Santa Barbara Travel Tips

Coming to the west coast for a break from your business or a break in the weather? You don’t have to spend your entire vacation sitting on the beach turning beet red. Here’s how to jam pack a few days in the Santa Barbara area:

Visit wine country

The Santa Barbara area wineries were made famous by the 2004 film Sideways, but you won’t get a dose of Hollywood here. The drive from Santa Barbara on Highway 154 is filled with scenic overlooks of the ocean and the Santa Ynez Valley, and many of the wineries are rustic designs overlooking lush vineyard rows. You can get a detailed map of the area wineries from the Santa Barbara Vintner’s Association at www.sbcountywines.com. Most of the wineries offer tastings without appointment, and this usually includes a small sample of five different wines and a complementary wine glass for five to ten dollars. A full afternoon can melt away in about three or four wineries, and even if you don’t like wine you can find plenty of antique shops and art galleries to visit. If you do like wine, plan to have a sober driver and a nap if you visit more than two or three wineries!

Hike to Inspiration Point

This short walk takes about two hours roundtrip and yields a stunning vista overlooking the city of Santa Barbara, the surrounding mountains, and the big blue Pacific. The trailhead is at the end of Tunnel Road near the Santa Barbara Mission. From Highway 101 you can take the Mission Street exit and follow this north where it becomes Mission Canyon Road and runs into Tunnel Road. The first part of the trail is paved, and shortly after crossing a bridge it runs into a wide dirt trail which you should take to the left. After a short distance on this trail you will pass a trail going up the foothill to your right, and a little further up you will find another jaunting off to the left. Take this all the way to the top. Towards the very end you will cross a fire road, and Inspiration Point is a short distance ahead. There are plenty of places at the top to enjoy a packed lunch or a bottle of water while enjoying the scenery. After the hike, stop by the Santa Barbara Mission for a glimpse into the city’s rich history.

Spend an evening on State Street

Women will be passionately interested in sifting through the abundant shops and boutiques on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, and men in general will be tortured with boredom at the prospect. But State Street has something to offer everyone, and I generally compromise with my better half. I give her the freedom to tour the area in shopping bliss in exchange for fourteen dollars. This is enough to buy a book at Barnes and Noble or Borders (both conveniently located nearby), or two glasses of beer at one of the many local restaurants, bars, and microbreweries. Even if you share a bank account, this is still a useful practice. Also, remember to always buy large 23 ounce beers so you can say legitimately that you only had two. Stick around State Street for dinner, and you’ll get a good meal in any style you can think of. There are so many restaurants in the area that you can easily just walk around until you find something that sounds good. If you’re in the mood for Italian, I recommend Aldo’s at 1031 State St. The night life in this neighborhood is fantastic as well, whether you are looking for live music or a dance club.

Give Surfing a Shot

I know, it looks like they’re just standing up briefly and falling down a lot. How could that be measurably pleasant? But surfing is thrilling and fun even the first time you try. Like golf it’s easy to learn but nearly impossible to master. A-frame Surf Shop in nearby Carpinteria offers inexpensive surfing lessons with a very casual attitude and atmosphere. These guys don’t take anything too seriously, so you can learn at your own pace without any fear of embarrassment or any tangible time constraints. Once you stand up on your first wave you will understand why so many people surf, and once you get crushed by your first big one you will have new respect for their sport.