Santa Barbara Experiences

The perfect place to be…

Going to Santa Barbara is something so special because you can do as much, or as little as you want and have a great time either way.

For the daytime active people there are many options. You can experience volleyball or soccer by the beach, take a bike ride, skate, or stroll along the palm tree- lined dune trails, take a swim or a sail in the cool and calm waters of the Santa Barbara surf, or just sit in the sand and watch the coastal breeze fly your new kite. If walking is something you enjoy, there are so many streets that travel up and down the gentle hills around town to explore. Often you forget just how far you’ve walked when you have been so busy taking in the beautiful scenery and breathing the fresh air. The public and private gardens everywhere show just how easy it is to grow absolutely anything here. The incredible Spanish architecture in every structure from private homes to public buildings reminds people every day of the rich history of the region. The favorite destinations for a walk would have to be the Santa Barbara Mission and Courthouse.

Want to slow down and take it easier than that? You could still walk the pier at the end of State Street and see the fishermen luring seagulls and pelicans as well as some pretty big fish. There are shops, a winery, and two nice restaurants (of which I recommend Moby Dick’s) on this pier that make this a perfect destination in the evening when the sun is about to give its daily show as it lowers to greet the ocean. Go the other way on State Street and enjoy the hundreds of shops and stores, theatres, restaurants, and pubs along the way.

When the day is done the activity is just beginning for most. For those nighttime active people, State Street is the place to be. There are more than a few open-air hot spots to choose from. In the late evening the celebratory sounds of laughter and music drift up and down State Street as lazily as the people cruising to impress in their newly washed and waxed sports cars.

There are many choices when it comes to places to stay. We usually pick a nice Bed and Breakfast in town. Many of them are in walking distance to the pier or State Street. The Eagle Inn or even the charming little Harbor House are our favorites due to their price and proximity to the center of town. If a hotel is more your style, there are many along the shore to serve you. You can choose anything from a Motel 6 to a first class establishment like Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort.

When it comes to restaurants, you have to leave the city limits and explore the San Marcos pass to find the best and most unique of them all. The Cold Spring Tavern is by far the best dining experience in the area. How often can you drive up to a historical stagecoach stop nestled deep in the trees along the old trail used by even the Pony Express and Wells Fargo in the 1800’s and have dinner the way the riders did? The place is cleverly kept exactly as you might have expected it to be over 100 years ago. They invite you to roam through the restaurant and view the countless antiques and pictures on the wooden walls. Best of all, the food is incredibly good. It seems I always remark that whatever I just ate was the best of that dish I’ve ever had. They never disappoint. Check out their web site at Coldspringtavern.com for more information.

As long as you are half way over the San Marcos pass, why not drive on down into the Santa Ynez valley? If you are a wine-lover, you will want to talk to the locals. Much to their delight, they have discovered that there is no place else on Earth that has the land and weather to create a better wine. Wineries are becoming more and more numerous as the word is getting out. It is like the ‘Great California Wine Rush.’ Every winery we have visited here is very hospitable, still un-crowded, and more than willing to allow you to sample their liquid gold.

I could write all day about what there is to see and do in the area of Santa Barbara. But I’ll let you explore most of it all for yourself. I’d suggest you take at least 4 days to be able to relax and meld into the culture that still hasn’t been quickened by nearby Los Angeles. Just try to leave and not want to come back!