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.