Christmas Guide For Santa Barbara Vacation Shoppers

Visitors to the Santa Barbara area, and especially those enjoying the superb Santa Barbara hotels and Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts, will find a multitude of interesting and unique shopping venues this holiday season.  Several new and exciting options make Santa Barbara downtown hotels a fantastic choice for those seeking a truly authentic Santa Barbara experience!

Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com) has identified three must visit, uniquely Santa Barbara businesses, each offering vacationers the chance to create some lasting holiday memories.  Each of these venues was selected, based on uniqueness, “can’t miss” appeal, and its connection to Santa Barbara culture.

THE PAINTED CABERNET (WWW.PAINTEDCABERNET.COM)

The Painted Cabernet, located within walking distance to all downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, “speaks to the artist in all of us.” The upscale urban studio, located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, at 1229 State Street, offers a friendly, hip, and creative environment.  Instructional artists walk visitors step-by-step through the painting experience giving one-on-one instruction while affording the freedom to create. Visitors select a painting they want to reproduce, with the studio offers many choices.  Patrons paint, drink wine, and socialize in a fun, vibrant, casual atmosphere.  A wide selection of Santa Barbara wines are available, from local favorites to some of Napa and Sonoma Valley’s best await the amateur Picasso or Renoir. Visitors to Santa Barbara this holiday season can easily walk to the Painted Cabernet from downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, or take a short drive from Santa Barbara garden hotels. Visit their website Visit their Facebook Page Follow on Twitter

HAMPSTEAD VILLAGE (WWW.HAMPSTEADVILLAGEUSA.COM)

Hampstead Village brings a truly authentic British experience to Santa Barbara, offering a huge selection including travel books, Irish recipes, English Lily of the Valley soaps, and a wide selection of distinctly British foods, such as old fashioned chocolate biscuits.  Perfumes from Penhaligon's of London are available, along with Taylor of Old Bond Street toiletries.  Visitors will feel a strong sense of nostalgia immediately upon entering Hampstead Village, taking them back to “the good old days” when quality was the standard. The Children’s Corner offers Peter Rabbit china, memorable books, and cuddly toys to keep the kids busy while adults shop at their leisure.  Hampstead Village is located at 1100 State Street on the corner of State and Figueroa, walking distance from several exceptional Santa Barbara hotels.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook page

CIELITO RESTAURANT (WWW.CIELITORESTAURANT.COM)

Restaurant offers Mexican cuisine with influences from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean flavors, with recipes from Mexico City to Oaxaca and from Veracruz to Guadalajara. At Cielito, Chef Ramon Velazquez reveals the true flavors of traditional dishes prepared with simplicity and elegance. Each dish celebrates the essence of the ingredients and is presented to delight the eye and the palate.  Cielito Restaurant is located at 1114 State Street, within the historic La Arcada complex, and has been a longtime favorite gathering place for dining and relaxation around the famous turtle fountain.  This location is ideal for visitors lodging with downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, and is the heart of the downtown shopping and entertainment corridor.  La Arcada offers many shops, galleries, and restaurants to delight visitors, providing the authentic experience that is so uniquely Santa Barbara.

Cielito Restaurant offers both indoor and al fresco dining on their private outdoor patio. Private parties and events can be scheduled, including large functions and small, intimate gatherings on their mezzanine level. 

Cielito’s lunch menu includes Quesadillas, enchiladas, lots of taco options, salads, and even their “Heavenly Burger.”  Their vanilla bean flan has received some heavenly reviews as well!  Prices range from about $9 to $15.

The dinner menu is decidedly upscale, with antojitos (snacks), taqueria (street style cravings for sharing), soups, salads, and entrees.  Entrees include enchiladas, fish, a filet, and chicken, while desserts include Apple Empanadas, Tiramisu, Chocolate & Caramel Peanut Semi-freddo, and their signature vanilla bean flan.

Though Cielito has a decidedly Mexican flare, the menu is diverse enough to satisfy just about any palate.  Cielito also offers a full bar with many signature cocktails, wines, and craft beers.  For more information: visit their website visit their Facebook page

With so many wonderful options, visitors to Santa Barbara this holiday season are sure to find plenty to keep them busy.  The three options presented here should provide a good starting point for visitors staying in downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, or those visiting one of our extraordinary Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts.  The central location of each of these venues offers the pedestrian visitor exposure to many other exciting destinations along State Street and the many cross streets that offer additional shopping and entertainment options.  Visitors are invited to take their time, explore, shop, eat, drink, and be merry this holiday season.  Enjoy your visit and take home some uniquely Santa Barbara memories!

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN

The Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. ThisSanta Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters.  This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality and a touch of whimsy. Visit their website Visit their blog

Christmas Guide For Santa Barbara Vacation Shoppers

Visitors to the Santa Barbara area, and especially those enjoying the superb Santa Barbara hotels and Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts, will find a multitude of interesting and unique shopping venues this holiday season.

November 20, 2012, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com) has identified three must visit, uniquely Santa Barbara businesses, each offering vacationers the chance to create some lasting holiday memories.  Each of these venues was selected, based on uniqueness, “can’t miss” appeal, and its connection to Santa Barbara culture. Visit the full review here.

The Painted Cabernet, located within walking distance to all downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, “speaks to the artist in all of us.” The upscale urban painting studio, located at 1229 State Street, offers a friendly, hip, and creative environment.  Instructional artists walk visitors step-by-step through the painting experience giving one-on-one instruction while affording the freedom to create. Visitors select a painting they want to reproduce, with the studio offers many choices.  Patrons paint, drink wine, and socialize in a fun, vibrant, casual atmosphere.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook Page Follow on Twitter

Hampstead Village brings a truly authentic British experience to Santa Barbara, offering a huge selection including travel books, Irish recipes, English Lily of the Valley soaps, and a wide selection of distinctly British foods, such as old fashioned chocolate biscuits.  Perfumes from Penhaligon's of London are available, along with Taylor of Old Bond Street toiletries.  The Children’s Corner offers Peter Rabbit china, memorable books, and cuddly toys to keep the kids busy while adults shop at their leisure.  Hampstead Village is located at 1100 State Street on the corner of State and Figueroa, walking distance from several exceptional Santa Barbara hotels.  Visit their website Visit their Facebook page

Cielito Restaurant offers Mexican cuisine with influences from African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean flavors, with recipes from Mexico City to Oaxaca and from Veracruz to Guadalajara. At Cielito, Chef Ramon Velazquez reveals the true flavors of traditional dishes prepared with simplicity and elegance. Each dish celebrates the essence of the ingredients and is presented to delight the eye and the palate.  Cielito Restaurant is located at 1114 State Street, within the historic La Arcada complex, a location that is ideal for visitors lodging with downtown hotels in Santa Barbara, and is the heart of the downtown shopping and entertainment corridor.

About Cheshire Cat Inn: The Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs.  Visit their website Visit their blog

Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Offers Hotel Discounts For 2013 SBIF Attendees

The 28^th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, scheduled for January 24 through February 3, 2013, promises to be the most exciting film festival to-date. This year’s honorees include Amy Adams (Cinema Vanguard award), Ben Affleck (Modern Master Award), and Jennifer Lawrence (Outstanding Performer of the Year Award).  The Santa Barbara Film Festival schedule includes some of the most exciting films, images from last year’s events, tributes, sidebars, and other activities with broad appeal for all ages and interests.  Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is dedicated to the art of filmmaking, which seeks out and consequently offers a broad array of international and independent films, with a commitment to diversity. This Festival, which attracts more than 70,000 visitors each year, offers eleven days of films, tributes and symposiums, raising consciousness of film as an art form. The SBIFF presents quality American and world independent films, Latin American and Asian sidebars as well as documentary cinema within the beautiful setting of downtown Santa Barbara. The SBIFF continues its commitment to education through its 10-10-10 Student Filmmaking and Screenwriting Competitions, Field Trip to the Movies and educational seminars.

Visitors to the Film Festival will find a wide array of Santa Barbara lodging options suitable for virtually any taste and pocketbook. Some of the most exciting are the many Santa Barbara bed and breakfasts that surround the downtown area.  Cheshire Cat Inn, (www.cheshirecat.com), one of the premier bed and breakfasts in Santa Barbara, signed on as a lodging sponsor for SBIF 2013.

Cheshire Cat Inn Offers Special Lodging Rates For 2013 SBIF Attendees!

Click here for the Santa Barbara Hotel Discount Page on SBIF

Cheshire Cat Inn is offering special lodging options for attendees of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The options include significant discounts to their normal room rates, including a Queen Room for $150 mid-week, $175 Friday and Saturday, a King Room for $175 mid-week and for $200 Friday and Saturday.

Cheshire Cat is an elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens located in downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants and theaters. Offering 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with the most luxurious hot tubs in Santa Barbara, the Inn also has in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, and private decks.

If you're looking for the best jacuzzi Santa Barbara has to offer at a bed and breakfast hotel, Cheshire Cat Inn is known for their beautiful outdoor hot tub jacuzzi.  Breakfast is served daily, along with an afternoon wine hour.  

Although Santa Barbara Film Festival activities are available at many venues throughout the city, the majority are concentrated in the downtown area, making Cheshire Cat Inn an ideal choice for attendees.  For those visitors looking for a somewhat higher level of relaxation to go along with the excitement of the film Festival, The Cheshire Cat Spaoffers a wide array of specialized treatments available in room for total privacy. The spa offers Swedish massage, acupressure, prenatal therapy, deep tissue therapy, facials and more.

The Santa Barbara film Festival offers a variety of passes each providing a unique experience and perspective on the festival. While the private access pass gives the holder reserve priority seating, VIP backstage access, even a personal VIP liaison, other passes such as the State Street pass, allow the holder off-peak access to all screenings throughout the festival. For those attending samara film festival on a budget, and therefore prefer not to spend the money for a pass, there are many individual ticketoptions which are much more affordable and still offer an exciting and enjoyable experience at the festival.

By combining a local, Santa Barbara lodging experience, with one of the pass options for the Santa Barbara Film Festival, visitors can not only enjoy all the festival has to offer, but can also enjoy a unique Santa Barbara experience. Adding the comfortable casual unique experience of a true Santa Barbara bed n breakfast, like Cheshire Cat Inn, can enhance the experience even further. Within walking distance to downtown Santa Barbara, guest of this unique Santa Barbara Inn, will create lasting memories of the Santa Barbara film Festival, and will surely want to return each year.

There are many other interesting and exciting entertainment options to be found in Santa Barbara during the Santa Barbara Film Festival. The many restaurants, clubs, and bars that dot the downtown Santa Barbara area, offer fine dining, casual dining, music including life performance, dancing, top local wines, and social interaction, all within walking distance from the Cheshire Cat Inn. 

Each year, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival brings some of the top stars, producers, writers, and directors to Santa Barbara, making the atmosphere electric for those truly interested in the art of filmmaking. For these true enthusiasts, visiting Santa Barbara and remaining in the downtown area throughout the festival offers the best access to all that the Santa Barbara film Festival has to offer. The 28^th annual Santa Barbara international film Festival is certain to be the best yet!

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Offers Hotel Discounts For 2013 SBIF Attendees

December 12, 2012, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com), Santa Barbara bed and breakfast hotel is an official sponsor of the 2013 Santa Barbara Film Festival.  Cheshire Cat Inn is offering attendees of SBIF a special Santa Barbara hotel package to help reduce their lodging costs. Visitors to the Film Festival will benefit from lodging discounts as a result of this partnership.  Visit this page for more details.

Santa Barbara lodging options for the film festival usually fill up months before the event.  Cheshire Cat Inn is now offering significant discounts to their normal room rates, including a Queen Room for $150 mid-week, $175 Friday and Saturday, a King Room for $175 mid-week and for $200 Friday and Saturday. Guests staying at Cheshire Cat Inn will be within walking distance from the festival, and enjoy an unforgettable holiday at one of the most unique Santa Barbara bed n breakfast hotels downtown.

The 28^th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, scheduled for January 24 through February 3, 2013, promises to be the most exciting film festival to-date. This year’s honorees include Amy Adams (Cinema Vanguard award), Ben Affleck (Modern Master Award), and Jennifer Lawrence (Outstanding Performer of the Year Award).  The Santa Barbara Film Festival schedule includes some of the most exciting films, images from last year’s events, tributes, sidebars, and other activities with broad appeal for all ages and interests.

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

How To Plan The Perfect Santa Barbara Biking Weekend

Cheshire Cat welcomes cycling guests of all abilities to our Santa Barbara inn. Whether you’re a novice just learning the pedals, an experienced bicycling enthusiast, a family looking for a weekend of healthy fun, or a couple sharing your passion for this sport on a romantic weekend getaway, our Santa Barbara bed and breakfast is the perfect starting point for all of your adventures.

You’ll love bike riding in Santa Barbara. Our great year-round weather and beautiful California scenery lend themselves to some of the best biking in the U.S. In Santa Barbara bikes are almost as common as cars. Start your day on the flower-filled brick patio at our Santa Barbara bed & breakfast and enjoy samplings that might include fresh fruit, a traditional Continental breakfast, deep-dish French toast or an authentic Mexican frittata. Then head out to explore 78 miles of astonishing California coastline, mountains that rise up over 6800 feet, the Los Padres National Forest, or some of California’s finest wineries.

After an exhilarating day exploring the Santa Barbara bike paths together, come back to the best bed and breakfast in Santa Barbara for wine and hors d-oeuvres on our patio. Sample some of Santa Barbara’s best local wines and enjoy tasty hors d’oeuvres that will hit the spot. Regenerate yourself in our Santa Barbara hot tub or Santa Barbara Jacuzzi, and then choose from any of Santa Barbara’s nightlife activities, all within easy access from our romantic Victorian Inn. Evening chocolate chip cookies and brownies baked fresh daily will be available for your nibbling pleasure before bed, or our 24 hour refreshment center in the Eberle House is always open for tea, coffee, hot chocolate and ice.

Do-It-Yourself Biking or Santa Barbara Bike Tours

Santa Barbara is a great biking town with well-established bike paths that you can explore on your own and tour operators who offer bike rides from Santa Barbara inns to help you get the most out of your visit. Some websites you might want to visit as part of your trip planning include:

Bike Santa Barbara County: This website has a great overview of everything that has to do with Santa Barbara bikes. It includes information on Santa Barbara bike tours, bike shops, great bike rides and information about Santa Barbara bike rentals. They even have a listing of biking events through the end of the year so you can see what is happening in town during your stay.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company: Santa Barbara’s premiere adventure tour guide offers bike trips that include a wine country tour, mountains to shore, a seaside bike tour, and an Ojai Trail ride. Their site includes the length of the ride, level of difficulty, cost and a description of what is included in the tour.  Visit them on Facebook.

I Bike Santa Barbara: Perfect for a romantic weekend together, these tours take you right through the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. Tours include transportation to the gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley, a helmet, a new-model hybrid cycle, and a souvenir water bottle. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you on a tour that includes stops at Santa Barbara’s best vineyards along with visits to a lavender farm, miniature donkey and horse form, and a local olive ranch. This tour also includes a stop where you’ll get to enjoy a rustic picnic lunch along with a wine tasting at one of the award-winning Santa Ynez Valley wineries.  Visit them on Facebook.

What better way is there to spend special time together than with the quiet thrill of bicycling during the day and one of the finest Santa Barbara b&bs at night? Get away from it all to Santa Barbara by designing the weekend of your dreams to include one of our in-room Jacuzzi tubs, outdoor hot tubs, fireplaces or private decks and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to remind yourselves of why you fell in love in the first place.

Make Cheshire Cat Inn your bed n breakfast of choice for all of your cycling weekends. Book a reservation online today, or contact us at (805) 569-1610 orcheshire@cheshirecat.com for further information.

ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara B&B Highlights 3 Bike Rental Companies

February 2, 2013, Santa Barbara, CA - Cheshire Cat Inn (www.cheshirecat.com), a downtown bed and breakfast hotel highlighted three popular bike rental companies this month on their blog. Cheshire Cat Inn often receives requests from their guests asking for local bike tours in Santa Barbara. Travelers to the area will benefit from this informative review. Visit this page for more details.

Santa Barbara is a great biking town with well-established bike paths that you can explore on your own or with the help of an experienced bike tour operator. Cheshire Cat Inn recommends reviewing the following three websites which offer a wealth of information on the topic of Santa Barbara bicycling.

Bike Santa Barbara County: This website has a great overview of everything that has to do with Santa Barbara bikes. It includes information on Santa Barbara bike tours, bike shops, great bike rides and information about Santa Barbara bike rentals. They even have a listing of biking events through the end of the year so you can see what is happening in town during your stay.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company: Santa Barbara’s premiere adventure tour guide offers bike trips that include a wine country tour, mountains to shore, a seaside bike tour, and an Ojai Trail ride. Their site includes the length of the ride, level of difficulty, cost and a description of what is included in the tour.  Visit them on Facebook.

I Bike Santa Barbara: Perfect for a romantic weekend together, these tours take you right through the heart of Santa Barbara wine country. Tours include transportation to the gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley, a helmet, a new-model hybrid cycle, and a souvenir water bottle. A friendly and knowledgeable guide will take you on a tour that includes stops at Santa Barbara’s best vineyards along with visits to a lavender farm, miniature donkey and horse form, and a local olive ranch. This tour also includes a stop where you’ll get to enjoy a rustic picnic lunch along with a wine tasting at one of the award-winning Santa Ynez Valley wineries.  Visit them on Facebook.


ABOUT CHESHIRE CAT INN: Cheshire Cat Inn is a romantic and elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. This Santa Barbara bed and breakfast offers 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some with in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. The Inn is located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants, and theaters. This downtown Santa Barbara hotel has an Alice in Wonderland theme and offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality. Visit Cheshire Cat Inn at 36 W. Valerio St. Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, USA (805) 569-1610 by clicking on to their website, blog and facebook.

Santa Barbara California Bed & Breakfast Inn

Cheshire Cat Inn, Santa Barbara, California

A romantic elegant Victorian Inn with old oak trees, fountains and flower filled gardens. 18 guest rooms, suites and cottages, some having in-room Jacuzzi tubs, fireplaces, private decks and outdoor hot tubs. Breakfast and afternoon wine hour daily. Located downtown Santa Barbara, only four blocks from shops, restaurants and theaters.

A Santa Barbara Bed and Breakfast Inn

The Cheshire Cat Inn, a California bed and breakfast with an Alice in Wonderland theme, offers Santa Barbara lodging with gracious English hospitality and a touch of whimsy. Our luxurious accommodations are conveniently located in downtown Santa Barbara just minutes from area attractions and activities.

Santa Barbara, CA. The American Riviera

Visit The Cheshire Cat Inn during your Santa Barbara vacation and experience the essence of the Californian lifestyle. Here, the southern and northern regions of the state come together to combine the art and culture of a big city with the beauty and hospitality of a small beach town.

There are plenty of activities and attractions in Santa Barbara, where some of the best shopping, beaches and restaurants, all within close proximity to the Cheshire Cat Inn.