Santa Barbara is typically known for its beautiful beaches and breath taking hills.  What tends to go unseen are some of its hidden gems.  Within Santa Barbara are also serene gardens.  Some of them are locked away in Montecito or hidden in the hills, but then there are those that live within the main city itself.  One of those gardens is Alice Keck Park.  It occupies one square of the downtown area.  There are more than 75 different tree and plant species within the park.  Benches line a walkway that takes you throughout the beautifully landscaped property. There is no entrance fee or time limit (well, look out for parking limitations). It is free for all to enjoy.

Every summer, Santa Barbara hosts a weekly run/swim event at sunset.  This is a great way to stay in shape, be part of a great community, and have fun!  Sign up for a race today! Nite Moves begins Wednesday, April 25th!

For the most part, downtown Santa Barbara is State Street and some side streets along the way.  The area that most of us cruise is around Paseo Nuevo.  We may head up a ways to Anthropologie or down towards the 101 freeway, but then we usually skip right to the beach.  Santa Barbara also has this great area that has been forgotten for so long, but in the recent year or so has been revitalized.  This is the area of downtown that sits in between the 101 and the ocean.  It is called, the Funk Zone.  Today, we wanted to tell you about some great wine tasting that happens in this area.

Municipal Winemakers

If you are looking for some good local wines with creative labels, this it the place to go.  Their tasting room is open daily for tastings for just $10.  You can come in, grab an ipad to read through tasting notes as you sample five great wines. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, they are open until 11 pm in case you are interested in enjoying a nice glass of wine after dinner.

Reds Wine Bar & Tapas

If you are looking for a wine bar, Reds Wine Bar & Tapas has a fun vibe.  They have homemade hummus and great Thai chicken sliders. The ambiance is nice and there is often live music.

Those are just a few spots in the funk zone.  Definitely travel through the Urban Wine Trail and taste some great local wines!  We can’t wait for your visit!

What is more beautiful than a thin line of yellow and orange along the Santa Barbara coastline? Well, maybe turn around to see the reflection of the sunset on the hills of the Riviera.   Or take a breath while sitting at the harbor with your Brophy Brothers clam chowder and a nice glass of wine.  Then there are the flower gardens at the Mission and peaceful feel of bench at Alec Keck Park.

Really, Santa Barbara is filled with beauty – whether it’s scenery or the people.  So, come visit us today and we will direct you to some great places where you could just sit/walk/hike and experience the beauty that is Santa Barbara.

On January 26, 2012, Santa Barbara will be hosting its 27th annual Film Festival.  The festival features local entries along with entries from all over the nation.  The festival also will honor actors and directors for their participation in film throughout the years.  Please do not miss this event!

Join us for the festivities and the cold winter months adds to the romance of the festival.  Book with The Agave and check out the Film Festival website for ticketing details!

Every month, something crazy happens in Santa Barbara, the first Thursday of the month shows up and downtown SB turns into an arts and music festival.  It’s a great way for local artists and performers to share their gifts.  It’s Santa Barbara’s way of connecting its local community and bringing visitors into a very local experience.

Most of the event takes place along State Street.  It is recommended that you take the First Thursday Passport with you so you don’t miss treasures located on the side streets.

One local artist, Dan Patterson, runs Iron + Forge. Iron + Forge is a family-owned and run business that works primarily with metal.  The staff works hard to create beautiful pieces with very functional attributes to them.  At First Thursday, if you stop by their shop on Anacapa Street, you will find great artists and maybe a little bit of some beer they brewed up.

Don’t miss First Thursday if you happen to be in town. It’s a great picture of Santa Barbara’s art world!

You know it’s Christmas when the tree of lights goes up in front of the Arlington Theater.  It means that The Nutcracker will be shown regularly at the theater, the Salvation Army will have bells and buckets all around town, and State Street will get busy with shoppers looking for the perfect gift.  If look closer into those shop windows, you will see more than just a few decorations.  State Street is littered with a collection of local businesses and chain stores.  Many of the local business owners stay close to their stores and restaurants.  If you go inside for a visit, it isn’t difficult to find them and on slower moments, get to hear a little bit of their story.

If you step into the Agave Inn, on upper State Street, you will hear a story of lifelong friends.  It’s a story of a meeting long ago and a friendship that has endured triumphs and defeats.  It is also a story that sees the world as a place lit with beautiful Christmas lights all year long. You will get to see this as you walk into the doors of the Agave.  They will greet you with a smile and you may even leave the place with some good friends in Santa Barbara.

Be sure, when you come to visit, look into some of the stores, restaurants, and inns, because some of the beauty of Santa Barbara also comes from the people – people who are eager to meet you and welcome you in.

There really are not very many places like Santa Barbara, CA.  Although, I am biased, since Santa Barbara was where I grew up. I would go to the beach one day and hike in the mountains the next.  During the busy, summer months, Santa Barbara was flooded with people from everywhere around the world.  State Street, our main downtown street, would be so packed, you could barely see the ground.  The summers are always great and full, but my favorite time of year in Santa Barbara is the fall, and into our winter as well.

Fall and winter are misnomers for this town, because it doesn’t really go below 69 degrees (maybe just at night), so it’s not a frost or snowy season that makes this time so great.  It’s also not the changing colors of leaves in trees, although there are some.  It also isn’t the rain, although that’s not so bad.  What makes this season so great, are the sunsets.  The reason the sunsets are so great has to do with the clouds that make a regular appearance in the sky.  When the sun starts to touch the horizon, the colors shoot out and change the landscape of the sky.  Pinks, purples, oranges, yellows, and blues create this performance right before your very eyes.  Then, you look down, if you’re at Butterfly Beach right across from the Biltmore Hotel, and you’re greeted by this metallic sea of greens and blues. Or, if you’re up on the Riviera, you look away from the ocean and get to see the warmth of it all being absorbed into the hills.

It’s a great scene and one that should be stored in your heart.