A celebrity favorite, Santa Barbara is one of this country’s most unique destinations. It’s where luxurious relaxation meets world-class cycling, where mountains meet the sea, and where small-town intimacy meets big-city sophistication. There are few gems in the world like Santa Barbara, and this is our perfect day.
8:00 AM
This morning you will awake at the picture-perfect Canary Hotel located in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Winner of a 2015 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Award, the Canary’s generously sized guestrooms and city views make it almost impossible to get out of bed. But after making your way to breakfast at your leisure, we recommend a short morning stroll to Handlebar Coffee Roasters. A visit to this warm cafe and one sip of their freshly roasted coffee is guaranteed to start your day on the right foot.
10:00 AM
After an unhurried morning, grab your cycling gear and head towards the hotel lobby to meet your guides. A short shuttle will bring you to the train station where you’ll board the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner for a gorgeous ride to Surf Beach. Along the way you’ll enjoy up-close views of the seabirds, dolphins, surfers, and of course, dramatic coastline. Upon arriving at the beach, we’ll begin the 18 mile ride inland toward Santa Rosa Road (known for its brisk tailwinds) and the Sanford Winery.
1:30 PM
This afternoon your guides will prepare a stellar Trek Travel picnic at Sanford Winery, where you will enjoy a tasting of the region’s finest Pinot Noirs. Graced with a climate and soil that closely mimic the famed Burgundy region of France, Sanford Winery was the first to plant Pinot Noir vineyards in this area of the Central Coast. Enjoy lunch at your leisure before choosing to take a shuttle or continue riding to Los Olivos.
4:30 PM
After riding through Ballard Canyon you will arrive in the quaint town of Los Olivos. What began as a place for passengers to stop on their stage coach journey over San Marcos pass is now a charming town filled with upscale shops, laid-back locals, tasting rooms and art galleries. As you explore town, be sure to stop in at our guides’ favorite tasting room–Sarloos and Sons–for a glass of wine, family stories and mini cupcakes.
6:00 PM
A short shuttle over San Marcos Pass will bring you back to downtown Santa Barbara and the Canary Hotel. After what can only be described as a perfect day, this evening is yours to enjoy a memorable meal and discover the magic that is a Santa Barbara sunset. Our recommendation? Taste the famous Hoppy Poppy Double IPA at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company before walking out to Stearns Wharf for sunset and a fresh seafood dinner at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company.
Visit Santa Barbara
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