Santa Barbara, California is also known as the "American Riviera" because the city provides scenic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains. This resort city is home to two AAA five-diamond resorts and is within driving distance of a third resort in Ojai. While in Santa Barbara, tourists may surf, hike in the mountains and visit upscale shops in the downtown area. On Sundays, the city hosts the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show near Stearns Wharf.
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara (fourseasons.com) is an oceanfront resort in eastern Santa Barbara. This resort is a AAA five-diamond resort. Resort guests have access to the Four Seasons spa, which has 11 treatment rooms and four day suites with fireplaces. Some spa amenities are massages and facials. Other amenities at the Four Seasons include three hard-surface tennis courts and outdoor pool in a courtyard setting. Italian cuisine is available at the resort's restaurant, Bella Vista. The restaurant provides a view of the Pacific Ocean from the dining room. The Four Seasons offers 207 waterfront rooms and 12 cottage-style accommodations. All cottages have a private entrance and three to five bedrooms.
Simpson House Inn
Downtown Santa Barbara is home to the Simpson House Inn (simpsonhouseinn.com), a AAA five-diamond bed and breakfast. The inn features amenities such as complimentary beach equipment and bicycles, concierge service and access to the Santa Barbara Athletic Club. The Athletic Club is within a mile of Simpson House and provides a gym, racquetball courts, lap pool and sauna. For dining, Simpson House serves breakfast in its Main Veranda area or guests may have breakfast delivered to their room. The bed and breakfast offers in-room massages and facials. Simpson House's Victorian Estate Home (the bed and breakfast's main building) has Victorian-era d cor and antique furniture. The bed and breakfast's largest room, the Robert and Julia Simpson Room, has a private wraparound deck and king-size canopy bed.
Ojai Valley Inn
Located in Ojai, the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa (ojairesort.com) is a 35-minute drive from Santa Barbara and rests in the heart of the Ojai Valley. This resort was established as a country club in 1923 and, over the years, hosted celebrities such as Clark Gable, Walt Disney and Paul Newman. Ojai Valley's original, 18-hole golf course is still open to the resort's guests. Two outdoor pools, the Main Pool and Herb Garden Pool, are available to the resort's guests. The resort's spa features the Artist's Cottage, a private site for artists to work on their craft, and Cafe Verde, a lunchtime restaurant with vegetarian menu options. The inn has 77 suites, including the Hacienda Penthouse. This 1,900-square-foot suite has Moroccan-style d cor, living room with fireplace and two bathrooms.
Santa Barbara Attractions
The history of Santa Barbara dates back to the 18th century, when Spanish missionaries founded their mission church at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The original mission church -- Old Mission Santa Barbara (santabarbaramission.org)-- is open to the public, less than 15 minutes north of Santa Barbara's beach area. Santa Barbara's beach is home to Stearns Wharf (stearnswharf.org), an oceanside pier with views of the Pacific Ocean, souvenir shops and eateries. More food and shopping opportunities are available on State Street, which is downtown Santa Barbara's main thoroughfare. Santa Barbara tourists with dogs may take their pets to Arroyo Burro Beach County Park; the park allows dogs to roam the beach.
Tags: Santa Barbara, Four Seasons, Simpson House, Ojai Valley, Pacific Ocean, This resort, Athletic Club