The Film Festival is a great time to take advantage of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara that offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets. What many people are realizing is that for less than the cost of a hotel room, they can rent a whole Santa Barbara vacation home while enjoying exceptional amenities during their stay.

“Santa Barbara is a wonderful winter getaway and we look forward to returning in the future,” said Diane W., who recently spent a week in a vacation rental located in downtown Santa Barbara. “It was fun to be here during the film festival – a great event.”

It’s no surprise that Santa Barbara vacation rental guests are often curious about film locations, so I have put together a visitor’s guide to famous filming locations in and around the Santa Barbara area. From popular films like Sideways to It’s Complicated, there are a lot of Santa Barbara locations that crop up in popular movies and TV shows. Last June, the cast and crew of a new film called No Strings Attached set up shop at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and The Biltmore Four Seasons Resort. Billed as a romantic comedy, the film stars Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and is scheduled for release on January 21, 2011.

To read more about famous filming locations, visit the Santa Barbara vacation rentals blog at http://blog.sbluxuryrentals.com/

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/

A lot of visitors in Santa Barbara vacation rentals feel a strong sense of familiarity or belonging the first time they explore Santa Barbara. We’re not going to discount anyone’s claims of psychic powers or a past life lived on America’s Riviera, but chances are more like that they’ve seen one of the over 200 different movies and TV shows filmed in whole or in part in Santa Barbara over the last 100 years.

Don’t leave your Santa Barbara vacation rental in search of locations made famous on the silver screen until you read this full list. You’ve probably seen at least one or more of these popular productions:

2009 It’s Complicated
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean III
2006 There Will Be Blood
2006 Psych
2006 The Bachelor
2006 Top Chef 2, Bravo
2005 Monk
2005 Oprah Winfrey Show
2004 Flight of the Phoenix
2004 Monster-in-Law
2004 Sideways
2003 Hidalgo
2003 Seabiscuit
2003 Sorority Life
2001 The X-files
2000 Bedazzled
1999 Double Jeopardy
1998 Star Trek: Insurrection
1996 The Long Kiss Goodnight
1996 G.I. Jane
1996 Face/Off
1995 Nixon
1994 A Walk in the Clouds
1994 Congo
1994 Young Indy/Hollywood Follies
1993 Pelican Brief
1990 Rocketeer
1984 Scarface
1980 The Postman Always Rings Twice
1978 The Frisco Kid
1967 The Graduate
1964 Batman pilot
1923 The Ten Commandments
1914 The Perils of Pauline

It’s Complicated

The film’s director Nancy Meyers chose Santa Barbara for a definite reason that any Santa Barbara vacation rental film enthusiast will be able to relate to. In an interview with Santa Barbara Magazine, Meyers said that “Santa Barbara felt right for so many reasons – the natural beauty everywhere you look, the state of mind I feel when I’m there, the calm…It feels as close to the good life as you can get.”

It’s Complicated is a beautiful film that seems to show off our fair city to its finest advantage.

The operative word here is seems. Most of it was shot on a sound stage in Brooklyn in the middle of winter. Only three brief scenes were actually shot in Santa Barbara.

• There’s a scene where Jane is jogging through her Montecito neighborhood and her architect friend Adam pulls up in his car. This was actually filmed in her little burg, as you can tell from the unique wooden street signs. If you want to walk in Jane’s Montecito shoes stop by The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, which may have been the inspiration for the hotel where Jane and her ex-husband had their aborted rendezvous.
• When Jane lies in wait for her therapist at the fictional Santa Barbara Medical Center, she is actually lurking at the Anacapa Street back entrance of El Paseo, an outdoor Spanish-style shopping arcade.

• While Santa Barbara is home to a dizzying array of Farmers Markets, the one Jane shops at was actually set designed for her outside the 1920s Spanish-Moorish style Santa Barbara County Courthouse on Anapamu Street.

Sadly, there is no such place as Jane’s luscious and comfy-looking business Village Bakery. The set was built inside Picnic House in Brooklyn. But folks staying in a Santa Barbara vacation rental will be able to find close facsimiles at Jeannine’s or Xanadu (temporarily closed until April, 2011 due to a fire) in Montecito or Renaud’s in downtown Santa Barbara.

Sideways
The wine-tasting buddy picture Sideways was a sensation when it was released in 2004. Filmed primarily in the Santa Barbara-adjacent Santa Ynez Valley, it spawned a whole new appreciation for wines (just not Merlot!) from the area, and a cottage industry grew up around people who wanted to retrace the footsteps of the film’s questionable protagonists.

Santa Barbara vacation rental guest who are fans of this movie often search for “the Sideways Map” which will lead you on a car tour through the movie’s highlights.. Many of the destinations even have a sign bearing the Sideways logo. If you want to travel by bike, the Sideways bike map will help you find the sites.

Different locations in Santa Barbara Proper
Santa Barbara vacation rental guests are often curious about film locations, and with good reason. There are a lot of Santa Barbara locations that crop up in movies that aren’t even set in the area. This is because of the profusion of beautiful features in the area that blend so seamlessly into other locales.

• Stearns Wharf is a 19th century landmark, located at the bottom of State Street. It is the oldest operating wharf on the west coast, and the second longest pier on the Pacific coast at just a hair under 2,000 feet. In the 1940s, actor James Cagney and his brothers were part owners of Stearns Wharf. It has appeared in A Date with Judy and My Favorite Martian and the 1966 version of Batman. “Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb!”

• State Street features many familiar landmarks. It has appeared in the movies Cutter’s Way and Steal Big, Steal Little, among countless others.

• The Old Town Clock at State and Haley streets was featured in The Pelican Brief.
• Santa Barbara County Courthouse on Anacapa Street was also in Steal Big, Steal Little.
• Mission Santa Barbara was in Sunset Boulevard and Cruel Intentions 3.

Different locations in the Greater Santa Barbara Area
Guests at our Santa Barbara vacation rental homes know that Santa Barbara is so much more than just the pretty red roofs of downtown. One of the reasons the region is so popular with filmmakers is its almost infinite variety.

• Cold Spring Arch Bridge – Steal Big, Steal Little.
• Lake Cachuma – The Postman Always Rings Twice
• Gainey Vineyard – Seabiscuit and Of Mice & Men.
• Downtown Los Olivos – Return to Mayberry.
• Paradise Road – Seabiscuit and Star Trek Insurrection.
• Gaviota Coast – Spartan.
• Gaviota Trestle – Of Mice & Men.
• Gaviota Tunnel – The Graduate.
• Guadalupe Dunes – The Ten Commandments, Hidalgo, GI Jane, Pirates of the Caribbean III.
• Santa Maria Airport – The Rocketeer and The Best Years of Our Lives.
• La Purisima Mission – Seabiscuit.
• Jalama Road – A Walk in the Clouds.
• Surrounding Ranchland – Of Mice & Men.

Faking Santa Barbara
Sometimes a production may be set in Santa Barbara, but for whatever reason they can’t film there. In that case they may use a few stock footage-establishing shots, like the pier and tower seen in the TV series Psych.

In the movie I Love You, Man a wedding scene was supposed to have taken place at the fictional El Encanto Spa & Resort of Montecito. It was actually filmed at a private residence on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Sorry, a Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge won’t be able to make you a reservation at El Encanto, but they’ll be able to find you a nice alternative!

Sometimes, scenes are shot with certain geographical liberties taken. In The Graduate, the scene of Benjamin driving south to Santa Barbara shows his car heading north through the Gaviota Tunnel, in the wrong direction. Even the Santa Barbara church he banged on during the wedding was nowhere nearby. It is actually located in La Verne, east of Los Angeles.

Television Loves Santa Barbara
Moviemakers aren’t the only people infatuated with the area. Its glamour beckons on the little screen, too. Countless TV shows have been set in, had special episodes located in or just mentioned Santa Barbara. There was even a nighttime drama in the ‘80s called Santa Barbara.

More recently, our fair city has been featured or mentioned in episodes of Gossip Girl, Entourage, Victorious, Beverly Hills 90210, The L Word, Baywatch, Melrose Place, Privileged, L.A. Law, Zorro and Oceans Away.

Kind of Santa Barbara, but Not Really
Then there are the productions that are located in places that sound and look suspiciously like Santa Barbara, but are never overtly established as such. The television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic example.

Buffy’s hometown “Sunnydale” is described as being a coastal town, two hours north of Beverly Hills – check. Sunnydale and Santa Barbara are both homes to branch campuses of the University of California. The architecture of Sunnydale looks like Santa Barbara. Both towns abut the Pacific Ocean, and suffered devastating earthquakes between the two world wars. Sunnydale was also described as being the home of the Chumash tribe who were indigenous to Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and many of the show’s establishing shots were of Santa Barbara.

Most convincing of all is the fact that on several occasions throughout its seven-year run, characters used maps of Sunnydale that were in fact of…Santa Barbara. Now, we want to assure anyone staying in a Santa Barbara vacation rental that there is no such thing as a hellmouth lurking under our utopian city. But you might want to bring a garlic necklace if you plan to wander around a lot after sunset.

Santa Barbara’s 100-Year History in the Movies
2010 marks the 100-year anniversary of a lively and thriving film presence in Santa Barbara. Starting in 1910 the Essanay Film Company made regular visits to Santa Barbara from Chicago in search of better weather and appropriate locations to shoot their wildly popular western genre short films. They were followed in July, 1912 by a permanent western branch of Flying “A” Studios, which was also looking for better weather and relief from the stranglehold of the Edison Trust in the east. They chose Santa Barbara because they could find both urban and rural locations so close at hand.

Flying “A” took a big hit due to the combined effects of World War I, the flu pandemic and the beginning of the Great Depression. But Santa Barbara was already well established as a choice filming location. In 1923, Cecil B. DeMille shot The Ten Commandments on the sandscapes of Guadalupe (also used in Pirates of the Caribbean III), once again launching Santa Barbara back into the movie vanguard.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Coming up Next from Santa Barbara
The entertainment industry is alive and well in Santa Barbara. Last June, the cast and crew of a new film called No Strings Attached set up shop at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore. Billed as a romantic comedy, the film stars Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher and is scheduled for release on January 21, 2011.

There are a lot of famous filming locations to visit. If you want to go out exploring on your own, SantaBarbara.com offers three different itineraries that will lead you through the area, scoping out locations from some favorite high-profile films. And when you’re done for the day, you’ll have a Santa Barbara vacation rental to return home to, living a life the movie stars envy.

There’s much to be thankful for this time of year as we gather with friends and family for the holidays. We want to take the opportunity to enumerate some of the things we’re most grateful for in Santa Barbara, an extraordinary and unique place that we’re grateful to call home, which we hope you’ll consider your home-away-from-home.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #1: The Goldilocks climate.
I mean, seriously people, does it get any better than this? The Santa Ynez Mountains, our warm southern California sunshine and coastal breezes ensure a temperate, year-round routine of warmer winters and cooler summers that have earned us the nickname “The American Riviera.” No matter where you’re from, the weather is better at your Santa Barbara vacation rental.

We know that for a growing number of travelers, going home for the holidays means celebrating with loved ones at a sunny and exotic home away from home. While snowbirds have always enjoyed heading south for the winter, more travelers than ever are choosing a Santa Barbara vacation rental to get away and enjoy sun-filled beach vacations during the holiday season.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #2: Exceptional value.
There are a lot of opportunities to stretch your vacation dollar in Santa Barbara. Vacation rentals in Santa Barbara offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets. For less than the cost of a hotel room vacationers can rent a whole home while enjoying countless benefits like avoiding the unnecessary expenses of a hotel stay with laundry, internet fees, tips and room service.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals offer a great way to enjoy the winter sun on a budget. At the five-bedroom Vista Riviera, guests can take in views of the ocean and city and enjoy soaking in the private pool or relaxing in the sauna. They can also take advantage of all the amenities of a luxury hotel including pre-arrival grocery stocking, in-room spa treatments and other concierge services.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #3: Welcoming smiles.
Santa Barbara is, at heart, a small city with fewer than 100,000 residents within the city limits. People know each other and bump into acquaintances and neighbors all the time with warm smiles and happy greetings.

Tourists are just as likely to be greeted like old friends. If you’re staying in a Santa Barbara vacation rental, you’re probably going to be in town long enough to engage in healthy habits like walking to the same café every morning, shopping at a preferred vendor stand in the farmers market, etc. It’s all part of the warm, friendly Santa Barbara culture.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #4: Mother Nature.
There are very few destinations that offer as much in the way of stunning nature. You can laze on the deck of your Santa Barbara beach rental watching porpoises play or the winter gray whale migration. You can work up a sweat hiking the Campbell Trail and then enjoy a soak in Gaviota Hot Spring. You can even dress in camouflage and take your binoculars to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge.

There are meadows, mountains, creeks, beaches, parks, hiking trails, a 65-acre botanic garden designed by noted landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand…. In short, whatever your inner Smokey the Bear desires, you will find it in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #5: The architecture.
A 1925 earthquake pretty much leveled downtown Santa Barbara, and we have been grateful ever since. The city fathers and mothers took the opportunity to rebuild with stricter structural standards and in relative Spanish/Moorish uniformity, and the result is Santa Barbara’s stunning red-roof district. As you walk through the downtown area you gain a heightened appreciation for the idea of a planned city. Most burgs are a mishmash of wildly divergent architectural qualities and styles, but Santa Barbara’s downtown area almost feels like a movie set, it is so charming and idealistic.

A lot of the residences, including many of the Santa Barbara vacation rentals, in the area also cleave to the California bungalow style (with a few Victorians thrown in) and the result is a charming walk through California history.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #6: Festivals.
If you, like Frank Costanza on Seinfeld, are in search of a “festivus for the rest of us,” you should book your Santa Barbara vacation rental immediately. Our annual festival calendar boasts something new almost every month: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Orchid Show, Earth Day celebration, Santa Barbara Fair & Expo, Cinco de Mayo festival, Summer Solstice Parade, wine festivals, Fourth of July, French Festival, Greek Festival, Old Spanish Days Fiesta, Santa Barbara Sandcastle Festival, California Lemon Festival, Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival, New Noise Music Conference & Festival.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Reason to be Thankful #7: Unexpected outdoor delights.
No matter how much time you spend in your Santa Barbara vacation rental home, there are still many delights to discover. Many people who pass the corner of State and Victoria every day never notice the lovely statue of Sacajawea that is set back from the street. Sacajawea was a Shoshone woman who guided the Lewis & Clark exploration through the western part of the American continent in the earliest years of the 19th century. She was very brave and diplomatic and is credited by many historians as the primary reason for the mission’s success.

Santa Barbara visitors in the early spring are often pleasantly surprised by the gorgeous profusion of flowering trees in the area. Both leaves and blossoms create a stunning, delicious-smelling canopy wherever you turn.

There are many beautiful fountains in town. There are notable examples in the dolphin fountain at Stearns Wharf, the mission fountain and the fountain at La Arcada shopping mall. How many more can you find?

You can tell a city that really loves its artists because they proudly display so much art in public places. There are lovely bronze sculptures tucked away in some unexpected corners like the La Arcada shopping mall and downtown area. As you step from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, keep your eyes open. You never know what treasures you might come across.

And last but not least, I am personally grateful for all the wonderful Santa Barbara vacation rental guests I get to meet year after year. Once you enjoy all that our fair city has to offer, you’ll be grateful that you will always have a second home away from home.

There are a lot of delicious options for the fun-loving gourmet. I love grocery shopping in vacation destinations, there’s always something new to try, and being on vacation is a great excuse to chuck the calorie-counter. If you want to do your own shopping near your Santa Barbara vacation rental you can go to a tried-and-true grocery store like Vons aka Safeway, Ralphs or Albertsons. If you’re looking for something a little more high-end or out of the ordinary, check out Lazy Acres Market. It’s not too far from Le Petit Chateau and Ocean Oasis. There’s also Trader Joe’s or Gelson’s, a southern California favorite. Santa Barbara is home to many gourmet specialty shops, too.

If you’d rather not spend time searching in vain for fresh fennel you can visit the Santa Barbara Luxury Rental concierge site before your visit and fill out a shopping list. Your groceries will be waiting for you when you arrive at your Santa Barbara vacation rental. Just don’t forget your favorite recipes at home. We can’t guarantee that one of our staff members will have a copy of your great-grandma’s secret noodle stuffing recipe (although many of them could whip up a recipe should you need one).

There are many more dining options for the I-refuse-to-cook-until-I-have-a-migraine-this-holiday Santa Barbara vacation rental visitors. One of our concierges would be happy to help you find the perfect personal chef or caterer to make a memorable meal for you.

Not so much a gourmet, as a gourmand? There are a ton of delicious options. If you’re a homebody or if someone in your party cones down with a bug (like I did one infamous Thanksgiving), you can order your holiday feast in to your Santa Barbara vacation rental from a variety of restaurants and grocery stores.

Want to dive into a plate of peeled shrimp instead of turkey? There are dozens of fine restaurants in Santa Barbara that will gladly cater to your culinary whims. Many of them are on or around State Street, particularly handy if you’re staying at a Santa Barbara vacation rental like Anacapa Villas, one block away.

If no one in your group wants to be the designated driver, there is a list of restaurants we love that are near some of our Santa Barbara vacation rental properties. Brophy Brothers (in photo) is close to Juniper Cottage, Wine Cask is near Anacapa Villas. Your Santa Barbara Luxury Rental concierge can give you more precise recommendations based on your preferences.

If you do walk to dinner from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, don’t forget a light jacket and umbrella. We can’t promise it won’t sprinkle, but we can promise you won’t need chains or snow tires.

November 21-December 31, 2010 — Winterfest Celebration in Solvang
The quaint town of Solvang hosts a month of events, pageantry, and millions of lights in their traditional Danish Christmas Village. Call for information. Phone: (805) 688-6144

November 28-December 19, 2010 — Trinity Episcopal Church Advent Organ Series
The church is offering Sunday concerts for the four weeks of Advent from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-7419

December 1, 4, 11, 2010 — 16th Annual La Arcada Court Christmas Walk
Listen to strolling carolers and live, local music. Eat fresh popped popcorn and lots of holiday goodies. Get your picture taken with Santa on Dec. 1st from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and December 4th and 11th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Bring the whole family for holiday fun and merriment. Phone: (805) 966-6634

December 3, 2010 — 58th Annual Holiday Parade – Miracle on State Street
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., spectators line downtown Santa Barbara to cheer high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, Santa Clause. The holiday prince and fairy officially light up the night with the lighting of the large Christmas tree at State & Victoria streets. Phone: (805) 962-2098 ext. 23

December 4, 2010 — Rudolph ballet
Rudolph is the story of a young reindeer with a blinking red nose. This children’s ballet is performed by the students of Gustafson Dance, featuring dancers from the State Street Ballet Young Dancers, the apprentice company to State Street Ballet. It is taking place at the Lobero Theatre at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 963-0761

December 5, 2010 — Brinkerhoff Holiday Block Party
Come celebrate holiday cheer in traditional Victorian fashion at this “block party” in the historic Landmark District of Brinkerhoff Avenue between Cota and Haley streets 1:00-4:00 p.m. Tour Victorian homes and get an inside view of what Santa Barbara was like 150 years ago. Phone: (805) 966-3979

December 5, 2010 — Snow Leopard Festival and Sledding at the Zoo
It’s a winter wonderland beneath palm trees overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the Sledding at the Zoo & Snow Leopard Festival. More than 75 tons of snow are imported to create sledding runs and a children’s play area, and are placed in exhibits for snow leopards, elephants, gorillas, lions, otters and other animals – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 500 Niños Drive. Phone: (805) 962-5339

December 9, 2010 — A Very Mariachi Divas Christmas Show
Visit the Chumash Casino Resort to see a very special Christmas show of the Mariachi Divas, a unique cultural ensemble that have created an exciting, original style of music called “ranchengue,” a fusion of ranchera and meringue. Phone: (800) 585-3737

December 10, 2010 — Art From Scrap Holiday Open House and Celebration
Join us for an evening of merriment and ornament making. Enjoy mulled wine and appetizers. Shop at our Reuse Store for holiday gifts. Take a last look at the Retro Muse exhibition and meet the artists at Art From Scrap 5:00-7:00 p.m.  Phone: (805) 884-0459

December 10-12, 2010 — Santa Barbara High School A Capella Choir and Madrigals Holiday Concerts
The Santa Barbara High School Madrigals and A Capella Choir, will be performing beautiful, traditional Christmas/holiday music from around the world daily at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Anthony’s Chapel on the grounds of San Roque School. Phone: (805) 868-9101

December 10-23, 2010 — Trolley of Lights Tour
A 90-minute trip in a trolley around Santa Barbara shows off the best of the area’s holiday lights. Tours leave from Wheel Fun Rentals at 22 State Street, nightly at 6:30 pm. Reservations are required. Phone: (805) 965-0353

December 11-12, 2010 — Miracle on 34th Street, the Musical
Based on the 1947 Academy Award winning film, now re-imagined as a musical, this delightful, family-friendly production restores our belief in the spirit of the season and features traditional holiday songs we all know and love at the Granada Theatre. Phone: (805) 899-2222

December 12, 2010 — Annual Parade of Lights
Beginning at 3:00 p.m. with a Santa’s village event at the City Pier, then a visit from Santa with holiday music and 10 tons of snow for kids to play in. Judges, along with thousands of spectators, will cheer on 30-50 boats decorated to the theme of “Silver Bells & Winter Swells.” A fireworks display will follow the boat parade. Phone: (805) 963-0611.

December 12, 2010 — Una Noche de las Posadas
Las Posadas (The Inns) is the time-honored reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem. Join in this rich cultural tradition, experiencing first-hand the way in which Santa Barbara’s earliest Spanish and Mexican residents celebrated Christmas with song and food. Takes place at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park & Casa de la Guerra at 7:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-0093

December 12-13, 2010 — The Nutcracker at the Arlington
Santa Barbara Festival Ballet brings you the Nutcracker, supported by a live, full symphony orchestra. The performances feature all the surprises of the traditional Nutcracker with giant mice doing battle with toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes and waltzing flowers. Phone: (805) 963-4408

December 17, 2010 — Community Christmas Carol Sing-along & Wassail Party
Celebrate the season at Trinity Episcopal Church by joining voices in singing favorites and new carols interspersed with the poetry of Diane Wyman at the Community Christmas Carol sing-along & Wassail Party. A holiday favorite for twenty-seven years. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Phone: (805) 965-7419

December 18, 2010 — All Wrapped Up: The Art of Giving (Holiday Gift Workshop)
This one-day workshop at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. offers a unique art experience for children to gain inspiration from three original works of art in the museum’s collection and create hand-made cards, prints, ornaments, and more. Students will draw, paint, print, collage and sculpt artful gifts to share with friends and family. Phone: (805) 884-6441

December 18, 2010 — California Christmas Bird Counts, Santa Barbara County
Birders all over the country are tromping into the wilds to help with the annual National Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Christmas bird count. Participants are assigned to teams based on their bird identification skill level and endurance. Compilers and participants can sign up to be an Audubon California Volunteer. Phone: Rob Denholtz at (805) 684-4060

December 18-19, 2010 — The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice
Santa Barbara Revels annual theatrical holiday production celebrates the Winter Solstice, featuring the music, dance, stories and traditions of Victorian England. At the Lobero Theatre – Saturday 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday 3:00 p.m. Phone: (805) 963-0761

December 18-19, 2010 — West Coast Ballet Presents “Nutcracker”
This eternal Christmas story will come to life complete with falling snow, dancing sweets, magical dolls, waltzing flowers, fighting mice and, of course, the Sugar Plum Fairy. The intimate setting of the Center Stage Theater provides the perfect opportunity to fully appreciate the lavish costumes and special effects for which West Coast Ballet is known, making this production a “Gem” of a Nutcracker. Phone: (805) 963-0408

December 18-19, 2010 — La Pastorela
La Pastorela is Santa Barbara’s oldest and most beautiful Christmas tradition. Dramatizing the epic battle between good and evil, the play invokes elements of spectacle, comedy and fantasy. This version of the Pastorela is conducted in Spanish. Phone: (805) 965-0093

December 19, 2010 — The Nutcracker – State St. Ballet
Share the holiday magic of adventure, fantasy, romance, and the triumph of good over evil. Set to music by Tchaikovsky and performed in the opulent setting of The Granada, the Nutcracker’s story enchants as never before. Join us for this traditional holiday favorite featuring State Street Ballet with the students of Gustafson Dance. Phone: (805) 899-2222

December 31, 2010 — New Year’s Pops Concert – Santa Barbara Symphony
Richard Kaufman, Pop’s Concert Conductor Extraordinaire, returns to Santa Barbara to conduct the Santa Barbara Symphony’s New Year’s Eve Pops Concert, “Night on the Red Carpet.” It’s the movies, it’s the music, it’s the greatest movie music ever on The Granada stage. Phone: (805) 899-2222

There are many, many other exciting holiday events occurring in the area. What are some of your favorites? Don’t see anything here tempting enough to lure you out of your Santa Barbara vacation rental? Check back soon. Next month we’ll be covering mouthwatering holiday food and drink events.

Truth is, as travelers look ahead to 2011 and a slowly rebounding economy, many travelers are truly grateful that they can afford to travel at all.

If you know where to look, there are a lot of opportunities for travelers to stretch their vacation dollar in Santa Barbara. As the economy is recovering, vacationers continue to take advantage of vacation rentals in Santa Barbara that offer great value and flexibility to better fit various travel lifestyles, needs and budgets.

Enjoy a vacation home (like Mykonos, pictured here) away from home in Santa Barbara

For less than the cost of a hotel room, vacationers can rent a whole Santa Barbara vacation home while enjoying countless benefits – like avoiding the unnecessary expenses of a hotel stay like laundry, internet fees, tips, and room service.

Enjoy your stay at Santa Barbara with a luxury rental such as Ocean Oasis - right on the beach!

In addition to exceptional value, Santa Barbara vacation rental guests have much to be thankful for including temperate climate year-round, as well as the area’s stunning nature and architecture plus world-class events and festivals that are held locally.

My family and I feel so privileged to live in such an extraordinary and unique destination, and in the spirit of the holidays, we wanted to take the opportunity to share some of the things we’re most grateful for in Santa Barbara.

We also hope that once travelers experience all that our fair city has to offer, they’ll be grateful too that they will always have a second home away from home when they visit Santa Barbara.

To read more about the top things to be thankful for, visit the Santa Barbara vacation rentals blog at http://blog.sbluxuryrentals.com/

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/

Santa Barbara is home to countless clubs, theaters and other places for music appreciators of all stripes to explore. Regardless of where your Santa Barbara vacation rental is located, chances are, there’s a world-class musical venue right nearby. Here are some of our favorites.

If you love fine food and music, then SOhO is the place to be. Gourmet food and a New York ambiance set this jazz club apart from the competition.

The walls in the intimate Velvet Jones are all black and white images of artists. It’s generally viewed as one of the best up-close-and-personal music venues in Santa Barbara. This place is so classic they even have a Pacman machine upstairs.

Whiskey Richards is a sexy-grungy, cozy club with some of the best drink-mixers in southern California. Pool tables and dart boards make it especially appealing to the post-college but not-quite-yuppies crowd.

A favorite among locals, funky Muddy Waters is known for an indie vibe, comfy couches and stellar talent roster. Cash only, and the nearest ATM is a block away.

If your tastes run a little more to the conventional, then the 2,000+ seat Arlington Theatre must be at the top of your list of music places to check out. Featuring everything from opera simulcasts to The Black Crowes live and in person, the Arlington offers a constant variety of fresh and traditional spoken and sung entertainment.

Nothing compares to an evening at the Santa Barbara Bowl where you can sit back sway to the tunes of everyone from Bob Dylan to Alicia Keyes. Concerts happen rain or shine and poking your neighbor with an umbrella is discouraged so dress appropriately for your al fresco music event.

Recently reopened after a multi-year, $60 million renovation, The Granada Theatre is an elegant space where you’re likely to find Disney’s Beauty and the Beast hanging out with Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, Taiko drum artists rubbing shoulders with ballerinas, and cellists who are perplexed by Mummenschanz.

Your stay in a Santa Barbara vacation rental won’t be complete until you’ve experienced the Santa Barbara music scene. Book your trip now, before all the other music lovers get the best deals.

(Mention The New Noise Santa Barbara Music Conference & Festival November 4th-6th, 2010 for a deep discount on your Santa Barbara vacation rental.)

Local Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is offering a 20% discount on a variety of high-end vacation rentals in Santa Barbara for visitors who mention “New Noise” when booking.

Last year’s New Noise festival drew guests to our Santa Barbara vacation rentals who were excited about the educational focus of the conference as well as the world-class lineup of both local and international artists. Our Graham Farrar moderated a panel at last year’s New Noise conference: “As a music fan myself, I’m happy to help spread the word about this amazing cause, as well as welcome music lovers to Santa Barbara’s burgeoning music scene.”

This year’s conference is part of the newly established New Noise Music Foundation, a non-profit whose primary goal is to advance the artistic growth of local musicians and increase the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of music and its ability to enrich the County of Santa Barbara.

According to New Noise Executive Director, Jeff Theimer, who co-founded the festival as the West Coast’s answer to Austin’s South By Southwest, “New Noise 2010 will build on the great success of our inaugural event and deliver an even more memorable weekend of music.”

New Noise Santa Barbara will take place on November 4-6 at the Canary Hotel and will feature performances by Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, and Fitz & The Tantrums and more. For the full lineup and panel schedule, visit www.newnoisesb.com.

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/

So before you check into your Santa Barbara vacation rental property, review our tips below. Avoiding these common blunders that travelers make can help you make the most of your vacation.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #1: Over packing when you can travel light.
We can’t say this often enough, check the Santa Barbara weather forecast before you start packing. Our climate is thought by many to be ideal — temperate and mild. But while some visitors will feel comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt, others will prefer long pants and a sweater. Your best bet is to layer. Bring a handful of neutral pieces that you can mix and match. If you do need to add something, there are plenty of places to shop.

Many Santa Barbara vacation rental properties offer free amenities to those traveling with young ones – including portable playpens and high chairs. Some even feature a variety of outdoor supplies including beach gear and sports equipment. Let your concierge or rental agent know ahead of time, what you’ll need. Knowing you don’t have to haul everything from home will help you travel lighter.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #2: Succumbing to tourist traps.
You will never catch a New Yorker in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, nor will you ever find an Angeleno having their picture taken outside of Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Likewise there are touristy places in Santa Barbara that the locals avoid. Go there if you like. They can be fun. But if you want to see the real Santa Barbara, the places that only the natives know about and patronize, ask your Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge to help you. He or she will point you toward the best food for the fairest prices, the freshest fish, the most original art, the latest in regional cuisine. Santa Barbara vacation rental concierges are worth their weight in gold. They’ve got the inside scoop – from the best happy hours in town to unique ways to enjoy the local art scene – and are ready and waiting to craft a perfect personalized Santa Barbara vacation for you.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #3: Not doing your research.
There’s nothing worse than coming home from vacation and having someone ask, “But of course you did/saw the XYZ.” What? No one told you! You would love to have done/seen that. If only you’d known about it ahead of time.

There are many special things that are unique to the Santa Barbara area – and your Santa Barbara vacation rental concierge will be happy to point you to a local area guide with insider travel tips.

Before you leave for your Santa Barbara vacation rental, you will also want to know what’s available and if it’s seasonal. If you want to watch the baby gray whales migrate north in the summer, you’ll be disappointed (they start heading north in February). Make it a priority to plan at least two hours of serious online destination research (those piano-playing cats on YouTube will still be there when you get home).

Some good sites to get started are Santa Barbara vacation rental sites like www.santa-barbara-vacation-rental.com, the Santa Barbara city web site at SantaBarbaraCA.gov, the Santa Barbara Convention and Visitors Bureau at SantaBarbaraCA.com and finally the Santa Barbara Visitors Guide at SantaBarbara.com.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #4: Missing out on local events and unique community offerings.
Sometimes feeling footloose and fancy-free is part of being on vacation in a Santa Barbara vacation rental. But if you’re a fromage-phile, you don’t want to arrive at your destination and discover that you just missed the international cheese festival.

Always check a couple of different community calendars to discover what special (or regular) events are scheduled. If you love the arts, check an arts calendar. If you’re bringing the kids, check out a kid-oriented calendar. If you’re looking for the latest in family friendly goings-on check out Santa Barbara Family’s Calendar of Events or Santa Barbara Parent.

All three of the official city sites mentioned above in Tip #3 also have good event calendars.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid #5: Getting Caught Without a “Plan B.”
As the Yiddish proverb says, “Man plans, God laughs.” Not everything always goes according to schedule. An al fresco market might get rained out, or a concert might have sold all their tickets.

If you’re spending the day away from your Santa Barbara vacation rental, make sure you have a list of alternate activities. If the Santa Barbara Mission is closed for repairs, then maybe the family historian might enjoy poking around an old cemetery or the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. If the children’s puppet show has been rescheduled, check out Kids World, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History or know the location of the movie theater nearest to your Santa Barbara vacation rental and if they’re showing any kid-friendly films.

Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Biggest Mistake to Avoid Tip #6: Missing spectacular sunsets.
Santa Barbara has spectacular sunsets, but bear in mind that because of our funky geography, a lot of our beaches face south. One of the best places to watch the sun go down is Butterfly Beach. On the other hand, you may prefer the private deck of your Santa Barbara vacation rental.

Before you check into your Santa Barbara vacation rental property, you can do a little prep work to avoid common blunders that travelers make. A little planning can go a long way in helping you create and enjoy a memorable vacation. Anything is possible in Santa Barbara. Welcome!

The increasing popularity of Santa Barbara vacation rentals has led to an abundance of online resources. Nowadays, a traveler’s best bet is to do due diligence and compare rates, amenities, reputations, views, and conditions on a site like FlipKey.com before entering into a rental agreement, especially when reserving a property sight unseen.

Stay at Le Petit Chateau and enjoy a long walk on Hendry's beach, where beachcomber and surfers alike delight in leisurely strolls on the sand, picnic tables and surf

While there are a lot of ways to check up on a prospective property rental company, like visiting the Better Business Bureau, a trusted vacation rental site such as FlipKey.com can provide additional resources such as verified user reviews to ensure consumers find the ideal vacation rental home.

FlipKey’s inventory of Santa Barbara vacation rental properties, extensive verification processes, and easy-to-use site make it simple and safe to find the perfect Santa Barbara vacation rental home, like the Le Petit Chateau (pictured here). Most of our Santa Barbara vacation rental guests are blown away by the value and amenities they get for their money and we’re thrilled to have the user comments and outstanding consumer ratings on FlipKey.com to reflect that.

Experience a taste of Provence in Le Petit Chateau! Nestled between Hope Ranch and the Mesa, on a quiet lane just 2 blocks from the beach, you can experience a lovely holiday getaway in this beautiful Santa Barbara vacation rental.

On FlipKey.com, travelers can find comments that discuss everything from a vacation rental’s beauty, cleanliness, amenities, and views to its access to different Santa Barbara landmarks and the staff’s attention to service.

In a review of the Santa Barbara vacation rental property Le Petit Chateau, a guest from Summit, NJ., states: “The team at Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals was extremely thoughtful in helping me select the right property and very responsive to all of my questions. The property itself was lovely – it lived up to the nice pictures on the website. Everything was in excellent condition, and all details had been considered for an ideal stay.”

About Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals
Santa Barbara Luxury Rentals is your one stop source for high-end, fully-furnished vacation homes in Santa Barbara including private beach houses, California holiday villas, and large luxurious vacation homes. Our luxury rental properties are ideal for romantic vacations, family gatherings and reunions, or wedding parties and wedding accommodations. We also offer pet-friendly vacation rentals on select properties. Our full-service staff and concierge services are available to assist you with all your Santa Barbara vacation rental needs. We strive to create a memorable vacation experience of the highest quality, giving all our guests the utmost consideration and quality service. To view our properties, visit http://www.sbluxuryrentals.com/.