Santa Barbara Inn
Santa Barbara Inn – President’s Award
Each year the Santa Barbara Beautiful President is asked to select an outstanding contributor to the beauty of Santa Barbara for a special honor. This year, my choice was easy. A visit to the Santa Barbara Inn and a review of its history made the choice an obvious one for me.
Established in 1962 in a simple, small structure, over time it has gone through restructuring a couple of times with the most recent one completed in 2016. This last renovation highlights all the best of what the Inn has to offer. In addition to environmental considerations, the architecture and landscaping fit the surroundings and offer much to both the passerby and its guests.
With an eye toward the environment, the entry brick pavers at the entrance, around the pool and on the restaurant’s outdoor decks, are recycled from a 100-year-old street found in Iowa.
The Inn also describes itself as eco-friendly using over 50 percent recycled materials including glass, plastic, paper, and cardboard in both the hotel and Convivo Restaurant. Guests are encouraged to re-use towels and, as a member of ‘Car Free Santa Barbara,’ they offer extra savings to those guests who go carless during their stay. An electric shuttle stops in front of the hotel for local excursions and Amtrak is nearby for longer journeys.
With an eye toward the visual beauty of Santa Barbara, in keeping with its surroundings, the Inn incorporates Spanish Mediterranean architecture. The beautiful landscaping, iron and tile work support this vision. The interior combines a relaxed beach feel complimented by the Asian art collection of its owners, the Gunners. During their stay in this AAA FOUR STAR boutique resort, the guests are encouraged to experience all that’s wonderful about Santa Barbara. And so, for all these reasons, the Santa Barbara Inn was my clear choice for this year’s President’s Award.
Photos courtesy of Santa Barbara Inn
