When in Santa Barbara, do what the locals do
Written: Sep 27 '04 (Updated Sep 29 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: wonderful climate, beautiful and peaceful community
Cons: a little pricey
The Bottom Line: For a nice leisurely weekend trip away from the large cities of California, Santa Barbara is the place to go.
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| doglover's Full Review: Santa Barbara |
I had the occasion to travel down to Santa Barbara for the first time this last Memorial Day weekend. What can I say? I have lived in California for most of my life but since I have been fortunate enough to live in both the San Diego and San Francisco Bay areas, I had not had a previous occasion to make it to that stunning area that is nestled in its own bay along the California coastline off Highway 101 between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez mountains. It consists of just 18.9 square miles and 90,000 people but they sure pack a beautiful area in a small space.
My trip to that area was motivated to look into job openings in the Goleta area which is just north of Santa Barbara but it quickly became apparent that Santa Barbara is a community that has a very high cost of living and would be difficult to live there in an on-going basis. From what I understand Oprah Winfrey lives there and my budget is just not comparable to hers. Since I have friends in the area, I did not have the cost of a hotel.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Located in southern California, it is a community that has avoided the urban sprawl reminiscent of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. The climate is mild and has been called the American Rivera. It boasts 25 miles of coastline with nine beaches, where there are a number of water excursions such as whale-watching, sport fishing, scuba-diving, swimming, surfing, or walking along the sandy beaches. The Santa Ynez backcountry boasts at least fifty wineries, cycling, hang-gliding, and rock climbing. One of the oldest examples of a Spanish mission is there, which was built in 1787. There is a cultural influence with the 100-year old Lobero Theatre and a Museum of Art.
ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR
There are a number of fun-sounding events that are hosted each year in Santa Barbara.
* March-Santa Barbara Film Festival that draws stars and international film makers
* April-I Madonnari street-painting festival and Summer Solstice parade with artists and performers, floats, and dancing.
* August-Old Spanish Days and Fiesta Parade with horses, Spanish dance and music all spread through three days.
* June-Semana Nautica, a week of aquatic sports that range from a biathlon, volleyball tournaments, water polo, and swimming.
* UCSB hosts throughout the year events such as basketball, volleyball and soccer games.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP
Sambo's - Breakfast Choice
216 West Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA - (805) 965-3269
Breakfast started with a beachfront breakfast at the original Sambo's. The name is derived from a combination of the original owners Sam Battisone and Newell Bonette, a.k.a. Sam and Bo. It is run by the founder's grandson, who also is the owner of the hugely popular Chad's restaurant. I ordered strawberry pancakes and fresh squeezed orange juice. I received three plate-size buttermilk pancakes that melted in my mouth and on top were fresh strawberries with real whipped cream. My friend had Corned beef and hash with pancakes. My third friend had an omelet with egg that was very delicate with a large amount of avocado and crab. The breakfast came with an all-you-can-eat basket of fresh baked mini-muffins. They also have the traditional breakfasts and lunch sandwiches with your choice of several types of potatoes and fruits. Cost of the breakfast was between $7-9 apiece.
Butterfly Beach
After breakfast, we were all too stuffed to eat lunch so it was time for a wonderful swim at Butterfly Beach. The water was pristine with nice waves, white sand, and warm water. It is a secluded, narrow stretch of beach in front of the elegant Biltmore Hotel. There are a lot of rocks in the water though so be careful where you stand. Make sure to have lots of sun block on though. We were busy reading The Da Vinci Code and you would not believe how red we got. That book is mesmerizing but that I will leave that for another review.
Jimmy's Oriental Gardens - Dinner Choice
126 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara, CA, (805) 962-7582
After a brisk afternoon of swimming, it was time for dinner. It was a no-brainer to go to Jimmy's Oriental Gardens, a main-stay of the area that specializes in dishes from southern China. It is conveniently located downtown and is close to a popular village-style shopping center called Paseo Nuevo.
I ordered the $9.95 dinner special that includes an appetizer of one egg roll and a wrapped chicken and wonton soup. There are a number of options for the main course, but I chose broccoli beef. A large bowl of fried rice also comes with the meal. The beef in the broccoli beef was a little more fried then I am used to but was tasty. My two friends split the $14.95 dinner special. This meal was a lot of food. It came with egg rolls, sizzling three favors soup, chow mein, sweet and sour shrimp, pork fried rice, and chicken with snow peas. All the portions were huge so we ended up taking about half of it home. The total bill for three people came to $54.
CONCLUSION
Bottom line was that it was a nice weekend trip in an area that was stunning, although a little pricey. I would not want to live there year-round because property values are very high and there is little there to rent. However, it is definitely a nice stop to enjoy a sophisticated and well-taken-care of community that is filled with an abundance of wild flowers, many species of birds and other assorted fauna.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Singles
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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doglover
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