Fly like a bird
AirportsSanta Barbara Airport (SBA): served by 5 main airlines providing direct access to major hubs: Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest, and United. It is located 15–20 min to downtown so you can easily Uber to your lodging accommodations.
Los Angeles Airport (LAX): Enjoy a beautiful drive up the Pacific Coast Highway if you plan on renting a car or take a bus directly from the airport to downtown Santa Barbara via Santa Barbara Airbus.
Hotel Accommodations
Mar Monte Hyatt
This hotel is directly across the street from the reception and where the bride and groom will be staying. There is limited availability so please reach out if you wish to stay here and they are no longer available.
Palmoro House
A streamlined room option connected to the Mar Monte. You’ll check in at the Mar Monte lobby, with rooms a short 1.5-block walk away. No resort amenities, but the location is the same.
Cabrillo Inn
A 4-minute walk from the reception venue. They don’t offer a room block, but my Aunt arranged a cheaper rate with the manager: a Deluxe Ocean View (two queens or one king) for $199/night, or a standard king for $144/night. Make sure to add “returning guest discount” in the notes section before checkout.
Local Recommendations
Besides using ChatGPT to find your own adventure, here are our picks, and a million more wait on the official site.
Los Agaves — Authentic Mexican, a local institution
Dom’s Taverna — Basque-inspired small plates, great for sharing
Shoreline Café — Breakfast and lunch with tables right on the sand
Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach — Beachfront seafood, then stroll the sand (say hi to my Dad for me — he would’ve loved to meet everyone)
Walk the Breakwater — Stroll out past the Harbor to Sandspit for the classic SB view of mountains meeting sea
Picnic at the Mission Lawn — Grounds of the Old Mission, open and free
Sunset Cruise — Book a cruise from the harbor with the Condor Express
Wine Tasting in the Funk Zone — Walkable district packed with tasting rooms, a few blocks from downtown
Day Trip to Solvang — Danish village in the Santa Ynez Valley, 35 miles away
Grassini Family Vineyards — Family-run tasting room in the Santa Ynez Valley
Thousand Steps Beach — Locals’ beach reached by a long stone staircase
Stearns Wharf — Historic pier at the foot of State Street
Lil’ Toot — Little yellow boat tour around the harbor
Santa Barbara Bowl — Open-air concert venue with a mountain backdrop
Inspiration Point — Moderate, 3.5 mi out-and-back, panoramic views of the coastline
Hot Springs Trail — Moderate, 2.6 mi out-and-back, ends at natural hot springs
Lizard’s Mouth — Short scramble to a sandstone rock formation with big views
Rattlesnake Canyon — Challenging, 5 mi, creek crossings and canyon scenery