Santa Barbara is known as the American Riviera for a valid reason. With pleasant weather all year round, beautiful beaches, and picturesque Spanish-style buildings, this sophisticated place is a dream destination for travelers. If you're uncertain about how to maximize a three-day trip to explore everything the city has to provide, here's a proposed schedule highlighting some of Santa Barbara's premier attractions. Let's dive in!
So how might you enjoy your three-day escape in Santa Barbara?
Day one
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You'll require a vehicle to fully enjoy Santa Barbara, so rent one from the airport there. Drive onto the 101 and make your way to the Spanish Garden Inn, a charming hotel featuring a lovely pool and vibrant gardens. Before your evening meal, visit the Santa Barbara Mission, a 200-year-old site where you can explore on your own and admire the rose garden.
Once you've taken in the beauty of the flowers, cruise down State Street, the town's main thoroughfare. Feel free to stroll around at your leisure or head directly to Toma, a chic Italian restaurant by the waterfront offering delectable dishes like tuna cones, gnocchi, and scallops.
After dinner, take a leisurely walk on Stearns Wharf, the local pier, which may be a bit touristy but offers fantastic views. If you fancy a nightcap, visit the Good Lion for expertly crafted cocktails or Intermezzo for wine; both establishments are conveniently close to your hotel.
Day two
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Avoid the crowds and rise early for a morning meal at Renaud's, a French bakery known for its excellent chocolate croissants and eggs. Prepare for a day at the beach, with Butterfly Beach ideal for sunbathing and Leadbetter perfect for water sports activities.
Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard from the Paddle Sports Center and take advantage of Leadbetter's grassy areas, picnic tables, restrooms, and outdoor showers. Enjoy a quick sun break and drive just five minutes to Lilly's Taqueria for lunch, a hidden gem for tacos. Don't miss the carne asada or cachete (beef cheek). If you prefer dining with your toes in the sand, Shoreline Café is a great spot for a refreshing margarita and delicious food.
Return to the hotel to freshen up, then take a 10-minute drive to Montecito. Explore the shops along Coast Village Road, especially K Frank, a chic, family-owned boutique.
Indulge in a luxurious dinner at San Ysidro Ranch up the hill. The Stonehouse restaurant offers a magical dining experience with sparkling lights, flowers, and an outdoor deck showcasing ocean views, a wood-burning fireplace, and heated stone flooring. Savor perfectly cooked pork chop, tableside flambéed crepes, and choose from an extensive dessert wine selection.
Day three
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Your final day in Santa Barbara revolves around wine. If you're up for driving, head to the charming wine village of Los Olivos and enjoy a tri-tip sandwich at Cold Springs Tavern on your return journey.
Upon returning to Santa Barbara, explore the once-industrial "Funk Zone" that has now evolved into a vibrant neighborhood filled with art galleries and around 20 unique wine tasting rooms. Visit Corks & Crowns (where you can savor a sparkling wine and cupcake flight on Sundays), Kunin Wines (sample the "Paper Star" Rhone Blend), and the quirky Area 5.1 tasting room with an alien theme (indulge in the Conspiracy Red).
Conclude your day with a delightful two-hour sunset cruise aboard the Double Dolphin sailboat. Take in the stunning views of the Santa Barbara coastline and keep an eye out for dolphins and possibly whales. After disembarking, head to Brophy Brothers at the harbor for a late dinner. Don't miss out on their clam chowder, oyster shooters, and cold combo.
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Have you ever heard something about off-site parking? If not, we recommend you take a closer look at this part of the article, as this information will be handy for those who prefer to travel by air and get to the airport by their own car.
Most people suppose that parking at the airport is the fastest and most convenient option for them. However, it's not actually true. We'll explain to you why.
To be true, being in a terminal parking lot isn't convenient at all. Although on-site airport parking is the nearest place where you can leave your vehicle for the period of a trip, you can face the following difficulties:
- You will need to find a spot in a crowded lot,
- You will need to carry the luggage all the way through the parking lot,
- You must pay expensive fees without great service.
Sounds not good, right? However, we found an excellent solution for you – in this case, off-site parking can become a savior for you. So if you're trying to find a parking spot with great service nearby the airport you're flying from and don't want to leave there the most significant part of your budget, pay attention to this option.
How does it work?
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Obviously, people who chose a car as a way to get to the airport want to leave their vehicle safely while traveling and not to face the problems we described above. So what can off-site airport parking offer its customers?
Although a few miles usually separate such parking from the airport, you shouldn't worry about this. Off-site parking provides free shuttles going back and forth between the parking lot and the airport. Thanks to this, it removes any worries about getting stuck in traffic on the way to the airport during peak times. So all you need to do is choose the best time for you and inform the parking lot staff.
How does it work? Actually, everything is straightforward: when you come to the entrance, the staff will remove your luggage from your car and load it onto the shuttle, which will take you and your bags to the terminal. Then, the vehicle will be parked securely.
In addition, this type of parking is much cheaper, and this is good news, as nobody wants to waste money. Therefore, off-site parking is the perfect option to receive excellent service and save money at the same time.
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We're glad to inform you that you can find this solution right here. Our booking platform, ParkingNearAirports.io, offers the best prices on airport car parking and bundles hotel and parking packages. Besides, we provide the services for top cruise ports in Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas.
Our platform allows you to reserve a parking spot through a few clicks within the application. As a result, customers receive a booking confirmation and a guaranteed parking spot upon arrival at the off-airport lot. Besides, if plans change, you can cancel hassle-free and receive a refund.
To understand it better, we would like to give you an example. Let's imagine that you live in Orlando, Florida. If you're planning a trip to Santa Barbara, California, you can use the services of affordable parking around Orlando Airport. If you're coming from Las Vegas, Nevada, the situation is the same – you can choose cheap long-term parking near Las Vegas Airport. So it just depends on the place you're flying from.
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You can find all the necessary and helpful information connected with the off-site airport parking on our official website. Enjoy traveling!
