Santa Barbara Weekend Trip Itinerary

Santa Barbara is the hidden gem of all time! Before I headed off to Germany, my girl friends and I headed down to the central California coast with Mediterranean-style building and gorgeous red-tile roofs. It was like escaping to Spain for the weekend and I cannot wait to go back already! The reason that you get this Spanish feel is because in the 18th century, the Spanish colonized the area. It become Mexico territory after the Mexican War of Independence then became U.S. territory in 1848.

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara

There are so many dreamy places in coastal city, but they do come with a price. According to Los Angeles times, the average room cost $386. Here are a couple of places that I drooled over:

1. Hotel Californian- Treat yo self

It’s just as dreamy in person as it is on the website’s pictures. I walked by and immediately knew that next time I would want to stay there. Then I remember how expensive the rooms are nightly. A girl can still dream. This is definitely a picturesque hotel with a rooftop pool, huge bathtubs and the cutest bar. This lovely hotel will cost you an average of $629/night.

2. Montecito Inn – Cost Effective

I mean, I was not lying when I said drool. I think sometimes when people see the word inn it’s assumed that it’s not luxurious. Montecito Inn breaks that myth, but does not break the bank. The average room is about $317/night, which is below the average room cost in the area.

3. Hotel Milo – Highly Recommend

Hotel Milo was a DREAM to stay in! The service was amazing and the location was unmatched! The trip I took was in the winter, so we couldn’t enjoy the pool, but we spent evenings by the fire-pits and the day riding in style with their complimentary beach cruisers. The hotel is located on Cabrillo Boulevard, which is has an incredible view of the harbor and a walk away from the trail, restaurants, and Lower State Street also known as Funk Zone. Funk Zone is known as the lively area of Santa Barbara. We will get to that! Hotel Milo is an average of $424/night.

Getting around Santa Barbara

We drove down to Santa Barbara, parked the car and enjoyed the area. The uber’s are readily available with short wait times. I would suggest to stay somewhere near the Funk Zone. Most of the places we went were just a walk or bike away.

What to do in Santa Barbara

Wine Tasting

Disclaimer: Santa Barbara wine tasting is very different from northern California wine tasting. It needed to be said. Now that you know that, I would suggest to check out the Urban Wine Trail which is made of over 30 tasting rooms. The wine trail is in six neighborhoods The Funk Zone, Presidio, Midtown, La Arcada, Summerland & Goleta . I would suggest the Funk Zone route if you are staying in downtown Santa Barbara! The best way to explore the wines is on a bike. We rode to the urban trail and it was the best experience. Here are the wineries I checked out:

• Deep Sea Tasting Room: Sip wine with scenic ocean views.
• Santa Barbara Winery: Two words… Charcuterie Board. This winery is in the center of the Funk Zone

Sadly, the others I visited have been closed since the Santa Barbara trip.

Santa Barbara Sailing

If you follow me on instagram, you know I love a great boat trip. Sb sailing did not disappoint! The trip was a great way to reset, experience the sunset and enjoy a glass of champagne on the ocean with a live music cameo. I would do this trip over and over again. It was a windy day, so we weren’t able to go far but SB sailing did a wonderful job of accommodating! Jonny was our captain & the whole experience was incredible!

Mobile Dining experience with Slate Catering

This private dining experience ELEVATED the entire trip. We enjoyed a charcuterie board with cocktails while watching the sunset in a van. That kind of sounds creepy when I say it out-loud, but don’t knock it until you try it! The aesthetic of the entire experience was perfect and the taste was even better! I would do and experience like this EVERY weekend! Slate Catering also offers picnics, backyard bistros, and so much more.

Hot Springs Canyon Trail

We did not have time to do this hot springs hike, but I’ve heard things about it, so I wanted to make sure that I included it in the itinerary! According to All Trails, this is a 3.7 mile hike and there’s a lot of uphill action. The reviews state that the water itself was amazing and no one has said “run, don’t do it” ahaha. Check out these beautiful hikes in Santa Barbara.

Chromatic Gate

Nested across the beach, Visit the bright colored arches on the corner of Cabrillo Blvd and Calle puerto Vallarta. Take a couple of candid photos and walk around the area.

Santa Barbara Country Courthouse

Take in the stunning views of the Santa Barbara Courthouse. This is definitely an Instagrammable moment. Spend hours getting lost around this beauty.

Eat + Drink in Santa Barbara

Here’s a map of all the places!

Obviously, there’s so many different places you can go and eat in Santa Barbara. Some of these places, I went to personally and others I hope to go in the future.

Breakfast

Chads Cafe

Enjoy beach views while you have breakfast. Chads cafe serves breakfast all day! Brunch really because they have mimosa flights, chicken-fried steak, and pancakes. This restaurant located next door to Hotel Milo did not disappoint.

Helena Avenue Bakery

Helena Avenue Bakery has homemade artisan, organic bread, handmade seasonal pastries and is located next door to the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. Grab a wine to pair with your brunch .

Lunch/Dinner

Bluewater Grill

Enjoy a beautiful view and some AMAZING oysters at Bluewater Grill! The oysters did not disappoint. This pet friendly restaurant check off all the necessary things. If you do decide to sit with a view, make sure to hold onto your hat. The wind took my hat right off and into the water.

Santa Barbara FisHouse

If you don’t go for the food, go for the patio. Santa Barbara Fishouse’s food and overall vibe was amazing! They have heaters, so you can even hang outside on a chilly night underneath the

Brophy Bros

Located right on the harbor, Brophy Bros has a large seafood selection along with some great sandwich selections. I loved the feel of sitting on the patio and watching the sunset!

Holdren’s Steak and Seafood

We stumbled upon Holdren’s in downtown Santa Barbara while looking for lunch. The cocktails were strong and good, which can be hard to come by.

Santo Mezcal

Step 1: when the waiter tells you the taco toro is spicy, believe him. I ordered the taco toro and drank a whole gallon of water! Santo Mezcal has theres $4 tacos on Tuesday’s!

Desert

McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream

McConnell Fine Ice Cream is California’s first and original fine ice cream since 1949. Make sure to go early or later in the evening to avoid long lines.

3- Day Santa Barbara Weekend Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive to Santa Barbara. Kick off your evening with an early mobile dining experience. Charcuterie and cocktails with a view. Head off to dinner at Santo Mezcal and then go across the street for desert at McConnell’s!

Day 2: Wake up and head to Helena Avenue Bakery for breakfast. Rent a bike to ride to the urban trail, but make sure to stop by the Chromatic Gate. Spend the day cruising around and exploring the city views. End your evening with dinner at Santa Barbara Fishouse.

Day 3: Sleep in because what are vacations for. Wake up and have brunch at Chads cafe then head off to explore the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Afterwards, you can either head to the hot spring trail or book a sunset sail with Sb sailing. The last night of a trip should always start with reminiscing.