Santa Barbara
(FAST FACT: With over 50 parks of all kinds, Santa Barbara has more open space per capita than any other city in the country.)
A mere 92-miles north of Los Angeles, the easygoing wine-country community of Santa Barbara has long been recognized as California’s “American Riviera.”
Play
Golf gurus can experience top-quality Bermuda while also appreciating expansive ocean vistas at Sandpiper Golf Club. For scenic panoramas of sweeping mountains and valleys, Rancho San Marcos is a best bet. Duffers in the Santa Ynez wine region should golf the greens at La Purisima. A member of California’s Central Coast Golf Trail, La Purisima was voted one of the 50 Toughest Courses by Golf Digest. Its tough layout and ball-thieving tendencies have even provoked locals to nickname the course “La Piranha.” www.lapurisimagolf.com, www.sandpipergolf.com.
The arts are now more alive than ever in Santa Barbara, since 1st Thursdays debuted downtown in early 2007. Also, you can easily view downtown architecture by way of the city’s simple self-guided Red Tile Walking Tour. www.santabarbaradowntown.com/go.
The emerging Funk Zone (a hot hangout among locals), east of State Street by the waterfront, is a can’t-miss. What used to be the town’s industrial hub is now a mixed-use establishment housing eclectic businesses like galleries, wine tasting rooms, surfboard shapers and other local indie treasures. Cap off your night’s entertainment with a visit to The Granada theater on State Street, which reopened in March after a several-year closure for extensive renovations. www.granadasb.org/index.html
Dine
Hungry tourists can indulge at David Lentz’s hip and happening hot spot Hungry Cat, which initially carved its culinary reputation in Hollywood. The raw bar and bistro offers unique handmade cocktail creations that complement your meal. www.thehungrycat.com.
Two blocks from State Street, Quantum Kitchen & Cocktails, another newbie, serves gourmet comfort food and farm-fresh classic dishes. www.quantumrestaurant.com.
SeaGrass, a seafood restaurant in wine country, was started by the team behind Bouchon Santa Barbara. With fish and produce sourced from fresh local markets and an entire menu page devoted strictly to Santa Barbara pinot noirs, this is a superb spot to savor local flavors. www.seagrassrestaurant.com.
Healthy sorts will drink to EOS Lounge, which since summer of 2007 has been offering chic organic cocktails.
Several reputed local chefs make themselves available for cooking classes in the area. Chef Leonardo Curti opens his own home in wine country to teach visitors. Culinary aficionado and writer Laurence Hauben has been known to host special tours and culinary courses. At the Roblar Winery & Vineyards in Los Olivos, learn from “guest chefs” hailing from fine restaurants and resorts worldwide. Market Forays’ guided culinary tours will let you meet the people behind your meal. You’ll meet growers and fishermen; visit the farms where raw ingredients originate; and cook and eat amazing dishes. www.marketforays.com.
Wine
It goes without saying that Santa Barbara has more wine tasting and touring options than you can raise a toast to. Still, there are new ways to “wine” in the region.
Several local outfitters offer guided tours of Santa Barbara’s Downtown Urban Wine Trail. In the span of an afternoon, you’ll tour four downtown tasting rooms. (Conveniently, bottles you purchase can be dropped off at your hotel.) www.breakaway-tours.com. Don’t want a chaperone? Do it yourself with the Urban Wine Trail Map, available at any of the wineries en route.
Sustainable Vine Wine Tours are another fab way to experience Santa Barbara’s venerable vinos. Take a “green” wine-tasting tour of the area’s organic and biodynamic wineries, and learn about cutting-edge sustainable and organic wine-making practices. With transportation provided by a biodiesel-powered van, tour-goers enjoy rare behind-the-scenes access to wineries normally closed to the public. www.sustainablevine.com.
Quit wining! Well, just for long enough to celebrate the noteworthy (and in some cases, award-winning) microbreweries located in the Santa Barbara region. Get a taste of Santa Barbara’s sudsier side through one of Captain Jack’s Tours. www.captainjackstours.com.
Stay
The new Canary Hotel Santa Barbara (formerly Hotel Andalucia) opened on downtown State Street in January. Brought to you by the team behind celebrated Santa Monica celeb haunts Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar, the sophisticated hangout, complete with rooftop pool and bar, is a stylish scene. www.canarysantabarbara.com.
