Sometimes, spontaneous trips are the best ones! 4:30 pm on a Thursday, "Want go to Santa Barbara"? After gently tossing sweaters, boots, an umbrella and long pants (an unusual packing list for a trip to the central coast) we jumped in the car and hit the road. Five and half hours later, through a huge storm and dark skies we arrived in not so sunny Santa Barbara. I didn't mind, in fact, the weather made the trip even more adventurous. From huge waves almost hitting Boathouse (a picturesque beach side restaurant at Hendry's Beach), to nights sitting around a fire pit with my man, to reuniting with old friends, it was an all around great, spontaneous trip.
Downtown Santa Barbara is picturesque, quaint and simply perfection. Taste wine in the Funk Zone by stopping by all the different wineries and don' miss my personal favorite Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co for outside seating, great beer and live music. You can spent the entire day walking the square that makes up the Funk Zone, just make sure you're ready for lots of wine! Walk the pier at Sterns Wharf to visit a few great restaurants as well as the Sea Center and watch the way the sun hits the water off the pier. If its the amazing restaurants you favor try Endless Summer, Blue Agave, Boathouse, Wahoo's, or Fishouse. Or head down to Milpas street if you are in the mood for some authentic Mexican food (my favorite is Los Agaves). Hikes the trails within the mountains and be sure not to miss Shoreline Cafe for a toes in the sand kind of lunch.
Looking to keep up with road trip ideas, lifestyle inspiration, travel guides and more? Follow along with my adventures in San Francisco beyond on Instagram, chat with me on Twitter, and connect on Facebook.