Here’s a mini-guide to a weekend getaway to Santa Barbara, California.
STAY:
If you’re going to SB, you’ll want to stay right by the beach and be close to State Street. Que in Hotel Milo- directly across from the water and a blocks walk from State St! You can park your car and never use it again with this prime location.
EAT:
If you google the best restaurants in SB, The Lark will definitely be on the list. It’s a super cute establishment with a sophisticated seasonal menu highlighting local ingredients. I’d recommend a table on the trendy side-patio. And don’t miss out on the crispy Brussel sprouts and seafood dishes.
For California Coastal Mexican, there are two great choices, Santo Mezcal or Flor De Maiz. For all my cheese lovers, Santo Mezcal’s queso fundido is to die for but don’t fill up on it because the whole menu is delicious. Their cocktail list offers far more than a traditional margarita too, and they are strong drinks!
DRINK:
For a fun afternoon you can bar hop all the wine tasting rooms lining Yananoli St and the surrounding blocks. There are so many to choose from! The best part is you can do it all WALKING.
J. Wilkes is great if you can snag one of the few patio tables that looks out on State St. and for their cheese plate. Pali Wine Co is centrally located in the “tasting room hub” of Yananoli St. It also features a cute outdoor patio.
COFFEE:
Wake up and walk over to Dart Coffee, a cute neighborhood coffee shop. If you make it in time, they may still have breakfast empanadas left. Directly across from the coffee shop is an adorable garden area designated to enjoy your coffee.
Another cute coffee shop to check out (but not necessarily walking distance) is Dune Coffee. Another local fav & isn’t it better to support small businesses?! Both of these coffee shops feature impressive murals for all the art lovers and Instagram photo ops.
DO:
Check out one of the beach cruisers from Hotel Milo and head south along the beach on the bike path. After a few miles the path heads away from the ocean and passes a beautiful bird refuge/ saltwater marsh. From here, the trail cuts off, and you have to take a few streets to get to Butterfly Beach. The entire ride is gorgeous; however, this portion to reach BB is out of a fairy tale!
If you want to get in a little more exercise, hike Inspiration Point. It’s a moderate hike and just 3.5 miles long. At the top, you’ll get beautiful views of Santa Barbara and the entire coastline. The trailhead is only a 20-minute drive from the beach.
I hope this guide is helpful- if so, save it for future reference! Have any places you love that I missed? Tell me in the comments.
