When you live in LA and get the itch to leave town for a couple of days without going very far, it's great that you can drive just 90 minutes north along the Pacific Coast and wind up in Santa Barbara.I haven't been there in years, so I immediately started researching places to stay. At first, I thought I could find a nice, reasonably-priced place to stay along or near the beach. Afterall, it was the end of September...not July. I soon discovered that a "nice, reasonably-priced place along the beach" was a contradiction in terms! These days, staying anywhere near the ocean anytime is going to cost you!
After comparing rates and amenities, we decided to stay at The Montecito Inn, a charming and historical hotel in Montecito, right next to S.B. Built in 1928 by the legendary Charlie Chaplin, the Inn was originally meant as an "escape to paradise" for Chaplin and his friends. And, if you didn't know this fact before, you'll most certainly get it as you make your way through the hotel and notice the thousands of Charlie Chaplin pictures on the walls. Incidentally, this was also the hotel where my grandparents stayed on their honeymoon in 1940, so of course we had to stay there, too!
Montecito is a nice alternative to staying in downtown Santa Barbara, which gets super-crowded and full of traffic on the weekends. It's actually only a few minutes drive away from SB. There are some lovely boutiques and restaurants all within walking distance and the beach is only a few blocks away.
The rooms at The Montecito Inn are a little small, but the luxury suites are a good size, have air-conditioning and are sound-proof (which is a good thing since the hotel is literally right off the highway!). The rate's aren't too bad -we got a pretty good deal on a suite on an off-peak night. We only stayed one night, so spending a little bit more was okay. The hotel offers free use of their cruiser bikes, so we went on a nice bike ride around Montecito and down to the beach. This was the view from our bikes:
That night, we had a great dinner at Lucky's, a classic (but pricey) steak house that's right next door to the hotel. The food was delicious, my Grey Goose martini was very good...and we sat next to Jimmy Connors, the famous tennis player, who apparently is one of their regulars!
As with any beach town, there's plenty of "outdoorsy"stuff to do in SB. We checked out the beaches and the wharf, strolled along State Street and visited the historical Santa Barbara Mission.
And, if you've got any money and/or energy left over, you can blow it at the Camarillo Outlet Stores on the way home. There's nothing like a good two-day getaway...and a new pair of shoes!
Quick Tips and Info:
1- Along with free use of their cruiser bikes, the Montecito Inn offers free valet service, free WIFI, a free continental breakfast, free Charlie Chaplin DVDs upon request, and according to my husband, a really nice gym (which, of course, I never saw). And, no, they're not paying me to write this :-)
2- Directions
The name itself - Montecio - is so melodious!
ReplyDeleteYou should get paid by the owners of the inn for such a favorable account of their place.