1. Discovering Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone
2. Tasting Wine in the Urban Wine Trail
3. Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth with Local Chocolate
Located on California’s gorgeous Pacific coast, the oceanside city of Santa Barbara is a favorite getaway spot with a bevy of fine hotels and part of one of the most unique wine-growing regions in the world—however, there’s a lot more to do here than sip chardonnay.
In this episode of Walk With iBestTravel, wine writer and content creator Noël Burgess introduces viewers to the best of Santa Barbara today, from the Funk Zone and its Urban Wine Trail to a boutique local chocolate maker and beyond.
1. Discovering Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone
Begin your Santa Barbara adventure in the Funk Zone, a walkable district that has seen a renaissance over the past few decades. This area has transformed from the home of the Santa Barbara fish market to a contemporary hotspot for boutique tasting rooms, cafes, galleries, and shops. Burgess meets up with Kayla Bales from Eat This, Shoot That!, a tour operator specializing in food and photo tours, for a local’s take.
“The Funk Zone these days is kind of synonymous with having a good time, getting funky with it,” Bales said. Moreover, street art is very popular in the Funk Zone, as it’s the only place in Santa Barbara that allows this form of expression on its walls. Consequently, it’s also a great spot for foodies, featuring crave-worthy nibbles and delightful wine and spirits tastings.
2. Tasting Wine in the Urban Wine Trail
There’s no need to leave the Funk Zone to sip the kinds of wines Santa Barbara is known for. The Valley Project is a must-visit for tastings, alongside a massive hand-drawn chalk map of Santa Barbara County that adorns its wall. “The Funk Zone is really where Santa Barbara lets its hair down,” said Magan Kunin, owner and winemaker behind Kunin Wines and The Valley Project. “You find businesses that are made with love by small dreamers, and that makes it a great day out.”
If you haven’t sipped your fill, continue to wander along the Urban Wine Trail, which encompasses 28 different tasting rooms within a few blocks of each other. Stop by Grassini Family Vineyards. The owners purchased the property in the 1980s but trace their family history back to Italy, and their wines reflect this rich heritage.
3. Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth with Local Chocolate
But what’s wine without a bit of chocolate on the side? To perfectly cap off his afternoon exploring Santa Barbara, Burgess heads to Twenty-Four Blackbirds to meet with founder Mike Orlando, who transitioned from chemist to chocolate maker, captivated by the origins of the delightful treat. You’ll need to tune in to discover the story behind the chocolate shop’s name—and to see what Orlando is growing in the back.
