Santa Maria is a welcoming Central Coast city with a sunny climate, strong local food and wine culture (famous for Santa Maria–style barbecue), easy access to beaches and outdoor recreation, and a relaxed yet lively downtown—making it a comfortable, affordable base for multi-week travel-therapy assignments.
Weekend variety is close: Santa Barbara’s cultural scene and beaches are about 35 miles south, and San Luis Obispo’s college-town restaurants, breweries and weekend escapes sit roughly 50 miles northwest, so you’ll rarely run out of things to do.