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Lucy Lea TuckerLucy Lea Tucker
Lucy Lea TuckerLucy Lea Tucker
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Travel Tips – Santa Barbara

the latest, travel tips

ACTIVITIES:

  • Lotusland – It’s inland and up the hill a bit. Make a reservation ahead of time, timed entry in morning and afternoons
  • The Mission and rose garden – ride bikes up State Street.

RESTAURANTS:

  • Rancho San Ysidro (Lunch) – one of my all-time favorite meals! $pendy but worth it. Jackie O and JFK spent their honeymoon here – make reservations. Lunch in the garden or by the fireplace if it is chilly.
  • Brophy Brothers – Next to the wharf/on the water. Clam chowder. 
  • Shoreline beach restaurant – feet in sand 
  • Tacos, el Bajio on Milpas
  • Corazon Cantina in the Public Market
  • Corazon Cantina in the Public Market.  
  • La Paloma since it has been redone but the setting was always a favorite.  
  • La Super Rica Taqueria – Julia Childs’ favorite Mexican spot. Gordita. rajas tacos. Queso fundido. Rica especial. Al pastor quesadilla.
  • Carlito’s on State street for Mexican and margaritas
  • Los Arroyos in Montecito

Funk Zone:

  • Municipal winemakers is a favorite.
  • Mony
  • Beer garden
  • Margerum Winery. Around the corner from Melville Winery. 
  • Dinner at Loquita – Rose Sangria. We did four tapas (octopus, prawns, tortilla, asparagus)
  • Melville for afternoon Wine (They close at 7pm) – you’re required to order food as well. Hummus with homemade pita chips 
  • Dinner on the beautiful patio at La Playa Azul
  • Lucky Penny for pizza
  • The Lark for dinner
  • The Blue Door for vintage and mid-century modern furniture finds. 

DRINKS:

  • The Biltmore (For a drink) Butterfly Beach across from Biltmore

HOTELS:

  • Hotel Californian
  • Palihouse
  • The Canary (downtown)
  • Montecito Inn, (in Montecito near butterfly beach and coast village road shops) 
  • Harbor View Inn (on beach near state street and downtown)
  • Little Ones on West Beach
  • Hotel Oceana, Eagle Inn, Villa Rosa 
  • On east beach, Cabrillo inn is a little bare bones but a great deal

HIKES:

  • Cold Spring Trail – East Fork. Cold Spring has a few ways to go-Montecito
  • Inspiration Point Trail – in SB. Up and back. 
  • Seven Falls
  • Hot Springs – saddle rock – views – heart in rocks. Back to ocean go left go to a fire road. Right on the road. First set of power lines to do a loop. Go right at the bench and loop back to saddle rock. On tree go down. (At bench go left to San Ysidro) Hot spring is good but parking is hard. 
  • Romero Canyon has loops that are longer. The 5.6 miler loop feels longer in a good way.
  • Gaviota Peak is about 8 miles and you are almost at the best restaurant in all of SB County….Industrial Eats in Buellton.  Well worth it.
  • San Ysidro trail – fire road up. San Ysidro is up and back but it’s good. 
  • Front side Monetcito hikes are great for shorter day hikes. 
  • Hike Tequapis on the way to San Ynez. It is about an 8 miler as well then you can end up at SY Kitchen. 

Downtown SB:

  • Walk or Bike State Street. Fun to ride through slowly since it’s closed off and has a dedicated bike line. Probably best earlier in the day. 
  • Take Hotel bikes to Handelbar Coffee just off State Street – We took our coffees/food across the street on benches at the Mission/Presidio.   
  • Caje coffee house / patio

Montecito:

  • Coast Village
  • Montecito Country Mart
  • Upper Village in Montecito
  • Bettina Restaurant
  • Lucky’s Restaurant
  • Merci – breakfast spot-Montecito
  • Olivers – upscale vegetarian – Montecito
  • Renaud’s patio is nice to sit for a coffee and almond croissants
  • la Bree’osh has good almond croissants too. We went to both places on Saturday morning.
  • Upper Village in Montecito 
  • Rosewood Hotel / Miramar beach 
  • Lunch at San Ysidro Ranch – Request table upstairs on patio with view of the water. 

Heads up on both SB/Montecito:

  • Uber drivers are extremely limited and rides can take 30+ minutes to arrive. Plan / schedule ahead or take bikes.
  • Most restaurants close early (last seatings at 7-7:30) and wineries even earlier. Early to bed, early to rise.

Wine Country:

  • Cold Spring Tavern – worth visiting  en route to wine country. 
  • We enjoyed staying at Santa Ynez Inn  because they provided a wine passport (free tastings) to several wineries. 
  • SY Kitchen dinner
  • Red Barn for dinners
  • Los Olivos is super cute and worth a visit. Los Olivos —the Bells people just opened a new French joint.  
  • Los Alamos is a farther drive but it has Bells…worth it
To see Lea’s most up-to-date Travel Tip’s for Santa Barbara, click here.

Tags: travel tips

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