Solo to Santa Barbara
 

Hi All,

I'm travelling solo to Santa Barbara between Christmas and New Years. Can anyone recommend a good hotel on the beach or close to the beach in Santa Barbara? I am currently booked the Hotel Oceana. Does anyone know about this hotel? Also, can anyone recommend some really good places to eat and close by wineries to visit? Also any tips on what the weather is generally like during that time of year and what type of clothes would be appropriate? Thanks in advance!

Hi Hamilto01, when I am in that area I stay with family who live in Ojai so I never use hotels.

Regarding clothes..I have been there over the Christmas/NY holidays and have worn what I would consider lightweight clothing (compared to what I normally wear in N Ca) but I also have been there when it is cold and sometimes rainy. I would pack clothes that could be layered. You are going to a very beautiful area and I am sure you will enjoy your time there.

Santa Barbara area is casual, but I would say an upscale casual regarding clothes, depending on your age and what you will be doing.

Hi Hamilton. As far as the weather goes, check weather.com before you come. We have had anything from major rainstorms to mid to upper 70's with sunshine that time of year.

I have stayed at the Hotel Oceana. It is two motels joined to become one. The decor is nice but the fixtures are old. It was ok, certainly no 4 star, but adequate. How nice are you looking for? LoveItaly had the right idea for clothing. The area is pretty casual but depending on the restaurants, one can get dressed up for dinner. What type of food do you like?

There are some great wineries in the Santa Ynez valley (did you see the movie Sideways?) and some great eats there too. Santa Ynez is about 30 min. northeast of SB. You can do a search on this forum for wineries in the area. Do you like whites or reds?
Santa Barbara is a beautiful area and I am sure you will love it!

Thank you LoveItaly and laurenzo. I did see Sideways. I think that's what started this trip idea of mine, and I'm planning on seeing some of the wineries while there. I like whites and I'm learning to start enjoying reds. If the Hotel Oceana is not up to par, where else would you recommend? Is there a 4-star hotel on the beach in the area so I can look out over the Pacific? I generally like all foods. Would either of you recommend the Jeep Tour for the wineries or should I just go by myself? Once I get there, I'll be fine. I just really want a nice relaxing hotel to spoil myself. I'm flying into LAX and renting a convertible for the week.

I hope you didn't think I was saying the Hotel Oceana is bad, it's just not fantastic. If you are looking for just a place to sleep, it would be fine. If you want four star, try the Harbor View Inn. I think Fess Parker's Doubletree Inn is three star but right has a great location. If you really want to spoil yourself then stay at the Four Seasons Biltmore. I am not sure what prices are like in SB for that week. Summer is , of course, the high season here, so you may find some good rates.

I don't know much about the winery jeep tour. You could probably navigate it yourself unless you plan on drinking a lot. I would then consider hiring a driver. There is a "Sideways" map the SB county (I think) puts out for one to follow to visit the wineries. I will check into it for you and get back to you on restaurant recs.

Hi Hamilton01, again I am not really any help regarding hotels. It is difficult to know what hotel rooms and services are like unless one has stayed there.

But I just wanted to throw out a couple of thoughts to you. Driving south on 101, when you get to Hwy 33 and turn left (east) about 20 minutes up the road on Hwy 33 is the small artsy town of Ojai. A place you might enjoy for an afternoon. There are some good restaurants, art galleries etc. there. And just south on 101 if you turn off for downtown Ventura you will find the old section of Ventura with rather an European/Spanish feeling, restaurants, cafes, small shops and the harbor with some restaurants.

Do enjoy..you are going to be in a beautiful and rather laid back special place.

Hi again Hamilto01. I'm getting back to you on some restaurant recs. Here are a few. I'm sure others have some suggestions as well.

Enterprise Fish Co.-decent seafood, casual atmosphere.

Citronelle-on the 3rd floor of SB Inn, nicer place with great ocean views. Menu is mix of French and Ca cuisine, plated nicely.

Pascucci-excellent Italian food

Olie e Limone-Italian food, never eaten there, but have heard it is great

Tupelo Junction cafe- good food all day but great breakfast

Wine Cask- great food, great place

Downeys- great reputation, haven't eaten there either

Beachside Cafe-in Goleta(next town north) right on sand with good seafood selection. Try the chowder in the sourdough bowl.

I hope this helps :)

If you were also considering B & Bs, I've stayed at both the Old Yacht Club Inn and the Bath Street Inn. Both are very nice, home-town places, quiet and the breakfasts are wonderful. The Yacht Club is on the beach - and has a very good restaurant as well. The Bath Street Inn further away. Sorry, can't help with the clothes, but looks like you've gotten some comments on that.

Hi,
I will be in Santa Barbara next week. We are staying at the Franciscan Inn which is one block from the beach. I can report back in 2 weeks about the hotel and area.
The reason we choose this one is because it had one room left and the other places I checked into were about $200 per night.

I've stayed at the Franciscan Inn twice but it has been a few years so I hesitated recommending it. Please let us know how it is. It was nice when I was there and the location is great. As I recall, you get warm chocolate chip cookies upon check-in.

coming from sb to you, the Harbor View is definently a great spot (just down the block from the one you've booked)-great food, decent prices to be had at the Palace Cafe (cajun),Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. on the pier(small but food and views are EXCELLENT),Zelo's great food and music,and the Chase bar & grill is also great for Italian,the Brown Pelican is one of my favorites as it right on the beach, the view is so so nice and it's a perfect walking beach. clothes here are casual, nights will be pretty cool, should be clear and crisp for the most part during day-sweater weather usually. Wineries are over in the Santa Ynez valley in Los Olivos,1+ hours- book a tour so you don't have to drive.(larenzo must have flown over there!!!)There are over 30 wineries and you could spend alot of time just wandering.There is a wonderful "local" section of books in the Boarders books here,also helpful once you arrive.Make sure to explore the side streets off of State, that's where you'll find alot of great local shopping and eats these days-check out Cota St. Farmers market on State Tuesdays, and at Cota & Anapamu Saturday, local food, characters and color.:) Let me know if you need any other reccomendations, lived here most of my life.Enjoy!

I love love love Santa Barbara.

If you like indian food, go to Spice Avenue on State Street. One of my favorite restaurants! Also for sushi Piranha on State is good. I also like Nu, which is kind of hidden in a courtyard near the corner of State and...Anapamu I believe. Nice bar area and they serve full menu there.

Breakfast, don't miss Pierre Lafond bakery. Excellent breakfast either there or to go. Also good for lunch or an afternoon slice of yummy cake.

Hi All,

Thanks so much for the recommendations for food and things to do in SB. I am so looking forward to this trip in Dec. I can't wait to have some good food, good wine and see the sights. Nice to know that the Harbor View is in an excellent location. That's what I was looking for. As I get closer to the trip I'm sure I'll have more questions.

Hello,
I'm back and I completely fell in love with Santa Barbara.
The Franciscan Inn is wonderful with a great location and especially for the price. We paid only $112 for the night when everyone else was $200-$300. We booked the last room and it was a king. It is very clean and the staff was helpful. They do offer larger rooms and Suites. We also enjoyed the hot tub and there was a heated pool too.
State St was great and we had such a hard time deciding where to go for dinner. Too many choices! We did sushi.
Definitely do wine country. It was beautiful and we really enjoyed the vineyards. We did make a stop in Solvang and I loved that too. We ate at Paula's Pancakes there.

I recommend eating at the Bay Cafe. Great food and great service.

Get a local tourist paper when you get in town. They are free everywhere and list local events and restaurants.

The Brown Pelican is good, it has been there for years and has a nice setting on the beach - cliffs, dogs, hang gliders, and kids on the beach. If you don’t want to drive to eat, just walk State Street until you see something you like. I usually eat late(7:30-8:30) at night and let the crowds thin out on State. A lot of people like eating lunch at the taco stand “La Super-Rica” on Milpas east of downtown. There are also a lot of good restaurants that do nice Sunday morning brunches along State. Also, walk the wharf and marina they have interesting shops, museums, and restaurants. You might want to rent a bike. There are a LOT of bike shops on State St. There are bike trails all over town going out to UCSB and down the beach. I think there are also a few shops around the marina that rent kayaks?

There is one retail winery in Santa Barbara, but it is just a store. The wineries are over the pass in Santa Ynez Valley. Nice views from the pass of Santa Barbara. A lot of people rent bikes in Santa Ynez and ride to the wineries. There are also wineries in Foxen Canyon a little North. Nice drive.

The weather is very mild. When I went to school at UCSB most people dressed in shorts and sandals to class year round.

Hey mapper, I was a Gaucho too!! When we come into town, we either bring our bikes or rent the surreys to ride the great bike trails. So fun!

Hi Hamilto01,
We were in Santa Barbara in July and stayed at the Harbor View Inn. I highly recommend this beautiful hotel. We had an ocean view room with a huge balcony complete with table and chairs. Great location right across the street from Stearn's Wharf and a quick walk to the restaurants on State Street. We enjoyed an excellent meal at Holdren's Steak & Seafood on State Street. Hope this helps. Have fun!

Definitely Harbor View Inn if it's in your price range.
The Eagle Inn is a favorite nearby, and just south of SB near the Biltmore is the more charming and less expensive Montecito Inn.

We spent three nights in Santa Ynez last October. Wonderful, magical place. You might even plan to spend a night or two in the area, it is that lovely.

First you have all of the wineries. Next you have the wonderful food at the Hitching Post (we ate dinner here all three nights, great food, great atmostphere.) I would not feel odd to dine here alone. Many people eat at the bar watching sports on TV. Fabulous wine by the glass.

Also, in Los Olivos, the Los Olivos Cafe for lunch. We ate here twice. Their butternut squash salad and their olives were devine. We met lots of people from all over just out on the road tasting and enjoying life. So lovely and relaxing.

Then you have Solvang, the cute Dutch town with a feel all its own. Good food there too, and quaint shops, unusual wares you won't find other places. Good food (love the pancakes) and a farmers market on Thursdays (I think) in the center of town. The town is probably darling at Christmas time.

It's only 30-40 minutes up the 101, but it gets dark early and can be fog and rain in the winter months.

Have a ball. It is really goreous up there. Might have to go again.