Lately, loads of folks have been asking me for recommendations for the perfect spring break getaway. The criteria is simple: Sun. And warmth. (Considering that northern California had 20 days of rain in March and it’s still snowing on the east coast, it’s easy to see why.)
Well, I’ve got the answer: Santa Barbara. And the explanation is simple: Thanks to a “banana belt” climate caused by warm air currents, Santa Barbara gets an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. Yep, that means just 65 days a year when it’s NOT sunny, folks!
And of course warm weather + beach = lots and lots of outdoor activities await.
Here’s a sampling of the outdoor fun to be had in Santa Barbara:
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| Peddling the beach |
1. Peddle the beachfront boardwalk. Rent a beach cruiser or deuce coupe from Wheel Fun Rentals, with two convenient locations right on the boardwalk. Whether you want a two-person or four-person cruiser, or serious road bikes for an all-day ride, they’ve got what you need, helmets included. We did both; one day we took a coupe for a leisurely peddle down the beachfront, then the next we took cruisers and ventured south past the spectacular Biltmore Hotel and on to quiet Montecito Beach, where we had the waves almost to ourselves.
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| Hotel Oceana’s sunny patio |
2. Stay in a beachfront hotel with palm groves and a fabulous pool.Hotel Oceana (pictured in the collage above and to the left) has everything you — or your kids — could want, from a free breakfast complete with waffles, to a rack full of beach cruisers available free for the taking. The bougainvilla-bedecked garden includes several patio areas for picnicking and a huge kidney-shaped pool with a bubbling hot jacuzzi to soothe your sore muscles after a day of climbing cliffs with no gears.
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| The daily catch |
3. Eat fresh-caught crab or lobster right off the boat. At the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, in a nondescript shack at the very end of the municipal pier, you choose your lunch or dinner from amongst the fat and happy crabs swimming around in a tank and watch them boil it right up for you. Not for the faint of heart, but the freshness can’t be beat.
4. Kayak the harbor. Kayaks are for rent on the wharf just past where you catch the water taxi. Santa Barbara Kayak Company has ocean kayaks, hobies, and paddle boards too. Newbies can paddle around amongst the yachts and stay sheltered, while the more adventurous can venture out to the open water, where sea lion and dolphin sightings are common.
There’s another reason why Santa Barbara’s perfect for active travelers: The city has made a major commitment to going car-free, with bike lanes all over town and a free shuttle between the beach and downtown that lets you bring bikes onboard. A website, Car-Free Santa Barbara, makes it easy to access all transportation options and figure out how to get wherever you need to go. So you can park your car at your hotel and not use it again the entire time you’re here. Given how car-dependent most of California is, this really sets Santa Barbara apart.
Not only do I want to visit after reading this, but I suspect if I did visit I'd want to LIVE there. Love the idea of biking everywhere. And, of course, beautiful sunny warm weather doesn't hurt.
How I wish I were in a sunny, car-free city right now! I'm going on spring break in my mind….
Oooh! This sounds lovely! How close is this to LA? Could i combine the two in one trip?
Santa Barbara is about two hours up the coast from Los Angeles going north and it's a gorgeous drive, too.
I'm coveting all of your ideas — and locale! — because we just had a major snowstorm here in Michigan during spring break. I know Spring must be near, though. I hope. It's April, right?
Santa Barbara is truly gorgeous and the drive from LA is so pretty, too.
This sounds like a blast!! We had snow last week here in New England so I can't wait for warmer weather.
My mother just asked for a list of 5 places that were sunny because she has had IT WITH RAIN on VANCOUVER ISLAND!!! Will also send this along to her – as I hadn't appreciated just how much sun Santa Barbara got.
Leigh, Santa Barbara really is a great bet for sun, as are San Diego and Scottsdale and Tucson, Arizona. If your mom's driving down and wants something quieter and not so far south, I'd also suggest Cambria, a lovely beach town between San Luis Obispo and San Simeon.
What great ideas. Right now any kind of sun appeals! It's raining here and we had snow last week. I'm in need of a beach vacation.
I'm with Sheryl, I think if I visited someplace that got that much sun all of the time, I would just want to stay, especially after this cold and dreary spring we've had so far. I love the car free aspect. Sounds like the place to visit when we get to California again!
You've made me want to visit Santa Barbara. I've driven through on a road trip but never had time to stop and explore. Active boomers would love a trip like this.
I've never been to SB, but I hear it's also a pretty dog-friendly destination as well … which, of course, is a big deal at our house.
Roxanne, it is VERY dog-friendly; dogs were off leash all over the beach every day. I think Hotel Oceano permits dogs; I'll double check!
I could use a beach front hotel right about now!
I absolutely adore your site! You aggressive me as able-bodied as all the others actuality and your broiled is absolutely nice.
beach cruiser bicycle
I like that beach cruiser thing but I doubt I could get my husband in it.
Two tips from my very recent, flying visit to SB: D'Angelo's for breakfast, had a perfectly poached egg with lemon rosemary toast. Hit the spot.
Oh, and locals say the beach in Summerland, south of SB, is much nicer than the "town" beach. Would you agree?
I love visiting Santa Barbara. Not only is the weather positively wonderful, there is so much to do. The ocean front and downtown are my favorite. Shopping is fabulous and the sights are glorious. I like to spend my money on things I can take with me
so I don’t like to waste much on my hotel accommodations. The Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com) in downtown Santa Barbara is a great place to stay if you are on a budget and looking for a quaint place to stay!
I used to live in Santa Barbara while attending school at UCSB, I absolutely loved living there. In response to Sarah, the Summerland beach is nice but it’s a bit of a drive. There’s so much to see and do and so many nice beaches in SB there’s no need to go all the way to Summerland. Try the beaches by the UCSB campus for a quieter, less touristy beach escape. And I agree with Taylor, the Sandman Inn (sandmaninn.com) is a steal for the great quality of the hotel! I find many hotels in SB to be way overpriced but it was always perfect for my parents to stay in when they were visiting me at school. HUGE rooms and right on State Street in the middle of the action!
Wow, y’all, these are really great tips. I will definitely check out the Sandman and eat at D’Angelo’s next time I’m there. And investigate Summerland, too. We rode our bikes south and found a gorgeous deserted beach just past the Biltmore, but it was unmarked so I don’t know if it was Summerland or not. But Carla and Taylor are right that Santa Barbara — unlike Los Angeles — keeps their beaches so spotless that you can swim right in town if you want to stay out of your car. We did not get north to UCSB and that’s on the agenda for the next trip for sure. Heard there’s great Mexican food near campus as well!
This cruiser is what hsppens when you mix a classicall-styled bicycle whith a vibrant color palletHermosa Beach.
Biking on spring break is fun! I’m traveling abroad this summer (was able to get some cheap airline tickets!), but I’m very concerned about this radiation on the airplane. Does anyone know if this is true?
how i wish i could travel like that
After reading this post I really must admit that I would love to go there! Thanks for the post
Great Post!
Also don’t forget to try the famous McConnell’s ice cream…it’s a great place to go after dinner for a date with the hubby or to bring the kids. They have the creamiest, most flavorful ice cream i’ve ever tried…well worth the calorie splurge
Also, we stayed in the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com) in Goleta and biked to and from downtown…there’s a nice coastal path. It was a great workout and really had us appreciating the weather and getting some fresh air. In addition, the hotel was everything we expected and more for a really reasonable price. If you’re into biking (or just into beach cruising!) I would suggest it.
Car free and spring break should always be in the same sentence. Yes it isn’t Cabo but it is beautiful and much more rewarding than taking body shots off of a random stranger! We all out grow the stage of staying out drinking till 5am but what we don’t outgrow is Spring Break, and Santa Barbara is a great place to enjoy wonderful weather and beautiful scenery on award winning beaches. I’ve truly had some great times here and didn’t spend that much money! Lots to do and lots to see, just gotta get out there and hop to it! Whenever I travel there I love saving a quick buck and staying at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com).
All these comments seem like they are coming from people that really know what they are talking about when it comes to Santa Barbara. I love going there but it can get a bit pricy- especially during those summer and spring time months. Well worth it though, you just need to know where to go to save a quick buck here and there. Very family friendly so brings your kids, they will most likely love it! I recently discovered the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com) and I must say I was beyond amazed at how nice and quaint it was. Far beyond my expectations.
Thanks for all these great tips Grace, Christine, and Greg. Next time I go I’ll definitely check out McConnells, the South Coast Inn, and the Sandman. I just got back from a “luxury” trip and stayed at the Bacara Resort, also in Goleta, and it was absolutely gorgeous!
I’m an avid cyclist and I’d love to cycle on the beach Santa Barbara. have gotta plan this for an upcoming weekend since I live in L.A. Thanks for a great post on Santa Barbara!
Spring in Santa Barbara is a glorious time! My kids go to UCSB and spring quarter is the best quarter in their book and I totally believe them! The weather is great and flowers are in bloom so who wouldn’t want to spend their break there? The Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com) is the best place to stay too! Cheap and the pools are far too great to pass up!
Beach front hotels and all about the beach, water, boats are wonderful! mytravelfitness.com
Spring Break is the best break (besides Christmas but it’s just warm!) The beaches are filled and the food and wine are flowing. The way to go is Santa Barbara. It won’t be as jammed packed as LA or Miami or any of those places and though it is a bit pricy there are ways of cutting corners and staying in great places without losing yourself in the process. The South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com) is a great stay and just as nice as any other hotel and near a ton of things to do as well! Check it out, just from a first person perspective!
Spring Break in Santa Barbara is probably the best idea you could have. I had one of the best Spring Breaks of my life about 10 years ago when I visited a friend out at UCSB. The bars/clubs and the beach weather was perfect (even for April!). I haven’t been back for spring break since but I will always look fondly on that trip. Now when I visit I stay at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). A big step up from IV and a whole lot cheaper too!
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