The town of Carpinteria, founded in 1863, is noted for its friendliness, small town charm and the agricultural production of avocados, lemons, and flowers. The downtown area is within easy walking distance from the beach and offers a variety of antique, clothing, and specialty shops, restaurants, grocery stores and a movie theater. Points of interest include the historical museum, the world's largest Torrey Pine tree, the Carpinteria Tar Pits where the Chumash built their canoes as well as the famous "cook your own steak" Palms restaurant and a community swimming pool. Excellent surfing is located only 5 minutes away by car. Small boats can be launched nearby to access ocean fishing. Nearby Santa Barbara offers charter boats for deep sea fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving or simply viewing the coastline. The airport is located only 30 minutes away in Santa Barbara, and the Amtrak train makes several stops daily in Carpinteria.