Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
311
number of boutiques as w ell. I f y ou get tir ed of str olling, hop on one of the electric
shuttle buses (25¢) that run up and down State Street.
Also check out
Brinkerhoff Avenue
(off Cota St., btw. Chapala and De La Vina sts.),
Santa Barbara's “antiques alley.” Most shops here are open Tuesday through Sunday from
11am to 5pm.
El Paseo
(814 State St.) is a pictur esque shopping arcade reminiscent of
an old Spanish street. It's built around an 1827 adobe home and is lined with charming
shops and art galleries.
Paseo Nuevo,
on the other side of S tate Street, is a modern out-
door mall, featuring familiar chain stor
es and cafes, and anchor ed b y a N ordstrom
department store.
WHERE TO STAY
Before you even begin calling around for reservations, keep in mind that Santa Barbara's
accommodations are expensive—especially in summer. Then decide whether y ou'd like
to stay beachside (ev en more expensive) or do wntown. Santa Barbara is small, but not
small enough to happily stroll between the two areas.
The fr ee one-stop r eservations ser vice
Hot S pots
(
&
800/793-7666
or 805/564-
1637; www.hotspotsusa.com) keeps an updated list of av ailability for about 90% of the
area's hotels, motels, inns, and B&Bs.The service will have the latest information on who
might be looking to fill last-minute v acancies at reduced rates. Reservationists are avail-
able M onday thr ough S aturday fr om 9am to 7pm in summer; in winter , M onday
through Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 4pm; closed Sunday. There's
no charge for using the ser vice.
11
Very Expensive
Four S easons Biltmor e
This gem of the American Riviera manages to
adhere to the most elegant standar ds of hospitality without making any one feel unw el-
come. It's easy to sense the ghosts of golden-age H ollywood celebs like G reta G arbo,
Errol Flynn, and Bing Crosby, who used to play croquet or practice putting on the hotel's
perfectly manicur ed lawns and then head o ver to the priv ate Coral Casino B each &
Cabana Club—because that 's exactly what today 's privileged guests ar e
still
doing. The
Four S easons company acquir ed this S panish-style hacienda (ca. 1927) in 1987 and
restored the 20-acre property without spoiling a bit of its historical charm. R ooms have
an airy feel with all the modern amenities. I n addition to two acclaimed dining r ooms,
the Biltmore offers a no-holds-barr ed Sunday brunch that draws folks fr om 100 miles
away. The hotel's most recent addition is the S pa, a multimillion-dollar, 10,000-square-
foot Spanish-style annex that houses numer ous treatment rooms, a swimming pool and
two huge whirlpool baths, a state-of-the-ar t fitness center and, for the big spenders, 10
oceanview deluxe suites with fireplaces, in-room bars, changing rooms, and twin massage
tables (essentially, your own private treatment room).
1260 Channel Dr. (at the end of Oliv e Mill Rd.), Santa Barbara, CA 93108.
&
800/819-5053
or 805/969-
2261. Fax 805/565-8323. www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara. 207 units. $575-$895 double; from $1,100
suite. Extra person $55. Children ages 18 and under stay free in parent's room. AE, DC, MC, V. Valet parking
$29; free self-parking.
Amenities:
Restaurant; 2 lounges; bikes; health club; 2 Jacuzzis; 2 outdoor heated
pools; spa; 3 tennis courts (lit for night play); room service, Wi-Fi ($10 per day).
In room:
A/C, TV/DVD, CD
player, hair dryer, Internet ($10 per day), minibar.
Expensive
Simpson House Inn Bed & Breakfast
The Simpson House is truly some-
thing special. R ooms within the 1874 H istoric Landmark main house ar e decorated to
Victorian perfection, with extras ranging from a claw-foot tub and antique brass sho wer
