Santa Barbara, California

CaliforniaUSATravel
Written By Carrie Mitchell

Santa Barbara has always been one of my favorite places to escape LA for - whether you are driving or taking the convenient Pacific Surfliner train, and it offers plenty of beauty, activities and wine. I usually take time to visit nearby Ojai as well. The city calls itself the American Riviera, and if you travel to Santa Barbara you'll see why: This central coast city, which sits on an idyllic stretch of coastline and is sheltered by the foothills of the Santa Ynez mountains, has a Mediterranean-like climate and a civility that feels downright European. In fact, it once was European: the Spanish settled the city in the 1600s, and the Mission Santa Barbara is still one of the city's most treasured landmarks. It is also home to the University of California, Santa Barbara, so there is a good balance of locals and students in this town of roughly 88,000+ people.

Read my on the city’s annual Old Spanish Days Fiesta in August

Read my overview on California State and getaways on California Cool

WHEN TO GO

Luckily, there is not a lot of variation in temperature over the course of the year, so any day can be a gorgeous day in Santa Barbara. But here are some factors to consider:
• The Santa Barbara travel season peaks in summer, both in terms of crowds and prices. July through September will have the warmest temperatures for swimming, while June can be iffy, thanks to the higher chance of fog (locals call it June Gloom). 
• Early fall can bring summery swimming weather, and the prices drop a bit, too, making it a good time to visit. The only weather risks come from the falls of Santa Ana and "sundowner" winds, which can be strong.
• Winter and early spring carry the highest likelihood of rain and cooler temperatures—sometimes it's downright chilly at night—but the season also has the lowest prices.

FOOD

There is SO much great food in Santa Barbara, from seafood to Mexican. I frequent many places for fresh cerviche and tacos whenever I am there. Here are are some of Eater’s essential stops, a list of favorite taco spots and a few of my regular stops:

STAY

Be aware, that Santa Barbara is a very pricey place to stay. If you are going to do a longer stay, I would suggest a vacation area OR staying in a surrounding area. There’s no shortage of elysian Santa Barbara hotels in both the seaside city and its idyllic surrounding areas of Montecito (where big celebs like Oprah, Ellen, Harry & Megan, Gwyenth and more live) and the Santa Ynez wine country, or even Ojai if you want to go further. The central California region, after all, has been a popular getaway since the early 1950s—its abundance of sunshine, Mediterranean climate, and sprawling Pacific Ocean views made it a magnet for well-to-do honeymooners, road-trippers, and celebrities during the booming post-war era. Soon, the area gained the nickname of the “American Riviera” (a nod to the French coastal region idealized by vacationers of every era, everywhere). 70 years later, and the area’s popularity proves perennial: Santa Barbara a must-stop for those cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, Los Angeles weekenders, and, well, anyone who desires to live out a California fantasy. So, for those planning—or just daydreaming—about a trip, here are our favorite Santa Barbara hotels in the city proper and its surrounding areas.

  • Rosewood Miramar Beach

  • Belmond El Encanto

  • San Ysidro Ranch

  • The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern

  • Four Seasons The Biltmore Santa Barbara (*This location has closed)

THINGS TO DO

Visit the Santa Barbara Tourism for plenty of ideas and information, to fully explore this jewel on the Pacific, and be sure to visit some of the most popular attractions. Personally, I fully chill out, bike the waterfront, spa, yoga or surf, maybe do a sail (book an Airbnb experience or mini cruise), visit a vineyard or two, and eat all of my favorites. Some other popular stops include:

TRIPS NEARBY

  • Ojai

  • Carpinteria

  • Solvang

  • Santa Ynez Valley

  • Further Out: If you plan to road trip North, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo (where the fabulous Hearst Castle is located, and the quirky Madonna Inn), and Paso Robles (more wine country) can make for a nice drive.

For other California getaway stops away from the cities, visit my previous post on “California Cool”

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Carrie Mitchell
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