Nearby, laid-back Carpinteria is home to Prufrock’s B&B by the Beach, a crisp respite to staid hotels with a historic main house and guest cottages sprawled throughout lush, manicured gardens.  A refreshing taste of small town USA, Carpinteria boasts one of the safest beaches in the nation for tide pooling and swimming.  Just a few minutes’ walk delivers guests to Carpinteria State Beach Park, a sure bet for romantic sunset strolls and catching a few rays during the day. 

Featured in Lands End magazine, the inn is the epitome of grandma’s house with a white picket fence, blooming foliage and warm, inviting porch.  Expect handmade quilts, romantic hanging swings, and alfresco Southwestern potbelly fireplaces. The main house, a 1904 historic home, was opened as an inn in 1995 with five accommodations; two separate cottages are nestled in the rear.  For those in the mood for privacy, the Afternoon Delight cottage is an ideal remedy.  This two-room suite comes complete with chirping birds in the morning, Dutch doors, two patios and a delightful Jacuzzi tub.  Nearby, the Evening Shade cottage is equally alluring.

SIMPLY SUBLIME
In a category of its own, the Simpson House Inn boosted the bar when it received AAA’s only North America Five Diamond B&B rating in 1998.  The elegantly restored 1874 historic landmark Victorian estate has all the perks of a luxe hideaway set on an acre of lush English-style gardens.

The original house sports six rooms, each recreated in traditional Victorian style with period artwork, private baths and hand-printed Victorian wallpaper.  Nearby, four English cottages are nestled under an ancient English oak; each room with a private fountain patio, wood burning fireplace and whirlpool tub.  Nesters retreat to the Greenwich Cottage, welcoming its residents with an antique canopied queen featherbed, teak hardwood floors and Oriental rugs.  The equally favored Old Barn is a carefully restored spacious carriage house; four enormous rooms unfold with king size beds, private patios and requisite fireplaces.  Upstairs, the Hayloft features high ceilings, airy views of the gardens and calming tones. 

One of the many high notes at the Simpson House is the food.  Specialties such as fresh strawberry crepes, apple French toast and flaky scones with lemon curd kick off the day.  In the evening, wine and an over-the-top array of Mediterranean-style hors d’oeuvres easily carve away at dinner plans.  The staff, smartly dressed in seasonal tartans, easily outpaces the service standards of most fine hotels, making a stay here truly a delight.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD 

From classic California Craftsman to Victorian era, the White Jasmine Inn offers an eclectic mix of lodgings in a tranquil residential setting.  This meandering property seems to have a lock on the neighborhood, converting six elegant homes along Bath Street into affordable lodgings. The blue-on-blue Craftsman Bungalow (1906) features six guestrooms ranging from a Nouveau Luxury Suite, complete with a Franklin-stove fireplace, claw-foot tub and brick patio with hot tub, to The Craftsman, an ideal sleep for those on the masculine side, with ornate dark walnut paneling, antique bed and furnishings. 

In the “Not Your Grandmother’s Inn” category, the Secret Garden Inn and Cottages is another tranquil hideaway tucked along Bath Street. Inspired by its French owner, the graceful, simply accented inn is ideal for travelers seeking more space than fluff.  Two rooms take up most of the main house and nine cottage rooms are spread throughout the garden (five with private decks and hot tubs).  All rooms are named after birds and many feature French doors and claw-foot tubs.   

Morning breakfasts taste of la bonne vie – menu highlights include fresh croissants and quiche.  In the evening, cocktail hour focuses on French wines and a selection of word-class cheeses.  For the artist in residence, monthly artist showings are staged in the gardens on weekends.    

Nearby on De La Vina Street, the Tiffany Country House is a classic bed and breakfast with seven rooms set in an 1898 Craftsman-style country house.   This ultimate escape is the place for visitors who want to feel as though they never left their urban abode.    

The wonderful Penthouse Suite is a true find, occupying the entire third floor of the home.  Stretch out on the private terrace overlooking the city.  Inside, custom pine furnishings, warm hues and a wood-burning fireplace set the stage for rest and relaxation.  The Darcy and Sommerset rooms are ideal for travelers who prefer functional comfort to frou frou.  Dark tones, a four-poster pine bed and the house’s original fireplace make the Sommerset a favorite among men.  For those who want to come and go unannounced, the Windsorroom comes complete with a private entrance and delivered breakfast – most likely chef Maureen’s sinful orange crepes with raspberry sauce. 

Go ask Alice...the Cheshire Cat Inn is known for its expansive English gardens flush with delphiniums, garden roses, foxglove and hollyhock marking the entrance.  Two graceful Victorian homes, built in 1894, feature 14 exquisitely decorated guestrooms, all named after the English classic, Alice in Wonderland. 

Not your typical floral and fluff bed-and-breakfast, this property is aesthetically clean and knick-knack free.  The owner from Cheshire, England has gone to great lengths to make the property a true original.  Antiques were shipped from England, the wallpapers and draperies are Laura Ashley, and flowers and fountains bedeck the open spaces. Breakfast is definitely gourmet, served on Wedgwood china.  A full spa is also on tap, providing facials, healing body wraps and six types of massage.  “The ultimate for romantics” is the Tweedledum Suite with a king brass bed, Jacuzzi, oak beams and flooring, English antiques, a wet bar and a gas-burning fireplace.     

Built in the 1890s as a 50^th anniversary gift for his wife, the Bath Street Inn today stands as a statement to Richard Hails’ personal style and architectural whimsy with eight accommodations mixing hidden reading nooks with bright open rooms, red Persian carpets and canopied beds. This Queen Anne Victorian is a friendly find offering full gourmet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening wine tasting.  

Each room has its own attraction—from a prime view through willowy tree branches to a balcony overlooking the Santa Barbara lowlands.  A separate Summer House, linked by a wooden deck festooned with wisteria, offers four additional rooms.    

For guests who want to feel the pulse of Santa Barbara, the Wisteria Room fits the bill with a separate private entrance, bedside fireplace and dual Jacuzzi.  Its invigorating tones and wind-swept feel create a perfect environment for recharging.  Upstairs, the Country Suite expands reality with a larger setting complete with a Franklin stove, four poster canopy bed and extensive mountain views.  For those on a budget, Susan’s Loft on the third floor is a cozy choice. 

Tucked along West Montecito Street, just two blocks from the beach, is the Orchid Inn at Santa Barbara (formerly Blue Dolphin Inn), a restored two story Queen Anne Victorian-style home built in the early 1900s and recently transformed into a stylish, contemporary bed-and-breakfast.  Light and airy, this relaxed charmer offers nine elegantly appointed rooms, most with Jacuzzi tubs, wood-burning fireplaces, and private entry.    

WINE COUNTRY ROMPS 

Fairytales come true at Storybook Inn Bed & Breakfast where nine themed guestrooms showcase interior design based on Hans Christian Andersen's famed tales.  The queen size canopy, sleigh, four-poster or Victorian beds, antiques, and marble fireplaces make this one of Solvang's favorite wine country retreats. 

The three-story villa sits in the heart of this Danish town, offering an eclectic wealth of opportunities for the intrepid traveler.  Nearby, the famous PCPA Theaterfest rolls out world-class performances in an open-air theatre, while 200+ retail outlets offer everything from kringles to clogs and winetasting.  Nine accommodations with such names as The Emperor’s New Clothes, Ugly Duckling and Princess and the Pea dot the premises.  Expect down comforters, floral designs and a fresh-from-the-garden airy feel.   

Oenophiles will enjoy the Victorian-style Santa Ynez Inn, featuring 14 rooms stocked with Frette linens, DVD/CD systems, data ports, beautiful gardens, afternoon wine tasting, gourmet breakfast and spa treatment rooms for massage. Set in the country western town of Santa Ynez, this gem is a smart move for guests who enjoy the freedom of a hotel stay with the quaint feel of a small inn.  Many guestrooms sport fireplaces and expansive balconies with valley and vineyard views.  Top picks include #202 set in soothing celadon tones with a dual steam marble shower, or #207, with an antique bed, stunning chandeliers and Jacuzzi tub for two set in the bay window.

Foodies will want to trek here just for the victuals.  Think poached eggs on a potato-leek pancake with smoked salmon and ragout of andouille sausage served over polenta.  As the sun sets, wine time becomes a taste tour de force with such greats as roasted duck breast on wild rice cakes with cranberry-pear salsa, butterflied shrimp and a sinful cheese board sporting imported French and Spanish cheeses.  Work it all off with a walk down the street to the Maverick Saloon, a western institution promising plenty of local color. 

Another great locale for wine tasters is the Ballard Inn,featuring fifteen beautifully decorated rooms, each evoking a particular aspect of the area's history.  This elegant two-story gray and white building in the quiet town of Ballard sets the bar for guest services.  From arrival to check out, expect a seamless stay steeped in serenity: roses dot the entrance; the intimate restaurant – now helmed by Chef Budi Kazali – serves up a globally-inspired approach to Santa Barbara Wine Country cuisine (dinner is also available); and a wealth of nearby excursions – from carriage to glider rides – add adventure.  Hop on a resident bike, and within five minutes, pedal to nearby Blackjack, Rideau, Buttonwood and Foley wineries.

If horsin’ around is on the agenda, check into the Equestrian Room, complete with understated décor in deep green, a large circular bay window and portraits of horses dancing on the walls.  The Davy Brown Room, a long-time favorite of vintner Fess Parker, is as close to a rustic log cabin one can nail short of Big Sur.  Hardwood floors, rich rugs and a heavy stone fireplace set the stage for a romantic getaway.  Honeymooners prefer Cynthia’s Room, with its Victorian floral design, down comforter and white brick fireplace.

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