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