California coastal city an ideal place to visit
A big village and a small city. The convergence of Northern and Southern California culture. A friendly place with an effortless charm.
These are a few of the descriptions of Santa Barbara given to us by the locals during a recent six-night stay. Or, as one Uber driver put it: “The only thing we don’t have that would make it the best place in the world is warm water in the ocean.”
A husband and wife recently spent six nights here — and the husband who fell off his standup paddle board and into the harbour can report the water was actually quite comfortable, thank you very much.
Whether sipping on Syrah in the wine-proud city at the northern edge of Socal, sauntering on one of the endless and beautiful beaches, eating local seafood or produce, strolling expansive State St., or failing at watersports, Santa Barbara is the kind of place where some of the best experiences are the simple ones.
If the 360-degree views of the Santa Ynez mountains and the Pacific Ocean aren’t enough, there’s also the Mediterranean climate, meaning there’s nextto-no guesswork. Today’s forecast is the same as next week’s: Warm and sunny, but not popsicle-melting hot.
Colloquially called the American Riviera, Santa Barbara and its surrounding areas — most notably Montecito — have long served as a hideaway home to Hollywood stars including single-name sensations Oprah and Ellen. And while it’s forever been referred to as a place for the newly wed and the nearly dead, we’ll add that Santa Barbara is equal parts accessible and approachable for anyone seeking fun, sun and a classic California experience, minus the crowds of Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
For Canadians looking to escape the cold, consider Santa Barbara a worthy alternative to tested and true Florida.
UNBEATABLE BEACHES
Santa Barbara boasts 25 beaches stretching 160 kilometres. Yes, this is vintage California at its best.
July and August are when you’ll find the warmest weather — and water — along Santa Barbara’s coastline, but considering the consistent sunshine in these parts, you can’t really go wrong visiting in the shoulder season. There are fewer visitors in the spring and fall, so your meditative moment is less likely to be interrupted by a Frisbee to the noggin.
Upon arrival to Santa Barbara, venture to East Beach, where you’ll find wide stretches of sand along the south-facing shoreline, surrounded by numerous amenities, including the famous Stearns Wharf.
Besides Hollywood stars, neighbouring Montecito is home to popular Butterfly Beach, which faces west, making it an ideal place to watch the sun set.
Santa Barbara’s beaches are as varied as they are stunning, but a common theme is that they rarely feel overcrowded.
PRO TIP: If you’re staying right in Santa Barbara, walk down to East Beach or the harbour to watch the sun rise.
CHANNEL YOUR ADVENTUROUS SIDE
Hello darkness, my old friend. It’s not as though there wasn’t much to see, it’s more a case of not being able to see. Kayaking inside a cave on the Pacific Ocean (Santa Cruz Island) is sure to awaken the senses: Waves lapping up against razorsharp rocks, the chirping of cormorants, brown pelicans and western gulls, echoing whispers of excited thrill-seekers, the cool breeze coming off the sea, salt in the air, relative silence.
If only we could bottle those awe-inspiring moments up to put in our return luggage.
Exploring a sea cave system by kayak isn’t for everyone — as it turns out, about an hourand-a-half of manoeuvring through ocean swells following an hour-long ferry ride is where my sea-sick self apparently reaches his max. But even while my three-hour expedition was cut in half — my wife saw the expedition through to its end — the Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour offered at Channel Islands National Park truly is once-in-alifetime special.
Snorkelling, swimming, hiking and camping are also offered in abundance on the islands.
The Channel Islands National Park is often referred to as North America’s Galapagos Islands. It’s an undeniable treasure trove for the nature lover.
PRO TIP: If you go, consider staying the night in Ventura rather than Santa Barbara the day prior to your departure to avoid shelling out big bucks for transportation. Also, due to its remoteness, cell service is dicey on the islands and there are few places to buy provisions. It’s highly encouraged to either pack a lunch or purchase one through Channel Islands Provisioners.
ZONED-IN ON FOOD AND DRINK
With countless restaurants and more than 200 wineries, it’s safe to say you won’t go hungry or thirsty in Santa Barbara.
At the forefront of Santa Barbara’s booming food and drink scene is the Funk Zone, a transformed former warehouse and feedmill district nestled between the oceanfront and Hwy. 101, featuring an array of contemporary offerings, including wine-tasting rooms, restaurants, cafes, galleries, shops and murals.
It’s in the Funk Zone where you’ll find the bulk of boutique wineries that are included on the Urban Wine Trail (urbanwinetrailsb.com), highlighting 30-plus wineries. The trail is a fantastic option for those staying in the city, but wanting to experience the region’s robust and diverse wines.
The Santa Barbara Winery, founded in 1962 by a transplanted Canadian, Montreal native Pierre Lafond, is the oldest winery in the region, while Municipal Winemakers is also an interesting stop on the trail.
PRO TIP: Try the Summer Peach pizza at Bettina and the Mariscos paella at Loquita. Bouchon’s foodie stroll (bouchonsantabarbara.com) is a must, as is the epic homemade toffee sundae at Jane.
A TOTALLY AWESOME TIME
Of course, no food and drink landscape would be complete without a fantastic collection of craft breweries — and Santa Barbara
has a growing beer scene.
Perhaps the best way to experience the local suds is to have someone drive you around town while regaling in the history and culture of the area. We spent an afternoon with Totally Cali Tours (totallycalitours.com), tasting some terrific beer and hearing all about the area. It was informal, informative and wildly entertaining, thanks to owner and operator Melissa Hopf’s amazing spirit.
Hopf, who offers wine, brewery, walking, history and customized tours throughout Santa Barbara, said there’s just something special about the area.
“I’ve lived all throughout California. This is my favourite,” she said.
PRO TIP: If you do the brewery tour, pace yourself!