The word Santa Barbara brings visions of beautiful beaches, great shopping and a fine lifestyle. Visiting there last weekend showed me that the city hates to disappoint.
To start with, I visited the Santa Barbara website.
http://www.santabarbaraca.com/things-to-do/calendar-of-events/
I decided to check out the waterfront first. Although it was a blustery Saturday, people were out enjoying the morning on bikes, roller-blades, and any other form of people mover when I arrived. The artistry on display at the art flea market was as fun as the weekenders who were selling their pieces.
The attitude was so relaxed and easy I felt bad heading over to Stearn's Wharf. This is an old wooden pier with shops and restaurants. It not only takes you out over the ocean, it gives you a magnificent view of the harbor. I had a nice slice of grilled halibut as I watched surfers ride the long jetty break and yachts glide out into open water.
With an entire afternoon still available, I headed to Solvang, just 30 minutes up the highway into the mountains. Solvang is a city with a Danish theme. They have antique, gift and art shops that are truly worth the drive. It was dog friendly, so it was an extra bonus having furry friends wagging their tails in shops.
The food there is also Danish/Euro themed and it is pretty good. What really set the standard were the desserts. There were bread shops that had mouthwatering pastries. The cookies and chocolate shops had samples that almost brought me to tears. After my dinner, I had an apple strudel that will be the measure of all other fruit dishes for as long as I live.
Apparently, there are many wineries in those mountains, and I have every intention of visiting each one next time I visit there. I'll also see those art exhibits Santa Barbara has to offer or the wonders of State Street. I had no regrets about how I spent my day there. I'll be back again soon!
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