We boarded Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner business class car in Oceanside, California, and sat back with our traveling companions to relax and enjoy the ride. Our destination was the glorious seaside paradise of Santa Barbara, sometimes called the “American Riviera.” We would travel there in comfort and style with no worries about traffic back-ups around LA or parking woes when we arrived at our destination. Thanks to our Santa Barbara Car Free tickets, our biggest concern was whether we would drink red or white wine during our journey.
The journey was smooth and we leaned back in comfy seats, soothed by the train’s intoxicating rhythm as we sped along the tracks. The views were varied and captivating—from busy trackside industrial areas to rolling green hills and wide expanses of rocky beaches with churning ocean waves. Occasionally we had a glimpse of car-congested highways, emphasizing how wonderful it was to be comfortably zooming along “carefree and car free” on the train. The trip was even more pleasant because of the congenial Amtrak staff members who were there to make our trip a happy one. Around noon, we were served a tasty assortment of snacks (a business class amenity), including chips, fig bars, cookies and trail mix, along with a choice of beverages. Of course, since we are wine writers, you know what we chose.
Before we knew it, about 4½ hours after boarding, we were in Santa Barbara rested and energized. The welcoming Hotel Santa Barbara was only a short walk away. This lovely boutique hotel has been beautifully updated since it was built in 1926—after the great earthquake that hit this area in 1925 destroyed the original hotel. Fortunately, the hotel still retains much of its historical charm. We could easily imagine some of its celebrity visitors from the past, such as Clark Gable and Carol Lombard, lounging in the lobby while they hobnobbed with other Hollywood stars. Legend has it that liquor was always available in the hotel during Prohibition and there was a secret gaming room somewhere on the property. If only the walls could talk, their stories would be enthralling.
Our room’s wonderful bed with exquisite linens made our two-night stay the epitome of comfort. The complimentary continental breakfast served each morning had a European flair with fresh buttery croissants, hard-boiled eggs, bagels, toast, cereals, juices and richly brewed coffee. And, best of all, the heart of Santa Barbara was right out the hotel’s front door. We could stroll down vibrant State Street and enjoy a myriad assortment of restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries. So we did just that, ultimately stopping at the Palace Grill for an authentic, delicious Cajun dinner.
After a great night’s sleep, our first walk of the morning was to the Santa Barbara Trolley Tour stop two blocks away. We always like to take tours to get an overview of a city and this 90-minute, narrated tour was perfect with its emphasis on the rich history and beauty of the area. This is a “hop on and off” tour so we had the option of lingering at some of the more interesting stops. We did hop off at the majestic Old Mission, founded in 1786 and known as “Queen of the Missions,” where we were able to visit the inspiring sanctuary.
Other sites we saw from the trolley included Stearns Wharf, the Museum of Natural History, the Santa Barbara waterfront, the glitzy Montecito area with its gorgeous homes, the impressive architecturally significant Courthouse, the Santa Barbara Zoo, the historic Fess Parker Doubletree, along with many beautifully landscaped streets and picturesque beaches. Discounts on the trolley tour are available with Amtrak Car Free tickets.
After our trolley tour, of course it was time for lunch, but choosing where to go was a challenge since there are so many appealing options on State Street. We loved the Sandbar Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar where we sat outside and sipped delectable, huge margaritas along with our flavorful burritos and fajitas.
A highlight of Santa Barbara is its Urban Wine Trail, featuring more than two-dozen tasting rooms offering many of the excellent wines produced in Santa Barbara County. These tasting rooms were conveniently located within blocks of our hotel. One particularly enticing area is called “The Funk Zone,” which was a manufacturing hub during the 19th century and now features old warehouses and plants that house art galleries, restaurants, craft breweries, coffee shops and retail establishments as well as wine tasting rooms. This fascinating, eclectic area is within easy walking distance of downtown and the train station.
Since we were in Santa Barbara on a Tuesday, we were able to enjoy the bountiful Farmer’s Market in the late afternoon, which took place on two blocks in front of our hotel. We loved the colorful fresh produce, artistic craft items and talking to the many friendly vendors. We also enjoyed stopping at Joe’s Café right across from the hotel where we sipped cocktails as we learned about this iconic restaurant and bar’s rich history as a Santa Barbara institution since 1928.
For dinner we wandered down State Street to Relais de Paris, an elegant bistro where I ordered rich, savory French Onion soup that was perhaps the best I’ve ever had. We were learning that you can find just about any kind of cuisine you desire in Santa Barbara.
You could meander around Santa Barbara for days and not experience everything. Our visit was brief but chock full of enthralling experiences. With Amtrak Car Free tickets, discounts are available for many Santa Barbara activities through December 31, 2016. If only there had been more time in the day, we could have gone whale watching or horseback riding, taken a sailing cruise or surf lessons, kayaked, visited the zoo and several wonderful museums, biked or “Segwayed” around the city, gone on wine tours and much more—all discounted with our Amtrak tickets. Discounts are also available at several wonderful hotels, such as the Hotel Santa Barbara.
On the morning of our departure, we could walk right to the train station and hop on the train, with no worries about how much traffic we would encounter on a harrowing drive home through LA traffic. Our business class seats welcomed us back with comfort and treats. Again, every staff member we met on Amtrak was friendly and helpful. All too soon we were back in Oceanside and planning how we could take advantage of Santa Barbara Car Free again.
Fourteen Amtrak trains arrive/depart Santa Barbara every day, including the Pacific Surfliner (San Diego to San Luis Obispo) which we rode, and also the Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle. For information on special offers and discounts, go to Amtrak’s Car Free website for train discounts.
Santa Barbara Car Free is an award-winning project founded and led by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District with more than 100 community partners that support and offer discounts to Car Free participants. For more details on Santa Barbara Car Free go to its website.
