My parents (50's) are visiting this weekend (July 4th holiday) and would like to make a day trip up to Santa Barbara. I need help with things to do factoring in that it's supposed to be really hot this weekend (at least in LA - the valley), they like to sightsee but get bored if they are just walking around in a garden, not interested in the wine tours (all wined out from a recent Napa trip) and not interested in going further into the central valley (i.e Hearst Castle, Big Sur, etc.) as it's only a day trip.

Anyone have suggestions? Here's what I was thinking as possible options:

- Channel Islands (take the ferry from SB - anyone have info on the ferries, when, how much, where?)
- Mission SB
- Montecito (any suggestions on where specifically in Montecito to check out, how to do we get there from SB?)
- SB Botanical Gardens (is there a lot to see, or is it boring?)
- Solvang
- any suggestions for a beach to walk thru?
- any areas where we can walk around for a bit and see?
- suggestions for good restaurants, given we'll be in casual clothing?
- how far from SB or Solvang is the Chumash casino?
- Hope Ranch? (is it accessible to the public at least as a drive thru? is there anything to see?)

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!!!

bump

help, anyone???

First, I'd skip Solvang. It's hot there too, and I think boring. Just stay in the Santa Barbara area for the day. You arrive in Montecito just before SB, and you should get off the freeway, and stop for lunch at the Biltmore Hotel across from the ocean. We've stayed there several times and truly love it. Even in casual clothes, you could eat out doors in one of their restaurants, The Patio. Your parents should enjoy it.

http://www.fourseasons.com/santabarb...dining_55.html

From there continue on Cabrillo Ave. up to Sterns Wharf in SB. It's nice to walk on the pier, and there are also a couple restaurants featuring seafood and shops. Here is a link on what to do there. You can walk along the beach area from the wharf.

http://www.santabarbara.com/points_o...wharf/todo.asp

Then I would drive down State Street, perhaps walk around the shops. Drive to the Mission and take a tour, and then the Botanical Gardens.

http://www.fourseasons.com/santabarb...dining_55.html

There's a start, I'm sure you'll get other good ideas too.
8-)

Nancy - thanks for the tips!

Hi annimal, in that I have family in that area I was going to post suggestions but MBnancy posted what I was thinking. All good thoughts IMO.

A couple of added suggestion. South of Santa Barbara on 101 is the downtown area of Ventura. There are great restaurants there and lots of small shops (rather European style) that they might also enjoy. If you do head south on 101 to Ventura you will see the turnoff for Hwy 33 going east. This will take to you the small artsy town of Ojai. Have no idea what your parents enjoy but a lot of people enjoy spending some time there, lots of art and craft stores, lovely little city etc. It is about 25 minutes from 101.

Have fun with your parents this weekend!

Thanks Love - we were thinking of hitting up Ventura on the way up to SB.

Great idea to include Ventura. If you are starting in the Valley, that would be perfect for the morning, and you could still have lunch at the Biltmore (Four Seasons)in Montecito and relax before more walking around in the afternoon.

It is fun to poke through the shops on the Main St. in Ventura.
8-)

The botanical gardens are lovely and you won't be bored there. On Sundays (I'm not sure about Saturdays), there's usually an art and craft show along the waterfront that's pretty good. I've enjoyed breakfast outdoors on the patio at El Encanto up in the hills. You'll have a great view of the City and the ocean. The food's not that special but the setting is lovely.

Hi annimal,
You can drive thru Hope Ranch, it is accesable to the public. There is a beach, but it is private, for residets only. It is pretty driving thru Hope Ranch. Big houses, nice landscaping, thats about all there is to see.
minnie.

All good suggestions so far...

- Channel Islands - I'd skip completely - this will suck up an entire day. Ditto Solvang and the Chumash Casino.

- Walking up and down State Street is great and could be your main attraction. Lots of casual restaurants and shops, nice vibe down there. Then at the end of State it hits the beach, Stearn's Wharf and harbor area, also nice to walk around.

thanks everyone for your suggestions!

There is also a shuttle on State Street. We took the shuttle to the pier, had lunch there and then took the shuttle to the shopping area. Bring quarters.
http://www.totalsantabarbara.com/dws.shtml

Virtual Santa Barbara:

This real estate site did a fair job of posting some virtual tours of popular sites in SB.
http://www.montecito-real-estate.com...virtualsb.html

Here’s a fairly decent breakdown of neighborhoods in SB including Hope Ranch and Montecito. Yes, you can drive through Hope Ranch. Click on each neighborhood for its history. http://www.sblifestyle.com/4-neighbo...hborhoods.html

Here’s a virtual tour of Santa Barbara Paseo Nuevo Mall on State Street. I reccomend seeing both if you have the time. http://www.casadelmar.com/santa-barb...our.asp?tour=7

Montecito Drive:

There is more to see in Montecito then the small village. There are some beautiful drives in the hills above the village. Here is a map that you can navigate around in and get an idea.

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt...0Valley%20Road

You can take the Sheffield Drive off the 101 northbound. This is just past the small town of Carpinteria. Travel up Sheffield Drive and turn left and drive along East Valley Road. Turn left on Olive Mill Road, then right on Hot Springs Road for a nice loop drive. Hot Springs Road will dump you out at the Montecito Country Club along the Old Coast Hiway. This is actually a frontage road parallel to Hiway 101. Stay on the Old Coast Hiway to Cabrillo Blvd. Cabrillo Blvd is where East Beach and Leadbetter Beach are as well as Stearns Wharf. It also intersects with State Street, the main street through Santa Barbara. By the way, State Street dead ends at Stearns Wharf, for a sense of direction.

After visiting the beach and wharf areas, if you decide to walk State Street and Paseo Nuevo Mall, you will find public parking lots on the one way streets that parallel either side of State Street.

Chumash Casino from Santa Barbara:

The Chumash casino is about 45 minutes north of SB. Take the STATE ST exit toward CA-154 / CACHUMA LAKE.
Turn LEFT onto STATE ST.
Turn RIGHT onto SAN MARCOS PASS RD / CA-154.
Continue to follow CA-154.
Turn LEFT onto CA-246 W.

The casino will be on your left side. Here’s a map: http://www.casinocity.com/maps/index...0&pagename=map
It’s in Santa Ynez, just next to Solvang.

The drive from LA to SB will vary depending on holiday traffic, but give yourself at least two hours, depending on where you live in LA. I live about 1-1/2 hours north of Santa Barbara.

We were in Ojai last July and it was over 100 degrees, a bit hot maybe? I like the antique shopping district in Ventura, but if this is a day trip, you may prefer to discover SB and its immediate surroundings.

Have fun!

Bear - you rock! Thanks for all the maps and detailed suggestions.

Annimal, hope you give us a little trip report after your drive to Santa Barbara this weekend. It would be nice to learn what you did with your family in a one day time frame.
8-)

Nancy - absolutely! I'll post again after the weekend.