Hotel at a Glance: Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn

Exotic tropical blooms and a stone fountain punctuate the courtyard of this elegant hotel, which was built in a Spanish Mission style. It's just a short drive from wineries that produce some of Santa Barbara's finest pinot noir wines.

• Outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees
• Traditional guest rooms featuring cable TVs and mini refrigerators
• State of the art business center and fitness center
• Watch polo matches at the nearby Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, a historic club famous for its lush playing fields and Sunday polo tournaments.
• Distance to Carpinteria State Beach: just a few minutes away by foot

Santa Barbara: Tips for the Perfect Weekend Escape

Day 1

(ᵔᴥᵔ) Santa Barbara Zoo (ᵔᴥᵔ)

Great for a family day out! See more than 500 animals, including 146 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects.
On-site, visitors can hand feed Masai giraffes, domestic sheep and goats, encounter penguins and toss them a tasty fishy snack, and observe the preparation of food for all of the animals via a large window at the zoo’s Ridley-Tree Animal Kitchen.
Children can step into the shoes of a paleontologist thanks to the Fossil Find experience that teaches young ones about the discovery of prehistoric animals and different types of fossils. Need a short break? Hop on one of the C.P. Huntington trains to get to your next destination in the zoo.

❀ Santa Barbara Botanic Garden ❀

Enjoy a trip to this 78-acre botanical garden, featuring over 1,000 species of rare and indigenous plants.
Divided into sections, the venue features 11 distinctive ecosystems. These include ‘Desert’ with plants from across the varied deserts of eastern California, ‘Teahouse’ which uses California’s native plants to re-create a traditional Japanese tea garden, and ‘Island View’ - a display garden that boasts wild and cultivated plants unique to the Channel Islands of California and Baja California, Mexico.
It’s also worth visiting the garden’s shop as it offers a wide selection of native California plants.###Day 2

♒︎ Santa Barbara Maritime Museum ♒︎

Showcasing over 13,000 years of human interaction with The Santa Barbara Channel, this family-oriented museum boasts nearly 8,000 square feet of exhibits, along with docking space for three historic vessels.
See the ‘Whales are Superheroes' exhibit which focuses on the positive impact whales have on climate change and efforts to make the Santa Barbara Channel a Whale Heritage Site. Visitors can also discover the history of surfing and learn what a surfboard is made of.
Do you enjoy interactive fun? See how you would look like with a sailor's tattoo and find out how it feels to fight and land a sport fish.

⚓ Santa Barbara Harbor ⚓

Nestled along the lively Santa Barbara Waterfront, this historic harbor offers picturesque views, a range of tasty dining options and many exciting activities. These include sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and whale watching.
You can charter a boat, go on a cruise, rent equipment, or opt for water sports lessons.
If you feel like just relaxing, take a stroll along the breakwater wall, browse the local shops, or simply admire a variety of boats that sail in and out of the Santa Barbara Channel.
###Day 3

♫ The Funk Zone ♫

Visit Santa Barbara's bustling arts, culture, business, and industrial district between State Street and Garden Street, and Montecito Street to Cabrillo Boulevard.
Over the years these converted warehouses and buildings decorated with graffiti murals and modern art pieces have become one of the city’s landmarks.
It can be an ideal destination for wine aficionados who can visit a wide range of tasting rooms that offer local wines, including vino from Santa Barbara Winery.

♚ The Granada Theatre ♚

Catch a live performance at this historic downtown theater first opened in April 1924.
Featuring an opulent, gold-toned interior, this venue is host to a variety of cultural events, including Broadway musicals, classical music concerts, comedy shows, and ballets. On rare occasions, the theater also presents feature length films.
The surroundings of The Granada Theatre provide guests with a variety of fine dining options for those wanting to enhance the experience.