Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [328]
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DETOUR: MONTECITO
The unincorporated community of Montecito (Map) hovers just east of Santa Barbara like a bashful cousin – a bashful cousin who’s just inherited the family fortune, that is. This leafy village in the Santa Ynez foothills is not just home to the rich and famous but to the obscenely rich and the uberfamous; the type of guarded enclave that would incite revolutions in eras past, but today, well, we all think we’re just one smart investment away from living there ourselves. And really, residents Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and Steven Spielberg can’t be all bad, right?
Though many homes hide behind manicured hedges, a taste of the Montecito lifestyle can be savored on the main drag, Coast Village Rd (follow Cabrillo Blvd east, turn right). For lunch, nab a spot on the red-tile patio at Los Arroyos ( 805-969-9059; 1280 Coast Village Rd; mains $8-14; 9am-11pm) and enjoy neatly prepared Mexican dishes (alas, chips and salsa are $3) and watch the ritzy stroll past. To nibble fancy chops in a high-end steakhouse frequented by local celebs, make a reservation at the chic, sometimes-too-hip-for-its-own-good Lucky’s ( 805-565-7540; 1279 Coast Village Rd; mains $14-69; dinner, lunch Sat & Sun).
For lodging, the three-story Montecito Inn ( 805-969-7854, 800-843-2017; www.montecitoinn.com; 1295 Coast Village Rd; r $245-345, ste 375-725; wi-fi) is a friendly Mediterranean-style retreat founded in 1928 by a group of investors headed by Charlie Chaplin. The upscale décor is lightened by fun (but not overdone) Charlie Chaplin movie posters. Some rooms are on the small side, but plush. For groups ask about the Chaplin suite that sleeps six.
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Diani (Map; 805-966-3114; 1324 State St, Arlington Plaza) Carries more high-fashion-oriented, Euro-inspired designs, with a touch of funky soul thrown in for good measure.
Mountain Air Sports (Map; 805-962-0049; 14 State St) Great place to load up on gear before a trip into the backcountry.
Santa Barbara Outfitters (Map ; 805-564-1007; 1200 State St) Located downtown, it sells similar outdoor clothing and gear.
Particle (Map; 805-899-4245; 1 W Ortega St) Men should check out this place for hip and trendy styles.
Victorian Vogue & the Costume Shop (Map; 805-962-8824; 1224 State St) For vintage and drag, from fabulous to outrageous, stop by this shop, which also rents costumes and has fun kids’ stuff too.
Skaterats will dig small, in-your-face Santa Barbara Skate Shop (Map; 805-899-8669; 16C Helena Ave), while divers will love the Anacapa Dive Center (Map; 805-963-8917; 22 Anacapa St). For more shops, pick up a Funk Zone map at the Visitors Center (Click here).
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GETTING THERE & AWAY
If you don’t drive your car to Santa Barbara, you’re eligible for discounts at select hotels, plus a bag of coupons for local restaurants and activities, courtesy of Santa Barbara Car Free (www.santabarbaracarfree.com).
The small Santa Barbara Airport (Map; 805-967-7111; www.flysba.com; 500 Fowler Rd) in Goleta, about 8 miles west of downtown via Hwy 101, has scheduled flights to and from LA, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix and other western US cities. The following agencies have car-rental desks at the airport:
Budget ( 800-527-0700; www.budget.com)
Enterprise ( 800-261-7331; www.enterprise.com)
Hertz ( 800-654-3131; www.hertz.com)
National ( 800-227-7368; www.nationalcar.com)
Santa Barbara Airbus ( 805-964-7759, 800-423-1618; www.santabarbaraairbus.com) shuttles between LA International Airport (LAX) and Santa Barbara ($46/86 one way/round-trip, 14 departures per day). The more people in your party, the cheaper the fare. Also consider buying discounted tickets online.
Greyhound (Map; 805-965-7551; www.greyhound.com; 34 W Carrillo St) operates six buses daily to LA ($12, two