Who doesn’t love starting an adventure by train? Instead of dealing with traffic, we kicked off our 24 hours in Santa Barbara by sipping drinks and snacking our way through the scenic one-hour Amtrak journey.
Pro tip: The coastal views are incredible, especially with a coffee (or mimosa!) in hand and depending on the season, if you get the 4 p.m. train, you might be able to catch the sunset.
We rolled into Santa Barbara and checked into the historic Hotel Santa Barbara, right in the heart of downtown. While they’re giving the lobby a facelift, the newly renovated rooms are absolutely gorgeous.
Here’s something that made us smile: they’re incredibly dog-friendly, rolling out the red carpet for four-legged guests with plush beds, treats and bowls. This is our second time staying at the hotel, and we brought our dog the first time and she was absolutely pampered.`
Food and Wine
Since we were celebrating my birthday kid-free, we embarked on an epic food and drink crawl along charming State Street.
Our first stop: The super-cute Satellite Wine Bar. It’s a stylish eatery serving up amazing vegetarian bites alongside carefully curated wines, ciders and craft beers. We devoured their delicious spinach dip and I sipped a crisp sauvignon blanc while my husband enjoyed a local cider.
After some window shopping (and maybe a purchase or two), we sat down for dinner at Mizza. They serve beautiful artisan pizzas that I am sure are to die for, but I went with the lemon spaghetti that was surprisingly amazing. My husband also loved their chicken marsala.
The night was still young, so we popped into Dusk, a fantastic bar right across from the Hotel Santa Barbara (next door is Dawn, the perfect stop for coffee in the morning).
We were all set with our nightcap but the hotel surprised us with a birthday bottle of wine and a sweet note! Of course, we had to open the for another nightcap…though maybe that second round explains why our morning coffee was extra necessary.
Brunch and the Beach
Here’s the thing about Santa Barbara—even with a slight wine headache, it’s impossible not to feel amazing when you’re strolling along the beach in the morning, which is where we headed first thing.
We worked up an appetite for brunch which we ate at The Cruisery, This restaurant has become a favorite of ours over the years but we had never been for brunch. It was definitely a wine. The chilaquiles are served piping hot right in the skillet and are so good.
The whole vibe is exactly what you want in a vacation spot—casual yet special, with games to play and even a dog menu (seriously, this town loves pets more than some people love their kids!).
We couldn’t leave without a proper wine tasting, so we finished our whirlwind 24 hours in Santa Barbara at Grassini Family Vineyards’ tasting room right off State Street. Their red blend was so good we had to buy a couple.
Fun fact: State Street is dotted with tasting rooms, so you can sample your way through Santa Barbara’s wine country without leaving downtown.
24 Hours in Santa Barbara
What makes Santa Barbara perfect for a quick getaway is how everything flows together—the beach, the food, the wine, the shopping, all within easy walking distance. It’s the perfect little escape from reality, where even 24 hours feels like a complete vacation.
Bonus tip for dog parents: Nearly every restaurant around State Street welcomes pups on their patios (and some inside), so there’s no need to leave your furry friend behind. Just don’t blame us when they get spoiled with all the attention and treats from every server in town!
Want to book your own 24 hours in Santa Barbara or another similar short getaway? I can help! Contact me for all of your travel planning needs.
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