The bougainvillea at San Ysidro Ranch.
A few days in Santa Barbara and its environs can brighten the heart of any Chicagoan tired of an endlessly rainy spring.
Here are four spots worth visiting:
San Ysidro Ranch – The honeymoon spot of John and Jacqueline Kennedy, you can’t beat the setting – rose gardens, beautiful bougainvillea and hummingbirds darting around. The Montecito gem survived last year’s mudslides intact.
Petit Valentien – The small Santa Barbara restaurant serves Ethiopian cuisine for lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. I recommend the platter of two meats (try the spicy chicken) and four vegetables on a circle of Injera Ethiopian flatbread, a perfect meal for two.
Les Marchands – A vibrant spot in Funk Town, I suggest the wild boar lasagna.
Sanford Winery – The elegantly constructed tasting room in Lompoc offers a great selection of whites and reds. In the vineyards, set graciously in the Santa Rita Hills, the original Pinot Noir vines planted in 1973 are now 60 feet deep.
Welcome to the Sweet Spot 