7 Things You’ll Miss If You’re Driving During A Santa Barbara Wine Tour
With picture-perfect coastal mountains over in the east and pristine beaches to the west, Santa Barbara is one of the most beautiful places to visit, especially when it comes to a weekend getaway with your beloved, a place to entertain business associates, or a fun trip with some friends.
Santa Barabara wine tours are incredibly popular, and for good reason. The area boasts a climate ideal to growing delicious varieties of grapes that vineyards turn into award-winning wines.
But don’t be fooled. A trip to Santa Barbara isn’t just about tasting the wines. That’s why so many guests go on wine tours that let them experience all of the wonderful features that the region has to offer.
To make the most of your wine tour, hire a wine chauffeur or book a personalized wine tour with private transportation. Because when one of you has to sit behind the wheel, eyes on the road, driving and navigating, you’ll miss out on what Santa Barbara has to offer.
Plus, a wine chauffeur knows the area and all the best spots. Without one, here are just 6 things you’ll miss if you’re the one driving during your Santa Barbara trip.
1. The Courthouse
If you’re driving, you might just miss this visually stunning Spanish-Moorish “palace.” It’s located in downtown Santa Barbara, amidst restaurants, stores, and other cultural attractions.
When you’re navigating downtown Santa Barbara, you’ll be worried about cars, parking, and pedestrians. Who would have time to look out the window?
But what you would be missing is this beautiful piece of Spanish-Colonial style architecture that is also a fully functioning public courthouse. It has a clock tour, red tile roofs, arches, and landscaped grounds that your eyes will want a minute or two to soak in.
Sites like the Santa Barbara Courthouse are part of the rich cultural history of the area and can help make your wine tour visit a rich and varied experience.
2. Lotusland
This estate garden near Santa Barbara, designed by the Polish opera singer Ganna Walska, is home to a host of unusual plants that date back to dinosaur days. In fact, it’s considered one of the ten best gardens in the world.
The property is a sprawling 37-acres of beautiful and exotic plants that are stunning to simply drive by. If you aren’t busy behind the wheel, that is! If your eyes are on the road you’ll miss these whimsical gardens.
You may even want to stop off for a visit at some time during your trip, but a chauffeured drive-by would also help you appreciate the beauty of Lotusland. Consider asking about a detour past Lotusland if you book a personalized wine tour, so you won’t miss any of its charm.
3. Old Mission Santa Barbara
This stunning structure is a joint effort of Chumash Indian labor and Spanish Franciscan vision that has been in Santa Barbara for hundreds of years.
The architectural details are incredible and if you don’t have time for a tour during your trip, you’ll want to make sure you take in as much of the beauty as you can when you drive past. Make sure to spare a glance at the A.C. Postel Memorial Rose Garden right across the street.
If you’re using private transportation, you should be able to appreciate the bell towers, gardens, and buildings set against a background of the San Ynez mountains.
And if you are able to stop for a tour and be part of living history, remember that with private transportation you don’t have to worry about parking as you tour the art, museum, and grounds of the Old Mission.
4. Montecito
No other town quite does luxury or pulls off effortlessly chic the way Montecito does. Since the late 19th century, it’s been home to wealthy residents who make the most of the temperate, Mediterranean-like weather and relative privacy.
The town is also home to the Casa del Herrero, an estate with gardens that is one of the best examples of Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture.
Montecito’s real estate is some of the most expensive and impressive in the United States and the high-end shops will make you feel like royalty.
If you’re driving through as part of your wine tour, you’ll enjoy being able to take in the gorgeous mansions and architecture, and possibly even spot a famous star. But if you’re behind the wheel, you might miss a glance at your celebrity idol.
5. Riviera Hills
Just north of downtown Santa Barbara is the amazingly scenic Riviera Hills, an area that looks as though it’s popped right out of the picturesque Mediterranean coasts of Italy or France, especially with its historic Spanish-style homes.
The views here are unsurpassable and not to be missed. Facing south from the Riviera neighborhood you’ll be able to see downtown Santa Barbara, the Pacific Ocean, and the Channel Islands. And to the North are the impressive Santa Ynez mountains.
If you want to stop in the area, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery from the sun-drenched terrace of the Belmond El Encanto Hotel, see an artsy movie in the old Riviera Theater, and explore Franceschi park.
But even a drive along its major thoroughfare, the Alameda Padre Serra, will let you appreciate the peace and quiet of the Riviera Hills as you admire the views.
6. Downtown Santa Barbara
You’ve absolutely got to visit downtown Santa Barbara and the bustling Funk Zone, the city’s contemporary district with cafes, shops, art galleries, and tasting rooms. The modern and hip area is full of converted warehouses, contemporary art, and graffiti murals.
Spanning the Funk Zone and Presidio neighborhoods is the Urban Wine Trail with more than 20 tasting rooms. Presidio’s charming historical architecture and waterfront wineries, high-end labels in Paseo de la Guerra, and El Presidio Historic State Park are sure to impress.
But Santa Barbara isn’t just about the wine, food, and shops. The area is simply stunning. Take the Santa Barbara Scenic Drive to catch sites of the Harbor, Shoreline, beaches, backroads, and neighborhoods.
7. The Vineyards
When you think of a Santa Barbara wine tour, you might just picture you and your guests sipping wine in a few cozy tasting rooms.
But the vineyards that surround Santa Barbara are beautiful in their own way. The lush valley, stunning landscapes, and rolling hills of grape vines you can see while driving to wineries are truly unique.
If you have to drive yourself, you’ll miss all the views out the window. That’s why you’ll want to take full advantage of a wine chauffeur or personalized wine tour.
At Silk Road Transportation, our chauffeurs are experts in wine and the Santa Barbara area. You’ll get more than just a person who drives you in comfort and style. They’ll be able to show you the area and share its unique history and sites.
So, ditch the designated driver routine and hire a chauffeur to take you to these gorgeous spots in Santa Barbara the next time you visit.
Silk Road Transportation has you covered. Contact us today about our driver services so you won’t miss anything on your Santa Barbara wine tour.