| If you've got kids in school, your family spring break | | | | lovers from around the world. |
| vacation has special meaning for you. The kids get a | | | | - Find inner peace at Ganna Walska Lotusland |
| week off and it's probably the only real vacation they | | | | - The whole family can rent individual bikes to check |
| (and you) get during those six long months between | | | | out the many available bike trails or you can rent a fun, |
| the winter holidays and summer. Everyone needs a | | | | covered, four-person Surrey bike. |
| break. You've marked off the family's spring vacation | | | | - If you love horses visit the Santa Barbara Polo |
| dates on your calendar months in advance, and | | | | & Racquet Club or spend spring break horseback |
| everyone is jonesing to hit the road. | | | | riding through the wilderness. |
| How can you make the most of this precious spring | | | | - Play Frisbee in the backyard of your vacation rental |
| break? You want something fun, enriching and | | | | home or in one of our many parks such as Alameda |
| affordable. What you need for your family spring | | | | Park, Chase Palm Park (which has a |
| break vacation is a Santa Barbara vacation rental | | | | Merry-Go-Round). |
| home. | | | | - Go camping. |
| Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #1 - Escape The | | | | - Day trips through the greater Southern California |
| Rowdy Crowd: The phrase "spring break vacation" | | | | area (Oxnard, Ventura, Los Angeles, Hollywood, etc). |
| conjures up TV news footage of drunken bashes and | | | | - Play tennis year round. |
| out of control college students trashing hotels. When | | | | - Hike along the Santa Ynez Mountains or along the |
| you're planning a family vacation, party central is the | | | | beach. No matter which vacation rental home you |
| last place you want to be. The simple way to avoid | | | | choose for your family vacation, you're not far from a |
| these rowdy spring break revelers is to go where they | | | | hiking trail. |
| aren't. Santa Barbara is a great place to take your | | | | - If you've got skaters in your family, Skater's Point is a |
| family and a vacation rental home is the ideal place to | | | | rocking skateboard park. |
| base your trip. | | | | Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #5 - That Big Blue |
| Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #2 - Control Your | | | | Wet Ocean Thingy Can Be Fun: Your Santa Barbara |
| Environment For Half The Cost: For a family, the | | | | vacation rental home is never far away from |
| simple tactical advantages of a vacation rental home | | | | something the natives like to call the Pacific Ocean. |
| are enormous. You get double the square footage for | | | | While the rest of the country may still be shivering in |
| your family vacation dollar. You get a two- to | | | | the cold, your family spring break vacation is the |
| three-bedroom beautifully appointed home, instead of a | | | | perfect time to enjoy seaside fun such as: |
| generic hotel room with paper thin walls that will allow | | | | - Santa Barbara has many of California's best |
| you and your children to hear everything the party | | | | beaches: Arroyo Burro Beach, Goleta Beach, East |
| animals are doing in the next room. (Aside from the | | | | Beach, Leadbetter Beach. Butterfly Beach (a little hard |
| noise level, there are some discussions you don't want | | | | to find) is where the locals go to have a great beach |
| to have with your young kids: "Mommy, what's a Jell-o | | | | experience. |
| shot?"). | | | | - Cruise the beautiful waterfront on the Santa Barbara |
| By using a vacation rental home for your family | | | | Water Taxi. |
| vacation, you control the environment. You share no | | | | - Boat lovers can go to the Yacht Club, charter a boat |
| walls, you have your own porch, your own backyard, | | | | or do some sport fishing. |
| your own place to breathe without having to keep an | | | | - If you'd love to see what spring looks like under the |
| eye on questionable hotel guests.You have your own | | | | sea, you can get supervised scuba diving and |
| media center, your own big screen TV, a place where | | | | snorkeling lessons. |
| you and your family can have all the loud fun and | | | | - Grab your wet suit and go surfing. |
| wholesome games you want without having to worry | | | | - Fishing is popular at the many lakes and ocean fishing |
| about someone banging on the wall. You get your | | | | is also available to give your family an unforgettable |
| choice of vacation rental home each with its own | | | | adventure. |
| view, unique style (Greek, Spanish Mission, Modern, | | | | - For those of you with older children looking for spring |
| Italian, French, etc.). Beyond doubling your family's spring | | | | break adventure, we've got great kayaking where |
| break vacation space for the same money, a vacation | | | | your kid can get up close with dolphins, sea lions and |
| rental home has a unique character so your kids will | | | | more. |
| recall the details of your family vacation for years to | | | | - There is no better place on the coast for whale |
| come. | | | | watching than the Santa Barbara Channel. |
| Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #3 - Santa Barbara | | | | Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #6 - Don't Tell The |
| Is Family Friendly Destination: A Santa Barbara | | | | Kids They're Learning: The deep dark secret of a |
| vacation rental home is more than just gorgeous | | | | family spring break vacation is that you can turn off |
| house to have spring break fun in. What makes this a | | | | your brain, but you don't have to. There are plenty of |
| great family spring break vacation is Santa Barbara | | | | cultural and educational opportunities you can enjoy on |
| itself. This town has tons of family-friendly activities | | | | your family spring break vacation: |
| and events that come into bloom during spring break. | | | | - Take the trolley tour, which will teach you the history |
| Downtown has glorious shopping, family-friendly | | | | of Santa Barbara in 90 fun-filled minutes. |
| restaurants, historical sites and galleries to explore. | | | | - The Ty Warner Sea Center is a great place for |
| There are lots of places that are specifically designed | | | | hands-on science. |
| for families. There are so many family friendly activities | | | | - Visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. |
| that many families come back year after year for their | | | | - Santa Barbara's Zoological Gardens is one of the |
| family vacation. | | | | best small zoos in the country. |
| Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #5 - Santa Barbara | | | | - For the museum minded, explore the Contemporary |
| Makes It Easy To Find Unique Family-Friendly Events: | | | | Arts Forum, El Presidio de Santa Barbara State |
| Year round Santa Barbara is bursting with festivals, | | | | Historic Park, Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, |
| events, shows and activities. On any given weekend | | | | The Museum of Art, South Coast Railroad Museum, |
| during your family spring break vacation you will be | | | | the UCSB Art Museum. |
| able to choose from a wide variety of family friendly | | | | - For evening fun you have your choice of theaters |
| events. To get a listing of all events go to | | | | playing comedies, musicals and dramas. |
| SantaBarbara.com's calendar page. If you're looking for | | | | - In addition to the city's thriving music scene you can |
| the latest in family friendly goings-on check out Santa | | | | listen to the symphony, chamber orchestra, choral |
| Barbara Family's Calendar of Events: or Santa | | | | society and more. |
| Barbara Parent | | | | Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #7 - You Don't Have |
| Family Spring Break Vacation Tip #4 - Explore The | | | | To Stay With The Kids The Whole Time: Finally, if you |
| Outdoors Santa Barbara has 300 days of sunshine a | | | | want to take a spring break from your own children, |
| year, making it the perfect place to plan an outdoor | | | | the concierge of your vacation rental home can |
| family spring break vacation. Here are some of the | | | | arrange to have your kids entertained by experienced |
| most popular outdoor family spring break vacation | | | | (and vetted) professional babysitters. While your kids |
| activities: | | | | are having fun with one of the baby sitters, you can |
| - Bring your dog. Unlike many hotels, you can bring | | | | explore the other side of Santa Barbara, one of the |
| your dog to enjoy your vacation rental homes along | | | | most romantic destinations on the planet. |
| with you on your family spring break vacation. | | | | Your family spring break vacation will be the highlights |
| - Walk along our many beaches. | | | | of your year, a cherished memory that will last a |
| - Explore the grounds of the Santa Barbara Mission. | | | | lifetime. Families fall in love with their vacation rental |
| - If you want a lovely stroll, go to the Santa Barbara | | | | home and keep coming back year after year, |
| Botanical Gardens or the Alice Keck Park Memorial | | | | sometimes stretching into the third generation. That's |
| Gardens. If you love orchids, the Santa Barbara Orchid | | | | the best kind of family vacation, the one that keeps |
| Estate is a must-see attraction that draws orchid | | | | giving long after you leave. |