{"id":17265,"date":"2014-05-10T05:37:11","date_gmt":"2014-05-10T05:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=17265"},"modified":"2021-10-28T16:39:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T16:39:39","slug":"santa-barbara-weekend-getaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/santa-barbara-weekend-getaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Barbara weekend getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Growing up in Los Angeles, I often spent summer weekends with my family in Santa Barbara<\/a>. You might have found us squeezed into one of those multiperson bikes, gliding along the boardwalk. After hiking one of the many trails in the mountains above town, we also were fond of grabbing lunch on the main drag, State Street.<\/p>\n

In the spring of 2014, I returned to Santa Barbara<\/a> and cruised around town with my sister, who lives there now. The trip reminded me of all those great family memories. It also showed me that Santa Barbara is perfect for couples. And it got me quite motivated to come back for a visit with my boyfriend.<\/p>\n

Inspired by the trip, here is a 48-hour itinerary I put together for a romantic and active weekend getaway in Santa Barbara.<\/p>\n

Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arriving in the afternoon, check in at Canary, a Kimpton Hotel<\/a>. This hotel, just off State Street, has Spanish-inspired interiors and a gorgeous roof deck with views of the mountains, town, and sea. Once you are settled into your room, go upstairs to the roof to relax as you watch the sunset.<\/p>\n

For your first night-time outing, head a few minutes south of Santa Barbara to the small enclave of Montecito<\/a>. The area along Coast Village Road is high-end, and there are a number of restaurants perfect for a relaxed and romantic date night. My favorites are Trattoria Mollie (which has amazing Italian food and regularly imports truffles from the Piedmont region of Italy) and Lucky\u2019s (a traditional and delicious steak house).<\/p>\n

Viewfinder Tip: Weather in Santa Barbara actually is best during fall and winter, when the skies are often clearer and the light almost magical.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Saturday <\/strong><\/p>\n

Beach day! Make sure to pack yourself a little day-sack full of beach necessities. And you may want to wear your bathing suit under your clothes, as well. But to start, you need to eat, and there are scores of restaurants with traditional American breakfasts up and down State Street.<\/p>\n

Another option: Make a beeline for D\u2019Angelo\u2019s Bread, six blocks away on Gutierrez Street. This restaurant serves full breakfasts, as well as sell freshly baked bread and pastries. The place does get busy, so be sure to get there early to beat the crowds. My favorite item on the menu is “Egg Rose,” which comprises two poached eggs on Kalamata olive bread with artichoke spread. Yum!<\/p>\n

After breakfast, stroll a couple blocks to the intersection of Santa Barbara and Cota streets to experience the Santa Barbara Certified Farmer\u2019s Market. Most Saturdays year-round, you can find an awesome bounty of California produce and flora here. In the summer, the market is open from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.<\/p>\n

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