Plan your escape
During the month of April, outdoor activity in Santa Barbara is not only a possibility, but a priority.
Santa Barbara’s love affair with the outdoors is a tale as old as time. So much so, Santa Barbara was home to the first-ever Earth Day Festival. Established back in 1970, the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival is held each April to celebrate, connect and recharge with two full days of entertainment, education and community-building. This year’s festivities, April 18th & 19th at Alameda Park, come just in time to toast Santa Barbara’s recent recognition by Sunset as Best Sustainable Community.
For the quintessential April day (or days) to honor Mother Earth, feel the sunshine while you dine on breakfast alfresco at restaurants located on the waterfront, such as Sambo’s or On the Alley. From there, begin your day of outdoor adventure by ditching the car and riding bikes (which Hotel Milo provides guests free of charge!) from location to location. Ride along Cabrillo Boulevard and be sure to stop at the Santa Barbara Harbor, which is your launch pad for all water exploration. April through mid-May is whale-watching season, and you can experience the grey whale migration aboard the world-famous Double Dolphin catamaran. Don’t miss Stearns Wharf for seaside shopping, then follow Cabrillo all the way to the Santa Barbara Zoo, where giraffes and lions have an ocean view.
If it’s your palate that’s looking for a taste vacation, the 3rd Annual Santa Barbara Food & Wine Weekend returns to Bacara Resort & Spa April 15 to 17. This three-day event gives visitors a chance to savor the distinct tastes, sights, and sounds of Santa Barbara with an all-star lineup of chefs, winemakers and artisans as they celebrate Julia Child’s legacy.
Lastly, April marks the start of the Santa Barbara Bowl’s 2016 concert season, with shows featuring The 1975 on April 21 and Chris Stapleton on April 26. After going to dinner at one of Santa Barbara’s area restaurants (perhaps La Super Rica Taqueria, a favorite of Julia Child), end your day at this intimate outdoor amphitheater, holding 4,900 seats. The venue is a favorite of well-known artists who come back year after year, including Jack Johnson, who partnered with the Bowl to provide concert goers the opportunity to purchase a reusable cup, helping to reduce the number of single-use plastic cups per concert season.
So, if you’re longing to feel the sunshine and break out of those winter blues, plan a trip to Santa Barbara in April for a spring awakening.
(original information found at www.santabarbara.com)
Published on 2016-03-29 12:52:00
