insideKENT Magazine Issue 84 - March 2019 | Page 98

GETAWAYS CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ CONT. SANTA BARBARA MUST SEES: MUST EAT: Olio Pizzeria THE MOXI © VISIT SANTA BARBARA State Street Santa Barbara Waterfront What better place to start any visit to Santa Barbara than by strolling along State Street, the main thoroughfare and shopping district of downtown Santa Barbara. From well-known retailers to boutique shopping and everything in between, we rewarded our stroll from the Courthouse to the Wharf with a handcrafted ice cream courtesy of local icon McConnells. www.mcconnells.com Pose for pictures by the dolphin fountain, pick up some taffy and rock from the shops as you explore California’s oldest operating pier, Stearns Wharf, home to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Centre. Here, kids (and big kids) can enjoy hands-on encounters including the live shark touch pool and the 1,500-gallon tidepool tank that children can crawl through (whilst staying dry!). End your day by checking out the yachts at the harbour, and walking or cycling along the waterfront paths as you explore East and West beach. www.visitsbharbor.com www.sbnature.org/visit/sea-center The MOXI The culmination of years of work by a determined and tireless group of community volunteers, supported by countless individuals, businesses and foundations from the Santa Barbara region and beyond led to the opening of the dedicated and passionate Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation on State Street in 2017. The MOXI is filled with interactive displays for all ages where children will learn about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) through creative play and fun engaging displays. Toddler Tuesday was the perfect time for us to visit as our 1, 4 and 12 year old explored magnetism, propulsion and music. The Sky Garden on the roof not only offers water features that explain fluid dynamics, but also some of the best views of the city! www.moxi.org Santa Barbara Trolley Tours With knowledgeable guides and a route that shows you all the Santa Barbara must sees in as little as 90 minutes, it makes sense to hop aboard one of the newly renovated Santa Barbara Trolleys for a whistle- stop tour. Starting at the Visitor Centre across from Stern’s Wharf, the Trolley transports from downtown, past East Beach, out to Santa Barbara Zoo, along the harbourfront past the Moreton Bay Figtree, up to hills and the home of the Old Santa Barbara Mission and Natural History Museum. You can do the tour in one sitting or on hop-on/hop-off to truly explore. www.sbtrolley.com Old Santa Barbara Mission Founded in 1786 by the Franciscans, the Old Mission, located a few minutes from downtown, is Santa Barbara’s chief historic landmark. The grounds include the beautiful Mission Church, cemetery and mausoleum, museum and stunning landscaped gardens. The steps leading from the church offer views of the Rose Garden, and is the must-visit picnic spot in town. Just behind the Mission you’ll find the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Dating back to 1876, be sure to check out the iconic 73-foot Blue Whale skeleton display as well as the only planetarium in central California. www.santabarbaramission.org www.sbnature.org Having revolutionised the Santa Barbara authentic Italian dining scene with their flagship Olio e Limone fine dining restaurant, the team at Olio Cucina, inspired by the wine bars of Italy that serve good wine with good food, now offer a casual pizza/wine bar concept in the form of Olio Pizzeria. Sourcing influences from Campania to Sicily, the menu offers a tempting selection of antipasti, cured meats, cheese and of course authentic Italian pizza. We devoured the plump, juicy olives, blackened squid ink calamari with lemon aioli, polpettine della nonna (or Nana’s Meatballs to you and I), whilst the kids watched in awe as the chefs prepared the pizza dough and cooked our chosen pizzas bigger than the plate. We finished off with tiramisu and washed it down with a crisp, fresh Santa Ynez Sauvignon Blanc – it provided the perfect first night, family meal destination. Olio Pizzeria 11 West Victoria Street Santa Barbara California 93101 [email protected] www.oliopizzeria.com OlioPizzeriaSantaBarbara oliosantabarbara Wine Tasting Rooms No trip to California wine country would be complete without a sample or ten! Tasting rooms are described as the wine lover’s ultimate watering holes. Rest, talk, socialise and of course enjoy the harvest of the region. There are dozens of tasting rooms throughout downtown from the Instagram-worthy Funk Zone to the historic elegant surroundings of the Presidio Neighbourhood buildings. Or go totally picturesque and head further afield to the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys. From introductory lessons to exploring reserve lists for connoisseurs, there will be a tasting room for everyone in Santa Barbara. Visit Santa Barbara www.santabarbaraca.com 14 days’ car hire from L.A. with www.hertz.co.uk/p/car-hire/usa/california costs from £309.66, based on travel in a Group B Ford Focus or similar. For further road trip inspiration, head to the Hertz Road Trip Planner and discover iconic and off-the-beaten track routes, downloadable maps and insider guides. www.hertz.co.uk/p/american-road-trip-planner 98 As the market leader in UK car parking, hotels, lounges and insurance, HolidayExtras.com offers the best price and biggest range on the market. Useful airport extras ensure that you can enjoy more holiday without the hassle. www.holidayextras.com or 0800 1313 777