We would like to spend two or three nights in Santa Barbara and for those who could help me - what would you choose?
1. 3 nights at the Four Seasons Biltmore - 3rd night is free so it would work out to $737.54 for 3 nights;
2. Or a really nice bed and breakfast? I've looked at Simpson House Inn.
If I chose a b&b, we would probably only stay two nights, we'd initially only planned on spending 2 nights in Santa Barbara and then 2 nights in Solvang but with the 3rd night free (well, not really!) we thought we'd stay an extra night in SB.
Would really love to hear some comments! Could I perhaps get a better deal at the 4 Seasons than this?Thank you

You have apples and oranges. The Biltmore is fabulous and very large and very expensive. Location is great and right across from the ocean. I find it quite impersonal.

Simpson House is like visiting a wealthy family member who loves you very much and wants you to be really happy. I enjoy it being in town and being able to walk to dinner.

I would only drive to Solvang and look around.

Thanks Trisha, I guess the reason we thought we'd go to Solvang is to do a wine tour, but also I found Hadsten House at $89 per night and it had good recommendations. I also thought it would be closer to the wine country - Maybe not? What do you mean about the Simpson House being 'in town'? Do you mean the 4 Seasons is out of town? Also, I read the bedrooms at Simpson House are 'very small' Are there other b&b's you would recommend as well?

As long as you mentioned Solvang and a wine tour, let me recommend this. First, rent the movie "Sideways"and watch it. It's a very good and humorous movie filmed in the Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez valley wine country. It got an academy award for something or other. Then go to this site and download the map that shows the places visited by the leads in the movie on their tour of the wine country.
http://www.santabarbaraca.com/experi...rism/sideways/

Then make up your own tour based on what you learn in the foregoing.

I agree with Trisha about Solvang. Over the years it has evolved from a quaint Danish town into a tourist trap. Too bad.

Thanks once again, I'll look into this. I forgot to mention there is another Santa Barbara hotel called Harbour View that sounds nice, a bit cheaper than 4 Seasons. So I'm wondering whether that might be a good option. I think I'm leaning towards staying more in Santa Barbara and going on a wine tour from there???

"I think I'm leaning towards staying more in Santa Barbara and going on a wine tour from there???"

Yes. That would be a good plan.

Santa Barbara is a lovely town, nicknamed the American Riviera. I've enjoyed staying near the downtown area and walking around. Don't miss checking courthouse, really beautiful. There are several tasting rooms, many nice restaurants, fun shopping.Two days is fine, then your idea of Solvang sounds good or perhaps Los Olivos. Los Olivos is more wine country.

Los Olivos is lovely. We ate at Brophy Bros seafood restaurant on the Wharf in SB recently. Great food altho you may have to wait for a table. it was buzzing on Monday lunchtime

Yes, 4 seasons is just south of SB in the wealthy Montecito neighborhood (where Oprah has her compound). It's the only hotel that's right on the ocean (Harbor View Inn is across the street from the wharf). Montecito is relaxing with shoppes and nice restaurants. It is a few minutes drive up to Santa Barbara.

If you prefer to be in the center of the action, Harbor View Inn is a great spot by the wharf and is right on the trolley line so you can make quick hops downtown (up State Street). It's what I would call a very upscale motel.

Hadsten House would save you $500, but you'd have a 35 minute drive down to Santa Barbara. The drive up and back is quite nice at this time of year, unless it rains. Staying here would put you close to wine country and if you like lovely drives through ranch country and wine country, this would not be a bad idea. You could also visit Pismo Beach, Shell Beach, Avila Beach and see lots within 45 minute drives up the coast. I will say that coastal driving at this time of year is quite lovely. Hadsten House though is a renovated quality inn with just views of other motels on sort of a "motel strip". The rooms apparently are divine. Solvang is a bit of a tourist trap, uniquely charming for California but just worth an afternoon stroll in my opinion.

You really can't go wrong. If it were me I would choose Hadsten House and save the $500.00 for dining at the Ballard Inn nearby and some other little luxuries. But I do love meandering drives all over green countryside and a day-trip to Santa Barbara Wharf and Montecito beach would be enough for me at this time of year.

I suppose it depends on whether you're looking to kick-back and relax, or if you like to get up and go in areas with lots of casual dining and shopping and beachside cafes.

Back to Santa Barbara. Things to do and see.

Attractions:
http://www.santabarbara.com/points_of_interest/

A really big tree:
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/sbtree.html

Iconic place for breakfast:
http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/610/index.htm

For that price and location, I would choose the Four Seasons. The Harbour View Inn looked like a regular motel-type place to me, sitting on a corner w/o oceanfront views. I hear it's a nice place, and would consider it if you didn't have a good price at the Four Seasons of $245/night.

As I recall, you can walk along the beach walk from the Four Seasons up to the pier, if you want. It isn't really out of town, per se. At least not that I recall.

We stayed at the Fess Parker Doubletree resort, which is nice, too, but nothing like the Four Seasons. We had a nice oceanview patio, big room with two queen beds, and it does have nice grounds.

I don't think you can beat the deal you have found, though, at the Seasons.

Thanks everyone for your input. We (I) have decided to book the 4 Seasons for 3 nights through its regular website - a touch more expensive but at least I have a chance to cancel within a time limit if I decide that it's too much money. For the 4th day and night, we'll leave early from santa barbara and do the wine tour all day and stay at the Hadsten House in SOlvang.

What a local would do (don’t know any), is take 154 over San Marcos Pass aka Cachuma Pass . Great view of the lake, few minutes quicker (even driving slowly, which you will do), and 101 is just boring that stretch so nothing lost. You’ll get to Solvang in no time from SB, maybe 30 mins? (well, I do).

Turn left at 246 into Solvang. Forget what people say, I always enjoy the ride up and hanging ‘round there a bit.

When you’re done, head back EAST on Mission out of Solvang (very short ways) & turn left on Alimo Pintado Rd (only road I take in and out of Solvang). It is a very short and very scenic drive. Stop in Los Olivos. Great bbq tri-tp sandwiches at the little market there, or spend a lil’ more at the Los Olivos Café.

There are a few wineries there. Check out small Ballard, and Ballard Inn, more like a tiny neighborhood with a town name.

Cross OVER 154 to Foxen Canyon Rd to get to more wine country. Good map here:

http://www.sbcountywines.com/visit/map.html click to enlarge.

Teeny bit of cool info: just before Zaca Rd (not shown on the map) on the right side, you will see a locked gate. Five miles up is a lake where they filmed Monster from the Black Lagoon and one of the Halloween movies with Jason. Will need more wine….

Circle back to 101 S and exit at 154 back to Los Olivos, then the back way (Grand ave in Los Olivos will turn into Alimo Pintado)to Solvang if that’s where you’re gonna stay. It’s all scenic and doable in a day. Sunday drives many a time.

Some dining options: Mattie’s Tavern (historical stagecoach stop) in Los Olivos or Hitching Post in Buellton (RSVP both) or Firestone in Buellton (large cavernous eatery and sports hang-out).

Enjoy your stay! We’ll keep the lights on fer ya!

Any likelihood of garden tours in Santa Barbara in late May?

http://www.sbbg.org/

Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens are open all year.

What about gardens at private homes?

DH and I went out to Santa Barbara in Sept and had a great time. We did many of the things Bear900 describes, including the tri-tip sandwiches and driving along Alamo Pintado Rd. There are SO many wineries in Los Olivos that we had a hard time choosing just a few!!

Solvang was kind of freaky. DH described it as "the town of Duloc from Shrek" and I think that sums it up...

I'm so glad you decided on the Biltmore. It's our favorite get away from LA and a marvelous place to stay. Love their restaurant, Bella Vista. They have fireplaces out on the outdoor patio, very atmospheric. The grounds are beautiful, and they have a nice spa.

Don't care for Solvang anymore.