region The 25 Happiest Cities in the United States based on The National Geographic/Blue Zones® Index.

The Index was specifically developed to measure a population’s happiness based on 15 metrics including civic engagement, walkability and healthful food options. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks as number 12 on the list.

“We are honored to be deemed a happy and extraordinary place to live, play, work in and visit,” said Glenn Morris, president and CEO of the Santa Maria Valley Visitor’s Bureau. “There’s so much to enjoy here and along the Central California Coast. We are proud of our Santa Maria Style -- one that we call our own.”

In National Geographic’s November cover story and newly published The Blue Zones of Happiness, Buettner reveals the world’s happiest places, and explains environmental and lifestyle factors that contribute to the overall happiness in these geographic regions. Pulling from years of experience studying the world’s most-thriving populations, Buettner, National Geographic and Gallup developed a methodology for measuring where Americans are living their happiest lives. Eight of the 25 cities recognized are in California.

The Santa Maria Valley is a recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Santa Barbara County; the AVA encompasses one of the top wine regions in the world. The Travel Channel named the Santa Maria Valley The New Top 10 Cities for Wine Snobs. Tour the welcoming vineyards and swirl your glass ‘til you spill. Indulge in the 150-year old Santa Maria Style Barbecue tradition, the area’s best hidden gem. Watch the sunset over the dunes, and let your hair fly around in the ocean breeze. With 35 wineries and 13 beaches within a 30-minute drive, the Santa Maria Valley is an ideal home base for travelers.

About Santa Maria Valley:

Serving the greater Santa Maria Valley in the heart of California’s Central Coast, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau is a nonprofit association that facilitates local tourism and provides information on the region’s many attractions and visitor services. Known for its iconic barbecue, burgeoning wine region, and coastal access points, the Santa Maria Valley is the ideal home base where you can eat, drink and do more for less. Stay up-to-date on #SantaMariaStyle by following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more on Santa Maria Valley travel deals and to explore all you can do in and around the region, visit SantaMariaValley.com.

Enter to win a getaway for four to the Santa Maria Valley! Grab some good friends or bring the family together and head to Santa Maria Valley for a weekend of unscripted fun. We like to keep things authentic, so your trip will be built just for you.

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