You’ve taken the plunge. You’ve rented one of the many available Santa Barbara vacation rentals in this beautiful seaside enclave. And because you performed your due diligence, you probably obtained one of the beautiful vacation rentals in Santa Barbara close to the beach and at a fair and reasonable cost. Good work. Not everyone is so lucky. If you’re one of those lucky ones, once you are here and enjoying your vacation rental, fight the urge to hole up indoors taking in the scenery from your windows. Plan to spend a few evenings out taking in the nightlife and amazing culinary offerings.

While Santa Barbara might be considered small by tourist city standards, there is a lot you can and should do as far as dining goes while you’re enjoying your Santa Barbara vacation rental. This is true, whether you’ve brought your family for a vacation of fun and adventure, or brought along only your lover for a romantic getaway.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals are situated throughout the city, from homes right on the beach, to private condos tucked more into the city with views of the ocean as well as of the beautiful Los Padres mountains and the Santa Barbara Riviera dotted with artistic, million dollar homes. No matter where your vacation rental is located, though, you are sure to be close to Santa Barbara’s storied dining district located on State Street.

State Street, along with Chapala and Anacapa streets, are some of the main thoroughfares through town. Along these streets, particularly State Street, you can walk for miles as you explore antique shops, souvenir shops, art galleries and clothing stores. Make no mistake, this is Santa Barbara and most of these stores and boutiques are high-end, meaning "expensive". Chances are, though, since you opted to go with a Santa Barbara vacation rental over a motel or hotel, you might just be the type of vacationer who will splurge at one of these stores. After a day of shopping or just window-shopping, you’ll soon begin to feel hungry.

One of the distinct advantages of using a Santa Barbara vacation rental over, say, a motel or hotel, is that vacation rentals typically provide a fully functional kitchen, stocked with pots and pans, dishes and silverware. If your vacation rental is on the beach, you may even have a deck with a gas barbeque pit to cook. Even if you really enjoy cooking and entertaining in your vacation rental in Santa Barbara, don’t hesitate to take the time – and spend the money – to enjoy the many eating spots to satisfy even the most discriminating pallets and budgets.

If your Santa Barbara vacation rental is a bit more towards the ocean side of town, Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor offer an array of Cafe’s for people-watching, seafood grills pulling in the freshest catch and traditional seafood restaurants offering the best in traditional and non traditional entree’s. Stearns Wharf is an offering all of it’s own. Along the boardwalk you will find everything from the famous Great Pacific Ice Cream Company, Captain Don’s Cruise’s to Topside Clothing Company. It truly is a wonderful place to stroll early morning and have camera ready at dusk for another of Santa Barbara’s breathtaking sunset performances.

After a full day of enjoying the outdoors and beautiful sunshine, as the sun set’s you're surely ready for to experience Santa Barbara’s night life. If you are budget conscious you have the option of staying in after a day of shopping or sunbathing, or hitting the town. Though it may be cost effective to stay in, you’d be depriving yourself that extra touch of Santa Barbara if you didn’t take at least one night out. You can start off at a special Wine Tasting at Stearns Wharf Vintners. If you‘re up for something more casual and cozy you can choose from one of the many smaller restaurants specializing in Italian and Worldwide Cuisine.

For those opting for a more elegant setting scattered throughout the Harbor area and downtown you will find that what ever you looking for or have always wanted to experience is there waiting for you. Asian, French, Argentine, Italian, Japanese and Creole, are just a sampling of what is available to you, along with some of the areas finest local wines as well as imported wines.

Santa Barbara vacation rentals offer something for everyone. Clearly if something is left at home, it is surely is available here. Especially food! The Santa Barbara dining scene is one of the major draws of Santa Barbara’s economy. During peak season one can expect to find that the population of the County doubles if not triples in numbers in relation to it’s year round residents. Yet when you rent a vacation rental in Santa Barbara, you never feel rushed, hurried, crowded, as the idea is relax and absorb the beautiful architecture, vast mountain views and breathtaking sunsets at dusk.

When it comes to dining in Santa Barbara, the options are vast and the comforts are many.