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Posted August 2006
Luxury Experiences in Santa Barbara:
Shopping, Spas and Wine Tasting
 (SANTA BARBARA, CA) – Sunshine and sandy beaches, sparklingly
crisp Spanish-influenced architecture, boutiques, galleries,
and cafes lining boulevards, hills covered in vineyards – welcome
to the American Riviera.
A trip to Santa Barbara County is a sensory delight. While certainly
there are opportunities for activities that don’t break the bank,
you may want to forego the penury experience during your trip
to this region and go for a taste of luxury.
Shopping
Forget the big-box mall, forget hurried dashes into stores to
pick up necessities, or a required replacement of tired apparel,
shopping in Santa Barbara proper becomes a leisurely stroll
along outdoor cobblestone paseos (pathways), past cooling fountains,
palm trees, and blooming bougainvillea.
Driving Miles From Santa Barbara:
San Francisco: 330 miles
Los Angeles: 90 miles
Las Vegas: 360 miles
Seattle: 1,125 miles
Portland: 955 miles
Denver: 1,106 miles
Salt Lake City: 778 miles
Dallas: 1,533 miles
San Jose: 290 miles
Phoenix: 468 miles
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Spas
Open your wallet, open your mind, and get down to the business
of erasing the negative effects of time. If you are looking
for a place to rejuvenate the spirit and some skin in the process,
Santa Barbara has a spa that has the cure for you.
Wine and Wine Tasting
Santa Barbara’s wine making history, like that of many areas
in California, extends back to the days of the Spanish missions
– 200 years ago. Today, the region is home to more than 100
wineries and some 24,000 acres of planted vineyards.
Wine enthusiasts will find that most Santa Barbara wine tasting
rooms are open daily (excluding some major holidays) from 10
a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m. There are some wineries that do not have
tasting rooms onsite, but you can usually find their wines are
available locally for tasting at retail stores. Many wineries
have picnic areas open to the public and some are available for
corporate meetings, weddings, and other special events. |
