5 reasons to escape to Santa Barbara this spring

Springtime in Santa Barbara never fails to boast beautiful blooms and crisp, refreshing breezes, in addition to a wide selection of festivals and live shows to attend. This year, spring kicks off its festival season with local culinary experts and the Santa Barbara Bowl already has announced some of its budding lineup of illustrious performers.

Now through April 30, extend your stay in Santa Barbara with this limited-time, Third Night Free offer. When you book two nights at participating hotels, your third night is on us—because two days just isn’t enough. We invite you to linger a little longer and heed these five reasons to escape to The American Riviera^® this spring.

Floral, food & wine festivals

With warmer weather brings plenty of food and wine festivals to the Santa Barbara South Coast, celebrating the seasonal bounty that the area has to offer. On March 2 at The Ritz-Carlton, Bacara, Santa Barbara, World of Pinot Noir gathers the world’s most respected winemakers, renowned chefs, sommeliers, and leading wine scholars in this weekend-long seaside celebration of all things pinot noir through March 4.

The 75th Annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show invites you to stop and smell the—you guessed it, orchids!—on March 10-12, where visitors can admire orchid exhibits ranging from extravagant art installations, show-stopping floral arrangements, stunning photography, and, of course, a wide array of exotic orchid displays.

Taste of Santa Barbara takes the city by storm May 15-21, where self-proclaimed food and drink connoisseurs are invited to revel in this county-wide edible celebration. In partnership with the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience and The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, Taste of Santa Barbara strives to showcase the local culinary, hospitality, tourism, artisan, and small business communities that make up this alluring city. From wine tastings to cooking workshops and everything in between, nothing gets you more acquainted with Santa Barbara’s culinary scene than a visit during this special annual event.

Live shows under the stars

When spring officially blooms in Santa Barbara, so does the live entertainment scene at the famed Santa Barbara Bowl. The 2023 season kicks off on April 26, with rising star Tyler Childers as the headliner. So far, the star-studded lineup includes country artist Brett Young (May 19) and comedian and former host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah (June 2 and 3). This 4,562-seat outdoor venue makes for an unforgettable show; plan to make it an entire evening by arriving early, grabbing dinner, and watching the sunset over the city from the Scranton Overlook at the top of the amphitheater.

Whale watching

Whale watching is in full swing this time of year when guests can hop aboard boats like Condor Express or Double Dolphin at the Santa Barbara Sailing Center to spot some of the ocean’s most majestic beings in the abundant Santa Barbara Channel. Between February and May, you’re likely to encounter the Pacific gray whale migration (one of the longest migrations of any mammal—coming in at a whopping 12,000 miles round-trip from Alaska to Baja California). Where there are gray whales, you’ll often see other sealife surrounding the large schools of fish that the whales feed on. These “bait balls” serve as the perfect feeding frenzy for humpback whales, pods of offshore common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and more.

Breathtaking hikes

Santa Barbara is brimming with scenic hiking options with incredible views to boot. In the spring, the California coast comes to life with colorful native blooms like the beloved California poppy, golden ear drop, chocolate lily, and lupine—and what better way to spectate these beauties than on an electrifying Santa Barbara hike? Some popular trails among visitors and locals alike include Douglas Family Preserve, Ellwood Mesa, and Inspiration Point*.

*Please note that due to January rainfall, some area hiking trails will re-open on March 14, 2023.

Urban Wine Trail

Santa Barbara is famous for many iconic things—but it isn’t the Spanish-style architecture of the city or the sweeping ocean views that we’re talking about here—it’s the wine. And with an award-winning wine country right in Santa Barbara’s backyard, there’s no shortage of tasting rooms scattered throughout the city, or as it’s better known, the Urban Wine Trail, beginning in The Funk Zone with tasting rooms like Fess Parker Winery and Whitcraft Winery and continuing to the Presidio neighborhood with Grassini Family Vineyards and Jamie Slone Wines.

Bonus! Hotels for all travelers