Romantic Santa Barbara Vacations

Santa Barbara, Calif. is a city along the Central California coast where people raise their wine glasses and toast the Riviera lifestyle that is so romantic. When the sun sets over Stearns Wharf, you can't escape its charms as you look from your balcony at the Harbor View Hotel across the street. The photo above was taken from one such room at a hotel we've stayed at many, many times through the years.

Santa Barbara, the seat of Santa Barbara County, retains much of the Spanish charm from the early days when Spaniards built Mission Santa Barbara, known as the Queen of the Missions.

From picturesque scenes on the mission lawns where you can watch couples linger hand in hand, to the Courthouse with its red tile roof and popular courtyard for weddings, the city's captivating charm allows couples to explore without running out of places.

When seeking a romantic getaway, there are hotels for every budget ranging from ocean views to B&B's with breakfast included. If you just want to go and spend time in your room, spend more and pick a nice place. But few couples are able to pass up sight-seeing which ranges from walking, shopping and art galleries downtown, to visiting the museums or taking a country drive to wineries.

When you want to propose, there are plenty of great places to do so. Proposal can be arranged at the luxury resort, Bacara, complete with a romantic ocean setting, rose petals, champagne & strawberries. From the 4th floor of the courthouse the vistas are spectacular and though it may be a challenge to find a quiet moment without others listening, the views provide inspiration ideal for creating memories and envisioning possibilities.

A country drive to the wineries would be an ideal place to pull over and pop the question, or pre-arrange a proposal at a winery where many weddings take place.

Santa Barbara has many chapels, churches and the famous mission, all ideal for weddings, and many offering affordable options.

One of the prettiest spots for nature lovers to talk about the future is the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Meadows filled with colorful flowers flanked by mountains offer a natural place with bumble bees and butterflies.

If you think that Valentine's Day is the only time to be romantic on queue, get rid of that Hallmark card notion, and book a romantic vacation just because. It will amaze you have far a getaway will go in making your life fulfilling when you share it in a special place such as romantic Santa Barbara.

The California coastal destination is approx. 90 minutes north of Los Angeles.