Stephanie
Venice Beach
I'm going to Santa Barbara Sat-Sun with a girlfriend. Staying in a cottage a couple blocks off State Street...place comes with bikes!
What is your 1 must do/see/eat when going to SB (price not a factor)?
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Here's the few I make sure to always do when I'm up there:
Brunch at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. Dinner at San Ysidro Ranch. Cocktail at Joe's Cafe. Any meal at Hendry's Beach. Singing, card tricks, and the cajun martini at The Palace Grill.
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If you want to be a tourist and see a lot fast, hop on the Landshark with Land & Sea Tours. They take you around town on an open air amphibious vehicle and then into the harbor -- boat ride! It launches a few times a day from Cabrillo Street (not to be confused with Carrillo or Castillo streets) by Stearns Wharf.
Bike along the waterfront. Maybe bike into Montecito and have a meal at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
As Andreas said, wine tasting is great.
I also recommend a stop at the Santa Barbara Public Market. If nothing else, have either Enjoy Cupcakes, Santa Barbara or Rori's ice cream while there. Or consider picking up a picnic's worth of stuff -- fresh break, cheese, salami, and again, cupcakes, and take your treats to the beach or a pretty spot like Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
If it's a pretty day (and when is it not?), go to the top of the Santa Barbara Courthouse Docent Tours to take in the view of the red tiled roofs and snap some photos to make your friends jealous.
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I would go wine tasting in The Funk Zone (off of state Street by the train tracks) . Lots of nice wine bars with tasting menus.
With a bike you can travel almost everywhere in Santa Barbara. Start with a cruise down State Street Route to the beach, turn left, and ride along the beach bike path to the beach volleyball courts. The path continues on the other side of the street, winding around the bird sanctuary and zoo, then crosses past the cemetery, and continues on the ocean-side of Ty Warner's mansion, all the way to Butterfly Beach and the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara and Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club. You can do the round trip in about one hour.
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