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CALIFORNIAGO OUT AND ABOUTStroll along the California coast, explore thetown centre and then head further afield.Ride a Bike Take one of El Encanto’s electric bikes tofreewheel down to the town centre, about a mile away,then use the extra push to return back uphill.Hit the Urban Wine Trail Downtown Santa Barbarais best explored as part of the Urban Wine Trail. Startoff at the Grassini Family Vineyards tasting room, thenhead to the Funk Zone for wineries, including SantaBarbara and Carr. urbanwinetrailsb.comCruise the California Coast Sail along, spotting seals,dolphins and even humpback and minke whales. Sunsetvoyages have a special charm. condorexpress.comExplore Wine Country Take an excursion into thevalleys to discover world-class wines, among galleries,restaurants and country inns. sbcoastalconcierge.comGrow your Knowledge Cherimoyas, cardoons, chilelemoncorn nuts... Discover local produce at farmers’markets. The two biggest are downtown, on Tuesdayevenings and Saturday mornings. sbfarmersmarket.orgMeet the Animals Ask any Santa Barbarian what’s theirone “must-visit” place and chances are they’ll say thebeachside zoo, with or without children. sbzoo.orgCatch the Culture Head to the Santa Barbara Museumof Art, with fine 19th-century French, American andAsian collections, and the city’s many theatres. Greatmusic, opera and dance. sbmuseart.org; granadasb.orgDiscover Lotusland Opera singer Ganna Walska spent43 years creating this extraordinary garden. Topiary,dramatic displays of cycads and cacti, a Japanesepool, an open-air theatre… surprises appear at everyturn. Guided tours by reservation (restricted visitornumbers). Around 20 min. away by car. lotusland.orgtea is served in The Lounge, while over in The Baroenophiles gather to discover distinctive bottles fromlocal vineyards, including an El Encanto brandedpinot noir and chardonnay. Guests can also opt for amore intimate experience by dining on their privatepatio or garden, or by a glowing fireplace, in much thesame style as Santa Barbara’s hacienda families 200years ago. They can even choose their herbs andvegetables from the resort’s on-site Chef’s Garden anddiscuss the recipes.El Encanto is defined by romance and seclusion;it’s a green oasis to escape to and forget the rest ofthe world. Set in a quiet, residential area, it conveysthe feel of a private home. Leafy roads wind aroundrambling slopes and open spaces, through canyonsand past spectacular gardens, offering hikers, joggersand active families limitless choice.Venture further afield and you’re in Santa BarbaraCounty, where vineyards cover mountain slopes.Or head downtown to State Street, where shops andcafés meet the Pacific shore. Gaze out over the brightwhitestrand and the sapphire-coloured sea, and all ofCalifornia seems to wander—or float—past.The choice is yours: a fun day out on the town,savouring the American Riviera lifestyle, or a strollthrough nature, to a spot where you can stop andabsorb the calm. As a guest of El Encanto, you’ll findyour own special place almost everywhere you turn.For more information, please contact our travel team(see page 88) and see page 103.70