Last Minute Ideas, Information & Observations

SATURDAY MORNING ROOFTOP YOGA: In an attempt to calm the old nerves, Mary-Rush will be hitting a yoga class on the rooftop of the Canary Hotel at 9 AM on Saturday. Please to be joining her! All nimble, intrepid or bushy-tailed enough to be interested are welcome. The catch: you need to bring your own mat. There are mats in every room at the Canary (check your closet), so there should be enough for non-Canary-guests who want to sneak in!


AFTERPARTY UPDATE: Anyone interested in meeting up after Friday night's Welcome Gathering should make their way over to Dargan's (18 E. Ortega St.). Get there whenever you wish; we'll be getting there as close to 9 as logistics permit. And come as you are--whether you're coming from the party or you just got off a plane. You could even rock your pajamas. We'll just be happy to see you.

If you're asking yourself, "What's with the picture of Joe's if we're meeting at Dargan's?" the answer to your query is simple: we couldn't get a new picture to load on this crappy internet connection we're using. But Joe's is supposed to have the stiffest drinks in town, so if you're looking for more bang for your buck, as they say, then Joe's might be worth a moment of your time. It's at 536 State St.

Wedding Events: Where to Be & What to Wear

Friday, July 10
Any time from 5:30 until the sun sets and darkness begins to settle on the central coast, please join us for wine, cheese and other most delicious things at the Wedding Weekend Welcome Gathering hosted by the parents of the groom, Michael and Sharon Kelley, in Godric Grove at Elings Park (1298 Las Positas Rd.). This will be a very special event in a truly breathtaking location, but the location is both outdoors and close to the ocean, and there will be some walking involved--this is something to take into consideration when considering what to wear. Sharon has suggested that women bring a light wrap in case it gets chilly, to think twice about wearing shorts--even dressy ones--and to avoid high heels. Other than that, the attire is California casual--no fancy dress, no t-shirts, no ties. Anything from jeans to a sundress would be considered appropriate.

As for transportation, Godric Grove has twenty reserved parking spots, and if you wish to drive there (it's about 3.3 miles from the Canary Hotel), you can access driving directions from Carrillo by clicking here. For those who do not wish to drive (and if you plan to partake of the fruits of the grape and/or grain, we strongly encourage you not to), the Kelleys have arranged for transportation departing from the Canary Hotel between 5 and 9, so you can come and go as you please! We'll be posting more information about this cab and/or van service as we receive it--we're still working through some of the details!

Also, while many of the "grownups" among us either will have made dinner reservations following the Welcome Party or, after gorging themselves on cheese and fancy cured meats, will be heading off to Snoozeville shortly after they return from Godric Grove, we know there might be some people who are not willing to hang up their boogie shoes at 9. We're currently scouting locations for an afterparty so that all you "party animals" out there (you know who you are!) will have a chace to meet up, hang out, and have a beer or two before hitting the sheets. This information will be posted as soon as we have it worked out, and should you miss it, it will also be included in the events booklet in your rooms, so you'll have no excuse, save an overdose on good times, for missing out on the action. Wherever we decide to have it, all will be welcome!

Saturday, July 11
On Saturday evening, we would be honored to see you (and frankly, at this point, a bit puzzled not to see you) at our wedding ceremony on the rooftop of the Canary Hotel (31 W. Carrillo St.) in downtown Santa Barbara. Mary-Rush will be walking down the aisle at 6:00 PM; guest seating will begin around 5:30. A rooftop cocktail hour will immediately follow, and from there, you'll hop in the elevator and head down to the Canary's Riviera Ballroom for dinner and dancing to the musical stylings of Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys. This should be "big" fun (ahem).

As for the attire, we've asked the father of the bride to channel Emily Post on your behalf. So, without further ado, here's the last word on how to array yourself "for a destination wedding of this nature," according to Dr. Bob: "[F]or the guys a suit with tie is appropriate. A sport coat with tie is OK as well. For the young ladies, a dressy sun dress is appropriate; for older women, a toned down cocktail dress, nothing longer than tea length." There you have it! Now go on and get decked out!

As for an afterparty, we'd like to think that you, like the princesses in the red shoes of fairy tale lore, will have danced until your feet have turned to mere nubs, and now can barely hold yourself up because you are so sated with delight and in such dire need of a podiatrist, but we know some of you too well to believe this. So stay tuned--when we have a place in mind, we'll post it here.

Getting Your Grub On (And Maybe a Cocktail or Two)

As you will quickly learn from a stroll down State St., Santa Barbara has quite a number of dining and drinking establishments to choose from. However, as in any other city, not all of these establishments were created equal--we learned this the hard way via a couple of deeply suspect salads at a restaurant whose name we won't disclose here. As a precaution, we've assembled the following rough dining guide to keep you from wasting your few opportunities to dine out in the area on food that makes you wish you didn't have functioning tastebuds.

Breakfast
If you're looking for a hearty breakfast at a slightly more sanitary version of a greasy spoon, you can't do much better than the Cajun Kitchen (901 Chapala St.), where their motto is, "If you're in a hurry and can't wait for the best, then try somewhere else and settle for less!" Clumsy catch phrase aside, the Cajun Kitchen has been voted the best breakfast in town for ten years running. Plus, the breakfasts are BIG, while the price tag is pretty small by SB standards ($10 and under per person).

If you're craving something a little more upscale but still a bit downhome, then you might want to give Tupelo Junction (1218 State St.) a try. Bon Appetit touted Tupelo Junction as one of the restaurants not to be missed in SB, and while they're known for their Southern-influenced dishes, it was the crabcakes benedict that blew our minds. True aficionados of Southern cookin' may want to pass up the beignets (ours were more like sweet hush puppies) in favor of the biscuits and gravy, and if anyone needs a hair of the dog, the bloody marys are supposed to be pret-ty damn tasty. Prices here run about $10-$20 a person.

Finally, if you're just in the mood for a continental breakfast, but the stale Entermann's danish sweating among its brethren in the lobby of your hotel isn't doing it for you, then we've heard D'Angelo Bread (25 W. Guiterrez St.) has truly excellent coffee, breads and pastries. They also serve European gourmet breakfasts BUT the prices are pretty steep for what you get with these (prices range from $10-$20 a plate). We'd suggest hitting somewhere else if you want a big breakfast, and trying this place if you want a good croissant and coffee you can't see through.

Lunch
All of the above restaurants serve lunch as well as breakfast, but, as any Julia Childs devotee will tell you, the sine qua non of the SB mid-day meal will be found at La Super Rica (622 N. Milpas St.). To look at it, you'd never guess at the fanaticism it inspires among its patrons, but that line that winds out the door and around the corner is there for a reason (don't worry--it moves quickly). We particularly like to grub on the tocina especial (this is essentially bacon and melted cheese with a side of guacamole), but they are also justly famous for their adobado (marinated pork), gorditas (thick corn masa pockets filled with spicy beans), and chile pasilla (a stew made with the pasilla pepper). Make sure you check the daily specials: Sunday's is usually pozole, a stew of pork and hominy in a red chile sauce, and on Fridays and Saturdays, it's usually freshly made tamales. However, if you are lucky enough to be there on chilaquile day, GET THEM! Also, always make sure you ask for extra (handmade) tortillas! Prices here range from $4-$10 dollars, so... it's worth a trip over to the East Side of SB.

If you don't have wheels or aren't feeling the Mexican food, the Natural Cafe (508 State St.) is kind of like the opposite of La Super Rica, offering vegan entrees as well as fare for omnivores at very reasonable prices (entrees are under $10). The folks at the Natural Cafe are green to the teeth, and from the taste of things, they care about dishing up killer fish tacos, turkey burgers and smoothies as much as they care about the planet. If you're a bit hungrier, Pascucci (729 State St.) offers a range of Italian/Californian cuisine that's not too hard on the old wallet (their lunch menu tops out at $10.95 for the specialty entrees), plus they source all their ingredients locally--their meats, seafood and produce are all delivered fresh daily.

Dinner
On Friday and Saturday nights, we will be doing our best to fill your bellies with all varieties deliciousness, but should you be hanging around SB either before or after the wedding, or should you find yourself particularly hungry one evening, you may want to check out the list below. We've divided the list into three sections: "Mellow Eats" for laid-back, casual dining; "Schmancy" for places that are, well, kind of on the fancy side; and "Mid-Range" for places that, oddly enough, fall right in the middle.

Mellow Eats
Carlito's Cafe y Cantina (1324 State St.) offers regional Mexican cuisine and Blue Agave margaritas on a beautiful outdoor patio (indoor seating is also available). If you like Vietnamese food, or have never tried it and would like to (California Vietnamese food blows East Coast Vietnamese food away, both in preparation and quality of ingredients), then maybe the budget-friendly Saigon In And Out (318 N. Milpas St.) will be your bag. Or since Thai food is also better on the West Coast, maybe you'd rather check out Your Place Thai (22 N. Milpas St.), widely considered the best Thai restaurant in SB. Finally, if you're part of the microbrew crowd, The Brewhouse (229 W. Montecito St.) is a great place for a burger and a beer, and, though we can't promise you'll be into it, they do have live music on the weekends.

Mid-Range
A locally favored bistro with a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, Opal (1325 State St.) serves up an eclectic range of California cuisine, often with an Asian flare. If you like sushi, Arigato Sushi (1225 State St.) is supposed to be the best in town, offering creative rolls and very fresh sushi and sashimi. Try the Sunny Side Up Scallops, or, if you dare, ask for the "Local's Special." Speaking of fish, The Hungry Cat serves up fresh seafood brought in daily from the harbor, and the menu is determined by whichever fresh ingredients are available at the Farmer's Market. They even make their cocktails with freshly squeezed fruit--which makes a HUGE difference. Sojourner Cafe (134 E. Canon Perdido) also buys its ingredients locally, supporting local growers, brewers and vintners. Serving up vegetarian and vegan as well as omnivore fare, Sojourner is a healthy gourmet restaurant that recently adapted its menu so that you can order according to how much you plan to eat. And if you're in the mood for Italian food, Trattoria Vittoria (30 E. Victoria St.) is a livelier, less expensive alternative to the also excellent Ca' Dario, and has a reputation for hearty, authentic Italian fare.

Schmancy
If you're looking for a delicious, intimate and authentic Italian dining experience, Ca' Dario (37 E. Victoria St.) is your spot. And if you're really looking to wine and dine, Bouchon (9 W. Victoria St.) is the perfect place. Consistently voted one of the best restaurants in California, Bouchon provides "an education in the best of the region's agriculture... and viniculture," according to Bon Appetit. Diners rave about the rack of lamb, the venison loin and the tarte tatin.

And Of Course... Beverages
Milk & Honey (30 W. Anapamu St.) mixes up fancy drinks like coconut mojitos and lychee martinis, and they serve tapas. What's not to like? But if you're someone for whom a night on the town means throwing on some ratty jeans and playing pool at a bar that feels like an old friend's house, maybe Elsie's (117 W. De La Guerra St.) would be more your speed. The Press Room (15 E. Ortega St.) has got the market cornered in the English pub department, and Soho (1221 State St.) is the place to be for live music every night (you can find show listings by picking up a copy of the Santa Barbara Independent or by checking the calendar section of the club's website).

Doing the Wine Thang

It's tough to think about California without thinking about wine and the tasting of it, and in this post-Sideways world, you'd have to be living under a rock not to know that the Santa Ynez Valley and Foxen Canyon area just north of Santa Barbara are home to some of the finest among Santa Barbara County's 200+ wineries and tasting rooms. There are so many, in fact, that we thought we might try to help out the wine enthusiasts among you by sharing some of our favorites within striking distance of downtown Santa Barbara. Of course, this is by no means a definitive list, so if you're interested in pursuing this subject at some depth (wino!), you can get a fairly comprehensive rundown of what's available and where at the Santa Barbara wine country website.

Wineries in Santa Barbara
The Santa Barbara Winery (202 Anacapa St.), established by Pierre Lafond in 1962, is kind of the "gran'pappy" of SB-area wineries. It was actually the first commercial winery in Santa Barbara County to open after the Prohibition, and it is now the oldest in continuous operation. The tasting room is part of the fermentation facility, and all kinds of tasty nibbles--from chocolate Zinfandel sauce to Cabernet fudge--are available therein. The tasting room is open from 10-5 daily, and the tasting fee is $5, glass included. If you're pressed for time, feeling particularly lazy, or craving a flight after the tasting room has shut its doors, you can find the Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro even closer to your hotel (516 State St.). It's a solid choice for lunch or dinner, but we'd recommend it for a light snack and a quick flight after a couple of hours bumming around downtown.

Also in Santa Barbara is Jaffurs Wine Cellars (819 E. Montecito St.) Craig Jaffurs once worked in the aerospace industry, but unlike all those other NASA engineers who, according to various infomercials, left the space program to develop materials for mattresses and non-stick surfaces for pans, Jaffurs handcrafts his own wines. The tasting room is right in the middle of the winery and is open from Friday-Sunday, 1-5 for $5 with wine purchase, $10 without.

Santa Ynez Valley Wineries
The Santa Ynez Valley loop of wineries is probably the closest, quickest and easiest way to dip your big toe into the deep end of the Central California winery pool. Start by taking the 101N up from Santa Barbara. One mile south of Buellton, at the gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley, is the Mosby Winery (9496 Santa Rosa Rd., Buellton). Mosby specializes in Cal-Ital wines made with estate-grown fruit, and its tasting room, open from Monday-Friday 10-4 and Saturday-Sunday 10-5, is located in the vineyard's charming old carriage house. After Mosby, heading east on Rt. 246 will take you right into the thick of things. The Blackjack Ranch Winery (2205 Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang) got a lot of exposure from Sideways, but even if you're too cool for school, it's worth stopping in just to check out the tasting bar made of wood taken from a lane in the old Solvang Bowling Alley and try Roger Wisted's celebrated Bordeaux varietals. Their tasting room is open from 11-5 daily, with a tasting fee of $10 for 10 wines.

Though it's off the Santa Ynez Valley loop, Rusack Vineyards (1819 Ballard Canyon Rd., Solvang) is worth the detour. Nestled within Ballard Canyon, the vineyard is surrounded by lush rolling hills, and the redwood deck that looks out over them makes an excellent site for a picnic and a glass of wine. Rusack is a tiny winery that specializes in excellent handcrafted wines; while they're all pretty wonderful, make sure you try the Anacapa! You can sample it and the others from 11-5 daily for $6 a tasting (includes glass). Finally, a great place to wind up this tasting loop is at The Gainey Vineyard (3950 E. Hwy. 246, Santa Ynez), which has been hailed as the "best tasting spot on the central coast" by Wine Spectator and "one of the most beautiful wineries in the world" by Robert Lawrence Balzer of the Los Angeles Times. Gainey's Chardonnay is very highly rated, and Stephen Tanzer calls the Pinot Noir, er, "sexy juice." But what makes it a great place to end the day is the fact that you can pick up some non-alcoholic beverages, salami, cheese and pate for a picnic on their extensive grounds (bringing your own picnic is also encouraged). The tasting room is open from 10-5 daily, and the fee is $10 (with glass).

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail covers the 11 wineries (these would be, in order of appearance, Andrew Murray, Firestone Vineyard, Curtis Winery, Koehler Winery, Fess Parker, Zaca Mesa Winery, Bedford Thompson, Foxen Winery, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Byron, Cambria, and Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard) that you can get to via the Foxen Canyon Road. Foxen Canyon Road runs from Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley, up the mesa that runs northwestward along the base of the San Rafael Mountains, through the little Santa Maria Valley, and into the city of Santa Maria itself. This trip requires a bit more of a time commitment than does simply tooling around the Santa Ynez Valley area, so it's probably best tackled if you are going to be in the area for awhile.

Of these 11 wineries, we would definitely rank two as "can't miss": Zaca Mesa Winery (6905 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos) and Foxen Winery (7200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria). Aside from offering kick-ass Rhone-style varietals and blends, Zaca Mesa lets you hike along its well-maintained nature trails, camp and picnic on their lawn--plus, they have a giant outdoor chessboard on their patio. It's well worth the seeing even if you aren't a wine drinker. Tastings run from 10-4, and cost $7 for one flight of five wines or $12 for both flights. The Foxen Canyon Winery makes excellent limited-production wines, and we love the no-frills tasting room (Portolets? Oh, yes! But capacious ones). The tasting room's open from 11-4, and the charge is between $3-$5 a glass (you get to keep said glass).

Fans of television's The Bachelor may wish to pop in at the Firestone Vineyard (5000 Zaca Station Rd., Los Olivos) to see if they can catch a glimpse of Andrew, who, we're happy to report, has found love--and spawned--at last. Evidently, the vineyard is supposed to be lovely. We cannot attest. We can, however, vouch that the Rancho Sisquoc Winery (6600 Foxen Canyon Rd., Santa Maria) is a beautiful spot to have a picnic to wind up the day. On that note: since we, like the Boy Scouts, do advocate being prepared, we should warn you that there are no restaurants or delis along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. If you do choose to explore this area, make sure you load up on picnic supplies in Los Olivos.

NB: Click on the map at the head of this entry to get a basic, not-to-scale sense of where these wines are in relation to one another. It would be tough to do all of these in one day. More detailed maps such as this one can be found all over the internet to help you plan your trip.

What to Do in Santa Barbara When You're Not Tasting Wine

Santa Barbara has a lot going on, so you can probably while away a morning and afternoon just wandering around the downtown area people watching, shopping, eating, and soaking up the alternating waves of the bohemian, the opulent and the bizarre that will likely bombard you. But if you've got the time and touristy inclinations, there's a lot worth seeing and doing in and around town.

The Santa Barbara Mission (2201 Laguna St.), often referred to as the "Queen of Missions," is quite possibly the jewel in Santa Barbara's crown, and while you can't exactly walk to it from downtown, it's well worth seeing. While you're in the area, and especially if you're with your kids, it might be worth checking out the nearby Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, which is said to be rather exciting if you're into that kind of thing (embarassing disclosure: we are). Also off the beaten path is Lotusland, a 37-acre Montecito estate that once belonged to Polish opera singer Ganna Walska, a woman of eccentric tastes. In keeping with those tastes, Lotusland has a few eccentricities of its own: the only option for visiting is to take a two-hour tour, held twice daily Wed.-Sat. (at 10 and 1:30), and children under 10 are not permitted except for on Thursdays and on the second Saturday of each month (FYI, July 11 happens to be the second Saturday in July). Those not up for the level of commitment that Lotusland demands might find solace at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden (1212 Mission Canyon Rd.), with its trails winding along 78 acres of native plants AND what we're sure are riveting demonstrations of how the now-extinct Chumash tribe used plants to create clothing, baskets and structures.

As for what sights can be accessed with just your feet, a bike, or the 25-cent electric trolley, there are actually quite a few that shouldn't be missed. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse (1100 block of Anacapa St.) should be first on the list; its architectural splendor will, among other things, provide Michael Jackson fans with the consolation that their beloved pop icon at least endured his various disgraces in stunning surroundings. At the foot of State St. along Cabrillo Blvd., you can find another of Santa Barbara's most visited landmarks, Stearn's Wharf. If the weather isn't gorgeous (not likely), you can take refuge at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.), which has some impressive holdings in ancient sculpture, impressionist paintings, and Asian and Latin American art if any of those are your thing(s), or at the Karpeles Manuscript Library (21 W. Anapamu St.), which, with its world's largest privately owned collections of rare manuscripts, often has some pretty humbling exhibits.

Keep in mind that you can see all of the above, both within walking distance and beyond, on a 90-minute tour operated by the Santa Barbara Trolley Co. The trolley departs from (and returns to) Stearn's Wharf, but you can hop off at any of the designated trolley stops anywhere along the 90-minute tour and get back on whenever you wish (a trolley usually comes along every hour). The fare is $18 a person per day, but, as the trolley conductor will likely tell you many, many times throughout the tour, your ticket gets you discounts at a number of area establishments as well as free bowl of chowder (whoot!), good for up to one year. Those not stalwart enough to brave the relentless shilling of the trolley man can check out Santa Barbara Car Free's website for bike route and walking tour maps of the area. And in a pinch, if you click on the map above, you'll access a larger, more-reader friendly version that might help get you oriented.

Kid-Friendly
If you're traveling with a kid or two (or five) with some energy to burn, the nautical-themed Chase Palm Park and Shipwreck Playground (Cabrillo St., between Garden St. and Calle Cesar Chavez) tends to be a favorite with children and adults alike, as is Kid's World (Garden St. at Micheltorena St.), a public playground with a castle-shaped maze of climbing structures, tunnels and slides. And of course, there's always the truly beautiful, if tiny, Santa Barbara Zoo (500 Ninos Dr.).

Outdoors Enthusiasts
Since we're having this 'do in California, there is of course much to do in the out of doors. If you're committed to getting physical, you can hit East Beach (1118 Cabrillo Rd.) for some pick-up volleyball, cycle along the level, two-lane, 3-mile Cabrillo Bike Lane along Cabrillo Blvd. (you can snag all kinds of wheels for the day at Wheel Fun Rentals [23 E. Cabrillo Blvd.]), or take advantage of one of the area's many golf courses for the day. Those with a taste for adventure should check out Adventours Outdoor Excursions (726 Redding Ave.), where they will happily park your butt on a mountain bike or in a kayak faster than you can say, "How did I get myself into this?"

Registry Info

Though we feel a bit awkward about posting this information--it feels kind of like we're holding a megaphone in a public square, screaming, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"--it does seem like the thing to do to help those that wish to get us a wedding present find that present. To that end, we've posted below a list of the places we've registered, but please keep in mind that the best present you could possibly give us is simply being at the wedding. We would take that over a place setting any day!

1. Alvin Magnon
We put together a registry for "special occasion" china and crystal at Alvin Magnon in Tampa, FL. If you click on the hyperlink above (or to the right, under Quick Links), it will take you right to the registry site. However, the site has one slight kink: it doesn't post pictures of the requested items next to those items, so it might feel a bit like buying blind. So, if you're interested in what the china and crystal we've requested might actually look like, here's the skinny: the Maldives pattern is the one pictured on the registry site (as well as on this blog,above), the Arcades pattern is pictured right next to this little blurb, and the crystal can be viewed by clicking on the hyperlink (wherever you see the word crystal in a different color from the rest of the text). For technophobes, you can call Alvin Magnon at (813) 872-9374.

2. Silver Queen
We've registered for "estate" (read: gently pre-owned) silver at Silver Queen in Largo, FL. Their site is COMPLETELY nuts and difficult to navigate, so the hyperlink should get you right where you need to be--and the pattern we selected is pictured here. If you click on the Silver Queen hyperlink and are insanely confused (not uncommon), they can also be reached by phone at (800) 262-3134.

3. Just Give
We're incredibly grateful for all that we have been given in life, and so would be thrilled if, instead of giving us a traditional wedding present, you helped us share the wealth by donating to a charity on our registry with justgive.org.

4. Crate & Barrel and Bed Bath & Beyond
We've registered at Crate & Barrel and Bed Bath & Beyond for the items that we anticipate using more or less every day. However, we want to point out that you can find many of the items from our registry (especially those from Bed Bath & Beyond) at T. J. Maxx and Tuesday Morning (aka, Carolyn's favorite stores). If you manage to nab something from an "alternative" location, Bed Bath & Beyond and Crate & Barrel never have to know about it. Just let us know so we can remove the item from the registry.

Where to Stay

Once you've taken care of getting here, you're going to want to find a place to lay your head--and because hotels book up VERY quickly here in the summer, this is another planning issue you don't want to put off for too long. The list below is divided into four categories to help you find a place to stay that's just your speed. The first category, "Hot Spots," consists of hotels that are close enough both to State Street and to wedding event sites to allow for a completely car-free weekend; the second, "Far(ther) from the Madding Crowd," will be useful to those of you who prefer something a little more tucked away. "Get Your Camp On" is aimed at the few, the proud who are making the wedding one destination of many on their summer road trips, and the final section, "Last Resorts," is a must-see for anyone who has put off making reservations until the last minute and now can't find anywhere affordable to stay.

Hot Spots

1. The Canary Hotel
The Canary (31 W. Carrillo St.), the site of both the wedding and the reception, will be at the dead center of the action on Saturday night--whether you want to book a room here or not will depend a lot on whether you think that's a good or a bad thing... and how partial you are to Spanish/Mediterranean decor. While the rooms are not on the whole enormous, they are beautifully appointed. Besides, you'll probably be spending all of your free time at the amazing rooftop pool. When we stayed there, there were morning rooftop yoga classes at which to use the in-room yoga mats, and workout fanatics will be pleased to note that guests have access to the Spectrum Gym next door.

2. Hotel Santa Barbara
Just four blocks away from the Canary is the Hotel Santa Barbara (533 State St.), where the biggest draw is the location--it's right in the heart of downtown and literally steps from anything in the downtown area that you might want to get to. And since it's been around since 1926 (restored, of course), it's got lots to offer in the way of charm, too. If these amenities aren't enough to hook you, they also have a slew of the usual ones: full continental breakfast, free wireless access, and (wait for it) your own newspaper to peruse during breakfast.

3. The Hotel Virginia
Okay, while we're going to come right out and admit that the Hotel Virginia is actually a Holiday Inn Express, we can promise that it isn't your typical Holiday Inn Express! The original Hotel Virginia was built between 1916 and 1925, but had fallen on hard times before the Holiday Inn Express chain took over. The hotel is still on the National Register of Historic Places, and the restoration process was careful enough to gain the hotel a "Santa Barbara Beautiful" award, an honor the city does not bestow lightly (see the city's uniform design schema for an example of Santa Barbara's quasi-fascist city planning specifications). Plus, the Hotel Virginia is right around the corner from the Hotel Santa Barbara and State St., which means it's close to the Canary and to everything else you might want to do downtown. AND you can eat your "expanded" continental breakfast on the balcony overlooking the mountains and city.

4. The Presidio Motel
The Presidio Motel (1620 State St.) may be Santa Barbara's best kept secret, though after its recent write-up in Santa Barbara Magazine, it may not be a secret for much longer. All the more reason to lock in the current rate for one of their 16 funky-yet-modern rooms. There's nothing remotely motelish about its quirky, individually-designed interiors or its sundeck looking out onto the mountains, and the staff, while uber-hip, is friendly and charming. They're not skimpy with the amenities either--they offer a continental breakfast, free in-room wireless, and (this is the best part) free bikes for patron use. Those bikes might come in handy since the Presidio is a little further from the Canary and other downtown destinations than the hotels listed above (0.8 miles, but still--that can be a long way in heels). Oh, and we should mention that many rooms have two king-size beds, which makes them ideal for buddying up to conserve (financial) resources.

Far(ther) from the Madding Crowd

1. The Upham Hotel & Country House
Though located just two blocks from State St. and 0.5 miles from the Canary, the Upham has a haven-esque feel thanks to its roomy Victorian architecture and surrounding acre of gardens. Its 50 guest rooms range from garden cottage master suites with fireplaces and jacuzzis to simple bungalow rooms with queen beds and just what you need for a good night's sleep. If for some reason they're all booked up at the Upham, you can always check out the rooms at the Tiffany Country House next door.

Get Your Camp On (for Road Trippers)

1. Santa Barbara Area Beach Camping
There are 4 beaches in Santa Barbara County that offer camping. From south to north, these are Carpinteria State Beach (about 10 miles south of SB), El Capitan State Beach (about 17 miles north), Refugio State Beach (about 20 miles north) and Gaviota State Beach (about 33 miles north). All four of these campgrounds are oceanside, all accept both tents and RV's, and all offer your standard camping amenities: onsite parking, picnic tables and barbecues, showers and flush toilets, etc. Please note, though, that the proximity, affordability and natural beauty of these campgrounds make them extremely popular, and by late March many of the best sites are already taken. As with any place you might want to stay around Santa Barbara, it's a good idea to make your reservations as early as possible.

2. El Capitan Canyon Campground
If you've had enough of roughing it, or if your idea of roughing it consists of wallowing on a down duvet in a canvas safari tent, you might find El Capitan Canyon campground to your liking. Pioneers in the field of "glamping" (glamorous camping--sadly, this term does exist), the folks who run this place claim to offer "minimalism without deprivation, comfort without overindulgence." Trust us, El Capitan Canyon takes the "ground" out of campground. It's 17 miles north of downtown Santa Barbara, though, so it might be a choice only for those who really want to get away from it all, or a good spot to wind up a vacation.

Last Resorts

1. El Prado Inn
Right across from the Presidio is the back-to-basics El Prado Inn (1620 State St.). We'll let a nice gentleman from Tripadvisor fill you in on its merits: "El Prado Inn is one of the least expensive 'inn's' in Santa Barbara, but that does not mean it is bad. The El Prado has a quaint courtyard and outdoor patios with chairs. Air conditioning consists of window units and hallways are covered with astro turf, so it is definitely not 5 star. But for the price and location (top of State street) you can't really complain too much." If that's not a ringing endorsement, we don't know what is.

Getting To Santa Barbara

Right now, plane fares are at the lowest we've seen them in quite awhile, so if you're thinking you can make the trip, it's a good idea to book your tickets, either into Santa Barbara or into Los Angeles, ASAP. Once you've booked your flight, feel free to let us know your flight info--we can try to help people who are arriving together find each other to share cabs or rent-a-cars, or arrange to pick up groups of people from the airport.

Flying into Santa Barbara (SBA):
A few airlines (Alaska Air, Allegiant Air, American, Delta, Horizon, United and US Air) actually do have reasonably priced direct flights running to the Santa Barbara airport from Las Vegas, San Francisco, Phoenix, Portland and Dallas. Counterintuitively, in a preliminary and admittedly cursory overview of fares for flying into Santa Barbara from Philadelphia and Newark, we found that flying into SB was actually cheaper than flying into Los Angeles. So if you're okay with making a stop or two, it might be worth your while to check out what kinds of fares are available before booking your flight to LAX--flying into SB would surely make Sunday morning a less painful affair.

For a full range of your ground transportation options once you get there, check out the Santa Barbara Airport webpage. And of course, you can always call one of us to come and get you!

Flying into Los Angeles (LAX):
All major and even most minor airlines fly into LAX, so finding a flight shouldn't be a problem. The trick is figuring out what to do once you get there. Renting a car is a solid option, and all major rental car agencies service LAX. But if renting a car isn't your speed, never fear--we've tried to keep most of the wedding plans within walking distance of the Canary and other hotels where most people will be staying. Plus, Santa Barbara has a strange but kind of wonderful (and cheap) little trolley that runs along State Street to the beach. As an added bonus for not using a private car to get to Santa Barbara, you're eligible for a substantial discount at many area hotels (including the Hotel Virginia!) and a swag bag full of discounts on restaurants and activities, courtesy of Santa Barbara Car Free.

If you aren't renting a car, the transportation method of choice is the Santa Barbara airbus, which will pick you up from LAX and deposit you at the Hotel MarMonte (1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd).

Semi-Locals
Of course, for those of you who live in Los Angeles who would rather not drive up, Amtrak is always an option. And if you're feeling particularly adventurous, there's a Greyhound Station right across from the heart of the action, the Canary Hotel in downtown Santa Barbara.

Welcome to Our Wedding Weblog!

If you're taking the time to check out this "wed-log" (groan), we're hoping it means that you've received your Save the Date and are entertaining the possibility of coming all the way to Santa Barbara to celebrate this special occasion with us. As a token of our gratitude, we thought it would be a good idea to set this site up as a tool to help you plan your stay and make it as enjoyable and gratifying as possible--it's the least we could do!

Santa Barbara is a pretty amazing town, full of spots both swanky and down-to-earth, so there's something for everyone. On this site we'll be posting everything we know about places to stay, places to eat, places to shop, and places to drink, as well as plenty of things to do while you're in those places. Basically, if you have any questions about places or things, this site will be a great resource.

Hopefully, it will also be a useful aid for finding travel information and, if you're traveling alone, potential roommates and/or carpools. And if there's anything you would like to know about that you can't find here, just drop us a note by clicking on the word "Comments" (in blue) at the bottom of any post. We'll figure it out and put a post up about it!

Thanks so much both for visiting the site and for being a part of this event! We are so excited, and so grateful to you for coming.