By Adam Holdridge
Staff Writer
Want to get away for the weekend to re-energize but cash flow is an issue? About 75 miles northwest of Malibu, a 90-minute drive, is the relaxing city of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has always been a favorite among Los Angeles residents as a good place to escape the bustling city life, yet still has all the joys that Los Angeles can offer.
Not sure where to start? I got three different perspectives on the city from speech professor Greg Daum, communications graduate student Pamela Holmgren and Seaver sophomore Ryan Wedemeyer, a sports business major and Santa Barbara native.
DAUM’S SANTA BARBARA
“Santa Barbara,” Daum said. “That place is incredible. I like the water, I like the ocean. The drive alone, if you take Pacific Coast Highway up there, is beautiful.”
THE DRIVE UP
On the drive to Santa Barbara take Pacific Coast Highway up to the 101 West. Daum recommends the following on-the-way detour.
“There is this huge sand dune that you pass on the way up to Santa Barbara,” he said. It is about 15 to 20 minutes away from here. You can’t miss it. I think it is the most incredible place to go, whether you are on a date, with friends or want to meditate. Just climb to the top of the sand dune, which is huge, and for a guy like me that is hard to do. If you go up there you can look out at the ocean, when the sun sets, it is to me one of the best places to go. It is an ideal place to start off.
STATE STREET
Daum likes to hang along State Street, as there is a lot of activity. There are a ton of shops, people, coffee shops and places to hang out and to eat at.
“I am kind of a crowd watcher,” Daum said. “I like watching and studying people.”
For lunch, in a very relaxed atmosphere, like at Starbucks for example, get a window seat and just watch people as they go.
WHERE TO STAY
One suggestion: Santa Barbara Hotel on State Street. Daum said he knows a number of people that have stayed there. It is clean, has a nice environment, is affordable, and conveniently located near State Street and the pier. It seems to be around all the “action” and where the people are.
EATING
“I like pizza,” Daum said. “One of the great places that I ate at is called the Rustic; it is right across the street from the pier. You can sit outside, look out at the ocean, and watch the sunset. You can get large pieces of pizza which is really cheap.”
HOLMGREN’S
SANTA BARBARA
Santa Barbara is a great place to bring a group of friends or a date, because there are lots of things for both guys and girls to do. While the girls go shopping at the myriad of stores on State Street, the guys can hang out at the sports bars, burger joints and Irish pubs that dot State Street as well.
EATING
Breakwater is a great place where the locals go for a lazy breakfast. It’s located at the end of Cabrillo Boulevard, right next to the boats in the harbor. It’s fun to order bacon and eggs and read the newspaper in your sweats while soaking up the local color. You can see Stearns Wharf, the harbor, the Santa Barbara Riviera and the Channel Islands from this location. There are also some souvenir shops and a maritime museum close by for post-breakfast entertainment.
Tupelo Junction Cafe is also a great place for brunch and lunch that’s unique to Santa Barbara. It’s rustic and cozy and serves Southern-style fare with generous portions. And their fresh-squeezed orange juice is the perfect compliment to their pumpkin and walnut waffles. It’s located just behind the Paseo Nuevo shopping mall.
SHOPPING
Paseo Nuevo is an outdoor mall on State Street with a Macy’s, Nordstrom and smaller specialty stores such as Bebe, Express and Aveda. Across from Paseo Nuevo, there are other fun shops like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters and Saks Fifth Avenue.
SIGHTSEEING
Santa Barbara is so beautiful and scenic that almost anywhere you go is a perfect place to get a view of the ocean or the Spanish-inspired architecture. Stearns Wharf, located right off Cabrillo, is a fun place to walk along and read some of the history of Santa Barbara. There are “touristy” shops to puruse and places to get sweets or fresh seafood. It’s a great place to wind down and watch the sunset after an exhausting day of shopping and walking around. Remember to bring a jacket, because the wind gets cold in the evening.
WEDEMEYER’S
SANTA BARBARA
For Ryan, Santa Barbara is home and he likes to go and just “chill” with friends.
“(Santa Barbara) is a little less busy and nice place to get away,” he said. It has nice beaches and nice views. State Street is pretty happening, but more action can be found up near University of California, Santa Barbara.
EATING
For eats, “… there is a cool restaurant out on the pier called Long Board’s; it reminds me of Paradise Cove. There is good food there, burgers, seafood, etc.”
SURF
Wedemeyer, who’s on the Pepperdine volleyball team, is also an active surfer. Santa Barbara boasts a ton of great beaches, however, the best can be found in Carpenteria on the way up to Santa Barbara.
“There is Rincon for surfing; it is one of the best places in Southern California to surf,” Wedemeyer said.
And check out these Web sites to flesh out your weekend plans: www.allaboutsantabarbara.com and www.onsantabarbara.com.
Weekend Fares
Fares must be purchased through the airlines’ Web sites. They are good only for last-minute weekend travel. Outbound begins on Saturday and the return is on Monday or Tuesday. The fares quoted are for round-trip travel.
UNITED
This weekend
Dallas/Ft. Worth $158
Denver $139
Next weekend
Miami $270
Orlando $269
ALASKA
Cancun $300
Look for more Spring Break deals on alaskaair.com. Purchase fare by Feb 14, travel anytime between Feb 11 and May 22.
News Flash
AMERICA WEST CLOSING OHIO HUB
America West, the country’s eight largest carrier, reported a net loss of $430.2 million for 2002.
To help cut losses, the company will close it’s hub in Columbus, Ohio and will now only have two hub cities: Las Vegas and Phoenix. The decision will cut 400 jobs and the change will begin between early April and mid-June, affecting students holding reservations to Columbus or who travel through the city for other destinations.
Passengers will be entitled to change their routing for the day of their travel at no-penalty if their itinerary is affected.
WAR THREAT REDUCING AIR TRAVEL
The International Air Transport Associate (IATA), which represents 98 percent of airlines that operate international routes, says that a war in Iraq will result in a decline of air travel by 15 to 20 percent. IATA has already noticed a significant decrease after Christmas and the New Year.
Currently, the IATA is negotiating with China for all flights from Europe into Asia to use Chinese airspace should a war break out. Presently, China is very restrictive of allowing carriers other than its national airlines to use its airspace.
February 13, 2003
