Even the boats are decked with holly...in Santa Barbara

The Bellosguardo

We started our most recent Santa Barbara sojourn at the Bellosguardo – or Beautiful View property.
Poised on a cliff at the end of the East Beach, section of town, this enormous property was bequeathed by its recently deceased owner to become a museum open to the public. While this project is underway, families can enjoy the beautifully secluded Butterfly Beach which adjoins the Four Seasons Santa Barbara.

Our Lunch Choices

When your little ones have burnt off a little steam on the soft sand, head to La Super Rica Taqueria for quesadillas or tostadas. If the lines are too long here, just down the street you’ll find Taqueria La Colmena, not as lionized by foodies, but with excellent home made tortillas and fresh guacamole at bargain prices. Seasonal treats like sweet green corn tamales are delicious here, and either spot is budget-friendly.

Tis the Season to Shop

Thus sated, you’ll be more sanguine handling the shopping crowds at specialty stores and galleries around State Street. Kids of all ages will enjoy browsing the vintage records at Warbler Records and Goods, or enjoying the tasting room selection of olive oils and crackers at the C’est Cheese store just off State. Somehow we always enjoy shopping in small stores more than malls, and even better are small shops we only visit a few times a year. We seem to always find that special small gift or perfect stocking stuffer in this setting, and it seems like the children are more interested in the wares displayed, too, unlike a visit to a busy mall.

Other Santa Barbara Attractions

Done with shopping? Check out what’s new at the small but well curated Santa Barbara Museum of Art. A current exhibit at this thoughtfully designed museum allows tech savvy kids old enough to understand how a cursor moves to explore an interactive experience with Picasso and Braque. iPads are lent out at the exhibits entrance that thoroughly enliven the viewing process.

Speaking of viewing, another option when night falls, is to check out the classic West Wind Drive In. Recently refurbished, the drive-in operates year round after a long closure. It’s just up the highway from Santa Barbara – about a fifteen minute drive – in the small town of Goleta.

During daylight hours, check out the gentle hiking trails that encircle the city. The peaceful Douglas Family Preserve, is located atop a mesa, and is the kind of trail even the smallest tot can toddle along and enjoy. No fuss, no muss, just outdoor pleasures. Older kids or adults who can carry the smallest members of the family troop will enjoy taking the just under two mile loop trail off Mountain Drive known as the Cold Spring loop. Small streams run through this one, sometimes a bit too alluring for small feet – unless you’ve brought along boots.

Christmas lights in Santa Barbara - the town is lit up and lovely!

Winter Season Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s Christmas lights and unique shopping options are not the only way the town marks the holidays. Early in December, there’s a community sponsored, song filled re-enactment of the Christmas story, with a costumed Mary and Joseph riding a donkey through the streets searching for shelter. This free event is coupled with another Santa Barbara tradition mid-month, the Christmas Revels. This unique celebration of a Bavarian Winter Solstice serves up jovial songs, dances, and stories set to music. It’s held at the Lobero Theater in downtown Santa Barbara.

Thoroughly decorated for the holidays is Jeannine’s, a cozy cafe right on State Street, with beautifully made Christmas cookies and other highly caloric fresh and delicious pasteries in the glass cases. The kids will love the banana and brown sugar French Toast.

Head on out to the Wharf to run off some of those sweets, and take a look back down the long pier at a town whose stylish adobes and Mediterranean style looks especially charming during the holidays. Don’t forget to check out the Sea Center on the wharf, where exhibits include touch tanks, models of a gray whale, and various aquarium creatures. Step off the wharf and enjoy a long stroll or rent a buggy for a ride along the cement pathway that parallels the beach front. In the winter, you won’t find yourself competing for pavement space with other tourists, and the ride or walk will be that much sweeter. We joined in some impromptu caroling with other walkers, under a low hanging full moon that looked like “an ornament in the sky,” according to my son.

If you’re spending the night, we recommend the Hotel Mar Monte. This historic hotel retains its 1931 Spanish Colonial feel, but the guest rooms are well sized, and the pool is open year round. But be sure to stop in the Four Seasons or the Montecito Inn for a look at their gorgeous holiday trees.

One wonderful stop is a children’s park that’s an entire “world.” Located just a few blocks from downtown is Alameda Park. Here on this capacious green space,  you’ll find a wonderful playground with a volunteer-crafted centerpiece: Kid’s World. This huge complex has great tunnels, many climbing areas, hiding spaces, crawl spaces, replicas of sea creatures, and a vast, pleasantly maze-like configuration. There’s a small circular theater area for kids to take starring roles on a miniature stage. Swings and a huge grassy lawn are supplemented by a lovely garden, with ponds filled with koi, lily pads, turtles, and ducks. Have a picnic and stay the entire afternoon, or check out another wonderful park in town.

A turtle came out to say hello in a Santa Barbara park.

That would be the animal park – otherwise known as the Santa Barbara Zoo. Located on the grounds of what was once the expansively appointed Child Estate, this beautiful zoo has plenty of shade, lovely grassy spaces, and an amazing coastal view. We’ve never seen as scenic an ocean- adjacent zoo, even in Honolulu.

With five hundred plus animals on site, your children will find many creatures great and small to enjoy – from elephants, giraffes, lions, and monkeys to ocean centric exhibits like sea lions and otters. There are many beautiful aviary exhibits also, with colorful, exotic birds of all types. Our kids loved taking a break and playing in the spacious children’s playground here, too, in the virtual center of the zoo. There’s also a very enjoyable miniature train; and the gift store has excellent books and toys. When we visited around the holidays, lovely animal themed ornaments were for sale.

The Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara - beautiful architecture

Want to make your own holiday decorations? Even better, decorations that are ecologically sound? Every Saturday, check out Art from Scrap downtown on Cota Street. Each weekend there’s a wonderful interactive workshop that starts at 10 a.m. Local artists are the teachers, and they’ll help kids select materials for an art project – recycled items that are available in Art from Scrap’s retail store. If your child is younger than five, you’ll need to accompany them as they create. Two hours later: a beautiful, innovative art work.

Also on Saturdays and just around the corner,  is Santa Barbara’s Farmer’s Market. With farm fields in the immediate area, this is a great market, featuring fresh organic produce and locally made products like jellies and jams, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Fresh squeezed juices make a great pick-me-up before moving on with your weekend.

We love watching the sailboats from Stearns Wharf.

Just up the street, State Street, Santa Barbara’s main drag – you’ll find the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Rotating exhibits are supplemented by an extensive permanent collection of lovely impressionist pieces, Roman sculptures, and an Asian art collection. The museum is moderately sized and well laid out, making it easy for the kids to enjoy, while at the same time providing enough visual beauty for adults. There’s also a children’s wing, with excellent, modern  interactive exhibits. Best of all, several weekends a month – check the museum’s Web site for their event calendar – the museum offers Studio Sundays. Like Art from Scrap’s program, all ages are invited to experience a hands-on creative workshop staffed by teaching artists. Every month, a different artistic medium is explored at the museum, ranging from sketch studies to sculpting. From clay to paint to paper mache, the studio materials and projects are inspired by art in the museum’s collection. First Thursday’s of every month you’ll find another hands-on, family-focused art project available at the museum as well.

One last delightful children’s attraction in Santa Barbara – Stearns Wharf. The wharf itself is great fun to stroll, with its broad wooden beams and great view of sail boats, sea, and the hilly pastel landscape of the town and the mountain beyond. There are plenty of kitschy gift shops and salt water taffy; and there’s the Sea Center with its excellent touch tanks and sea life displays.

This time however, the Hogan family decided to take the two-hour train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. With the gorgeous Southern California weather, taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight (once daily) or Surfliner (seven times daily) was a new experience for all of us.  I’ve been on planes, cars, boats, and buses but never a train. Amtrak has a daily service from downtown Los Angeles, and the gorgeous Pacific Ocean view is free. They even had sleeping accommodations on the Starlight.    

Make sure to get to the station early as coach tickets cannot be reserved in advance, therefore, seating is on a first come first serve basis.    

On our trip, the majestic scenery made us feel proud to be Californians. At the same time, my wife and I wondered what else we’ve missed by not looking at our own backyard for these kind of treasures. Costa Rica and Thailand are amazing destinations if you can spare a week or two,  but we were immediately captivated by this local adventure two hours from our home and by train no less!  As the primary driver in our family it was nice to have a break —Yipppeee!    

For weekend accommodations, we researched several intriguing leads that I’ve included just to make your own decision-making easier. 

Hotels 

Ala Mar By The Sea Motel

Ala Mar By The Sea is located at 102 West Cabrillo Blvd. in an affluent area despite its very inexpensive price. It’s just steps from the beach so its proximity offers a ton of activities for the family. The Spanish-style architecture of the building certainly doesn’t scream MOTEL. In fact, it looks more like a beachside bed and breakfast. Speaking of which, breakfast is free and kids under 17 stay free so our kids qualified. As a result, Ala Mar by The Sea tops our list.    

Best Western Pepper Tree Inn is at 3850 State St. and sits on five well-manicured acres. It has a one-of-a-kind “Santa Barbara Resort” feel for a Best Western. It also has Spanish-influenced architecture. It is quiet and within close proximity to the Santa Barbara Mission and the Museum of Natural History.    

Inn of the Spanish Garden Santa Barbara

Inn of the Spanish Garden (located at 915 Garden St., Santa Barbara, Phone: 806-564-4700) is in downtown Santa Barbara, only a couple of blocks from the best dining and shopping choices on busy State Street. This luxury hotel—in a word—spoils its guests with unexpected comforts and an attentive staff. Luxurious Frette linens, Anichini towels and robes, free WiFi throughout the hotel, and even fireplaces for chilly Santa Barbara evenings await lucky guests in this sanctuary. French press coffee makers are even standard in the rooms. However, what makes the Inn of the Spanish Garden a true jewel is its exquisite Spanish-Mediterranean exteriors with grounds featuring fountains and a fire pit where the kids will enjoy warming up while talking about all the new adventures tomorrow brings.    

Fess Parkers Double Tree Resort  (located at 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, Phone: 805-564-4333) has stunning grounds with the cool Pacific Ocean and the golden mountains of the Southern California Mountain valley surrounding it. This resort is literally a hop away from the beach, and even has special beachside and on-premises activities to entertain kids and adults. Every room even has a patio (ground-level) or balcony. There are 5 on-site restaurants to choose from as well as 24/7 room service.  Pets are also very much welcome if Rover wants to come along with the family.    

Hotel Oceana Santa Barbara at 02 W Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara also sits across from the beach and delivers a grand Pacific Ocean view that includes the harbor where the kids might even spot migrating whales. What’s “family friendly” about the Oceania? Well, they offer babysitting services. However, since the point of our trip was to spend time with the kids, we passed on this convenient feature. Nearby there is an assortment of restaurants, museums, and shops.    

Hotel Santa Barbara is at 533 State St. in downtown Santa Barbara and has a captivating Mediterranean charm while within arm’s reach of cafes, theaters, and even nightclubs. Mission Santa Barbara is nearby as is the Paseo Nuevo Mall, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The most attractive offering here was the availability of cribs for traveling infants.    

So once the family is settled in, you will want to eat a good dinner after the grueling (not really, but we had to sound like we were hardened adventurers) journey to get here.    

Restaurants   

Longboard’s  (210 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, Phone: 805-963-3311) is right where the action is—on Santa Barbara’s well-known Stearns Wharf. A dining experience here with the family starts with a one-of-a-kind appetizer served on the outdoor patio. We’ll even give you the recipe: inhale the ocean air, hear the waves crash, and watch the sunset over the Pacific. Sound delicious? Why not follow it up with some clam chowder, fish and chips, and other seaside favorites? The kids will love the delicious fish tacos, gourmet chicken burgers, and fried shrimp perfect for dipping.    

Moby Dick’s (220 Stearns Wharf, 805-965-0549) has a memorable name, great food, awesome views, and a kid’s menu. It is easy to find at the end of the wharf. I highly recommend the clam chowder as it puts you in the nautical mood.    

Palace Grill (8 East Cota Street, 805-963-5000) Another great place if you are with the kids since they have a convenient kid’s menu. It has a Cajun theme but everyone is sure to find something to enjoy for lunch or dinner.    

Beach Grill at Padaro (3765 Santa Claus Lane, Carpinteria, Phone: 805-566-3900) love kids so much they even made a sizeable sand play area on the premises stocked with toys. It’s the perfect spot for them to romp while waiting for lunch or dinner. There is even a grassy area with picnic tables where you can take your food out. As for the menu, they have salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and seafood.  While, you eat, you can even enjoy a seaside view. This is our pick for most kid-friendly restaurant in Santa Barbara hands down.    

Cajun Kitchen (901 Chapala Street, 805-965-1004) is our close runner-up for most kid-friendly because the very casual staff supplied our kids with coloring books and crayons. The Cajun food is also reasonably-priced. Weekends usually mean a long line outside this popular spot so reserve in advance or send someone ahead to save you a spot in line. Have they thought of installing a sandbox?    

Now that our tummies were filled, we wanted to relax at the beach and enjoy the spectacular Santa Barbara sunset, but which beach? Santa Barbara has so many.    

Beaches    

Butterfly Beach faces west therefore guaranteeing one of the best sunset experiences in town. The surrounding neighborhood is very private and exclusive but the people here are certainly colorful.    

Carpinteria State and City Beaches is on a long stretch of two gorgeous beaches. You can camp, surfside and play Frisbee with the tots. However, time seems to absolutely stand still when you take a leisurely walk along the water .  Everywhere you look people seem to be content just watching the waves.    

Leadbetter Beach is a haven for catamaran pilots, surfers, windsurfers, and yes, walkers. It is centrally located so it is one of Santa Barbara’s busiest beaches. Weekly sporting events and parties are a given here especially during the summer. A local radio station even broadcasts straight from the sand!    

The Spit did not sound so attractive but if you wish to avoid the crowds, The Spit is it! It is a small beach at the far north end of the city but has lots of dog walkers, strollers, and even boogie boarders. The Spit is not very popular with the tourists but a gem among the locals.    

We still had one full day of the weekend before heading home so we decided to see the attractions that do a great job luring visitors worldwide to this Spanish-style resort town.   

Attractions   

Santa Barbara Mission [2201 Laguna St., 805-682-4149] is not the only reason to visit Santa Barbara but is possibly the best reason to stop by. It was built in 1786 by well-known missionary Father Junipero Serra with the help of the Chumash Indians. In fact, it blends the spirituality of the Indians and the Spanish almost seamlessly. It isn’t hard to realize why they call Santa Barbara Mission the “Queen of the Missions” as it holds court from a majestic hilltop throne overlooking the Channel Islands and the idyllic town. It even has a crown of twin bell towers.    

“Solvang” (Highway-101 exit off Buellton then follow Highway 246 to Solvang) is Danish for “sunny meadows,” and this little haven of Dutch culture on the West Coast includes one of its most famous tourist attractions replicated here. The kids loved the Little Mermaid statue copied from the original in Copenhagen. In fact, everything here, from the building architecture to the restaurants and boutique shops give visitors a little taste of Denmark. We opted to try the authetic Danish smorgaasbord, a filling buffet with a Nordic twist. If you are just stopping by for a snack at one of the Dutch bakeries, try the aebleskievers, a pancake-like dish topped with raspberry sauce at The Solvang Restaurant (the best place to try this specialty). We also recommend a quick lunch of healthy ostrich burgers!  Solvang was a scenic 30 minute drive from our hotel in Santa Barbara.    

Historic Downtown Santa Barbara

Historic Downtown  (Downtown Santa Barbara) has adobe walls, glazed tile work, and terra-cotta roofs. It felt like we walked back into the past, but then I saw three (count them THREE) Starbucks on State street alone.    

We recommend taking the unique Santa Barbara Trolley especially during the holidays when Santa Barbara becomes a well lit Christmas Ornament. This 90-minute ride shows you this amazing sight that quickly puts the family in a holiday spirit. The Annual Trolley of Lights run from December 10 till Christmas Eve but the regular Trolley Tour runs daily.    

Santa Barbara Mission (Mission Street Exit off the US-101 in Santa Barbara) is crowned “The Queen of the Missions.” It is a well-deserved title  with its gorgeous surroundings that includes meticulously manicured gardens and scenic vistas. It is the 10^th California mission and has been active for 223 years since its founding. Here, you can tour the mission gardens, the museum, the cemetery, and the church. Recently added was an Arts and Architecture tour. Some of its historic hotspots include the ruins of a pottery kiln, tanning vats, a fountain, and a lavadero (or wash house/laundry). The mission itself was dedicated to Saint Barbara, a christian martyr. Its twin bell towers are recognizable particularly among California school children.    

So next time you want to go on a family weekend getaway but are short on time, cash, and yes, even short on patience for driving, try looking in your own backyard (not literally, that’s called a “staycation”). I bet there’s a hidden travel treasure only an hour or so away.