Santa Barbara is the perfect weekend escape. Don’t let the 4.5-hour drive intimidate you; there are lots of cute towns along the way, including Paso Robles, Solvang, and San Luis Obispo, where you can stop for a snack and a stroll.  Before you know it, you’re in beautiful, sunny Santa Barbara. 

WHERE TO STAY

Mar Monte is located on the quiet, east side of town, directly across from the beach – which is about as beachfront as you can get in this part of Santa Barbara. This is a quieter area of town and the beach is less crowded than the beaches closer to the more touristy area of State Street. The view of the sunrise from here is magnificent. 

Mar Monte is a newly renovated property belonging to Hyatt’s Unbound Collection of hotels. The rooms are modest and tasteful with contemporary and Spanish accents throughout. Details like a towel hook shaped like a diver mid-dive, whimsical artwork, and colorful Spanish tiles in the bathroom add an eclectic flair. French doors open to a spacious patio where sun and a good book are the perfect combination. From the patio, you can admire the beach, take a nap under the palm trees, or people-watch. The hotel is pet-friendly and a favorite pastime here is walking the dogs on the beach. There’s also a nice swimming pool where guests can work on their tans and go for a swim. Other activities include complimentary bicycles, bocce ball, and yoga classes on the beach.

The hotel also offers meeting spaces and, during our stay, several weddings and celebrations were happening. The meeting spaces, both inside and outside, have great views of the beach, so it’s easy to see why Mar Monte is the perfect space to host a special event. Mar Monte Hotel * 1111 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 

WHERE TO EAT

Start the day with breakfast at Mar Monte’s on-site restaurant, Costa Kitchen & Bar. The chorizo & egg burrito is simple and delicious, a tortilla stuffed with plenty of egg and tasty chorizo. Ask for extra salsa. 

For lunch, taste the tacos at Corazon Cocina located in the SB Public Market. The fish taco and the carne asada taco are delicious. And their horchata is perfect.

Another great breakfast spot is The Shop on Milpas. Order The Melt, a monster of a sandwich loaded with juicy slabs of applewood smoked ham and melted Havarti cheese sandwiched between eggy French toast and drizzled with buttery syrup. With fresh-squeezed OJ, it’s a hearty way to start the day.  

The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach is a must when visiting Santa Barbara. Come for lunch or early dinner (before sunset) so the ocean view can be fully appreciated. The uni, served on top of scallop ceviche and thin slices of blood orange, is sublime. The uni was plump and creamy and the orange added just the right amount of acid and sweetness. The fresh raw oysters are perfect – briny and sweet. Another favorite is the Ahi Poke: fresh raw tuna on top of seaweed salad to be scooped with crispy wonton chips.  

One of the best places to eat in Santa Barbara has to be Sama Sama Kitchen. If you have any doubt that this is a sweet spot for good food at reasonable prices, look online and read all about it – everybody loves Sama Sama Kitchen, including the Michelin Guide which has it listed as a Bib Gourmand restaurant. Located in the heart of downtown on State Street, Sama Sama Kitchen serves up delicious Indonesian and Southeast Asian dishes. Start with a Jamu Margarita or a Topa Topa beer to go with their lip-smacking signature wings – crispy and sticky with tamarind soy – followed by the fragrant fish curry wrapped in banana leaf and a refreshing green papaya salad. It was an amazing meal and at happy hour prices, we were thrilled. Only the dessert of dense banana beignets was slightly disappointing. This is a definite go-to spot in Santa Barbara. 

THINGS TO DO

Take a self-guided tour of Old Mission Santa Barbara. The structure is said to be the most beautiful mission in California and, thus, is known as “Queen of the Missions.” Stroll through the cemetery, visit the church, and learn about the history of the mission and the surrounding area.

Visit the Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens. Commune with nature and learn about the native foliage in the Santa Barbara area. Follow the paths and enjoy the peace and quiet. My favorite path is the one to the Redwoods.

Nearby the botanic gardens is the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the oldest museum in Santa Barbara. Explore the natural history of the region, including native flora and fauna, Chumash culture, and pygmy mammoth skeletons from the Channel Islands. Make sure to wander along the beautiful creek paths outside.

Go beer and wine tasting. There’s a cool area in Santa Barbara called the Funk Zone where there are tasting rooms, breweries, and restaurants. The Santa Barbara area produces some great local wines – try some and take a few bottles home.

Listen to some live music at The Red Piano. The night we went, Sarah Angel was performing at the red piano. She could play and sing anything from Lady Gaga to Elton John. It was very entertaining. 

Other fun things to do in Santa Barbara: 

Santa Barbara BCycle – A new electric bike-share program; docking stations are located throughout downtown and along the waterfront.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum – Located at Santa Barbara Harbor; learn about the history of seafaring in the area, as well as topics like surfing, diving, and more.

Santa Barbara Sailing Center – Enjoy a glass of wine with beautiful views from the water. Tip: This is a romantic pastime judging from all of the cute couples on the boat.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center – Located on Stearns Wharf, the museum has new exhibits on the Santa Barbara Channel.

For more ideas of where to go and what to do in Santa Barbara, visit SantaBarbaraCA.com