All content & photos: Copyright© 2008,
Jan Hight. All rights reserved.
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1997 Jan's Journeys West Coast Roadtrip! Fri. afternoon 10/3/97 thru
Mon. morning 10/6/97
Mon. 10/6/97
With this article, we end our 5-week "1997 West Coast
Roadtrip". It's been an extraordinary journey: we've met so many
fascinating people; we've stayed at some truly special B&Bs and Inns; we've seen the
most incredibly stunning scenery...and we've had great fun uploading our thoughts and
photos on a realtime basis while we've been on-the-road! We're home for a couple of days
now, then we're flying to Colorado -- we have a condo in the mountains at Breckenridge for
a week and will see many of our dear friends from the days when we lived in Denver. Upon
our return, we're going to Yosemite; all of that natural splendor is practically in our
backyard here in Northern California yet we've never been there. For those who may be
wondering how we can travel for such an extended period of time, John is on an 8-week
sabbatical from his office (he is eligible for this little perk every 7 years -- whether
he needs it or not!); and I granted myself a sabbatical from my own business (it's good to
be the boss)!! So watch for upcoming "Jan's Journeys" articles on our next two
treks, as well as all of those that will follow...and thanks, as always, for
joining us!!!
>> Next Stop -- More Travels in Jan's Journeys
Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
Published -- October 10, 1997 |
What a perfect ending to our Roadtrip...the irresistible Cheshire Cat Inn and
gorgeous Santa Barbara! The B&B is comprised of two wonderful old side-by-side houses
and 3 separate cottages -- for a total of 17 glorious rooms and suites, offering a wide
variety of accommodations and prices. The motif is (of course) "Alice in
Wonderland", and the names of the rooms include White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, Queen of
Hearts...but there's no needto worry about deadly over-cuteness (the affliction of some
themed B&Bs); the furnishings and accessories are beautifully done, with just the
right amount of whimsical touches recalling Alice and her chums! The Inn's owner is from
Cheshire and has reproduced her own little bit of England by bringing in British antiques,
using wallpapers and draperies designed by Laura Ashley,
and imitating a famous English garden in the design of the landscaping and
patio. The inside common areas, such as the roomy sitting area and genteel dining room in
the main house, are tastefully and cozily decorated; the exterior public areas are just as
inviting, including a brick patio overflowing with flowers, a 6-person spa nestled inside
a lovely gazebo, and a private little nook in the garden.
Each guestroom is individually decorated, has a private bath and phone, and
offers its own unique appeal; some include fireplaces, TV/VCRs, in-room Jacuzzi tubs, or
stocked refrigerators. Sizes vary..."junior suites", Jacuzzi rooms, and 2-room
suites are available for those who desire a bit more space and/or elegance. We're in the
Cheshire Cat, on the first floor of the main house, which is a charming
room colored in burgundy/gold/cream, with a
vaulted ceiling, large bay windows with cushioned seat, king-sized brass bed and TV/VCR.
The large, open bath contains a tiled Jacuzzi and shower, plus a richly detailed dressing
area and separate water closet. Throughout this sunny room there are many playful nods to
that namesake kitty himself!! And yes, there is a resident cat with a Cheshire smile (who
is referred to as the "boss")....her name is Sweetie, and she has quite the
attitude of Queen of the Realm, as well as
being the self-appointed hostess (who personally targets which rooms she intends to honor
with her visits)! I thought that the cat at the Cheshire Cat Inn should reign inside the
Cheshire Cat Room, so I seized Sweetie yesterday evening and carried her in. She
immediately pounced on the windowsill to prove that she was entirely capable of coming and
going as she pleased, then (with her point made) she settled down on the Jacuzzi ledge and
had a grooming session and serene kittynap!!
Breakfasts have been served on the cheerful patio, except for this morning when
hovering rain clouds chased everyone inside to the dining room; and what pleasant meals
they have been, consisting of coffee-teas-juice, fresh fruit, breakfast breads, and an egg
entree...all accompanied by conversations of happy guests. In the late afternoon everyone
meets again for wine from local vineyards, French brie, veggies and dip...and more
chatting (with Sweetie overseeing the festivities)! During these gatherings
we've had a chance to meet Lindsay, the manager
and innkeeper, who's been a terrific source of information on Santa Barbara and the
area...as well as being a lot of fun to talk with! All of the restaurants he's recommended
have been excellent: Brophy Brothers beside the yacht harbor (a local hangout with great
seafood and incredible oyster shooters), Left at Albuquerque (with its New Mexican dishes
that reminded us of Santa Fe and Taos), Carlitos (we sat on the patio and enjoyed live
music along with the regional Mexican and Southwestern specialties), and Cafe Buenos Aires
(Latin American cuisine, on another patio, with a harpist providing soothing melodies).
Although Lindsay has been engagingly available during our stay, upon our arrival we also
met the co-manager Amy who provided a very warm welcome and hunted down Sweetie so we
could meet her!
Except for Brophy Brothers, all of the restaurants mentioned above are located
on State Street, Santa Barbara's main avenue of shopping, dining and theaters...just a
short walk from the Cheshire Cat. The picturesque Spanish 
architecture of the area is very prevalent in the old buildings
and quaint courtyards which line this colorful and busy street. The historic Santa Barbara
Mission is nearby, and it's immediately apparent why it is called "The Queen of
California Missions". We also took the Scenic Drive (listed in several guides and
brochures), which led us past the harbor and wharf, coastline and beaches, up hillsides
with striking views of the city and ocean, and to areas such as upscale Montecito.
Yesterday we drove to Solvang (approximately 30 minutes away), which is known
as "Little Denmark" due the Danish settlers of 1911 and their descendents who
own many of the 300 shops and restaurants that display the architecture, influence and
traditions of their heritage. From Solvang, we continued on to the wineries of Santa
Barbara County. Following in the footsteps of the Mission padres from 200 years ago, the
area's vintners are taking advantage 
of the
mild climate and grape-nurturing topography. There are 34 wineries (more than we
expected), offering a diverse range of wines as well as facilities. Most have tasting
rooms, so we had to narrow our touring down (or we would have never seen that Cheshire
grin again)! We planned our stops around a few that we were familiar with and some that
Lindsay suggested (tho' if you meet him at the B&B someday, ask him about his 3 Gainey
Vineyard 
recommendation strikes-outs!). The
wineries we visited were all quite enjoyable, although we were a bit surprised to find
charges for tasting (we're used to seeing that practice in the large operations of Napa
rather than in the smaller, mostly family-owned vineyards of other California wine
regions). It was definitely an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon...traveling through the
peaceful countryside and making leisurely stops to talk to the friendly folks in the
tasting rooms while sampling the fruits of their vines!!
On our first evening here we met a couple who were
thoroughly enjoying their stay at the Cheshire Cat. Since they were due to check out the
following morning, they asked Lindsay (in very hopeful voices) if there were any rooms
available the next night so that they could prolong their visit. Unfortunately for them
the answer was "no", as would be expected with such a marvelous B&B; but
they were already planning their return as they relaxed in the spa and contemplated ways
to delay their departure! So be sure to make your reservations early so you can discover
"wonderland" among remembrances of Alice's journey (without falling down a
rabbit hole)! You may call Lindsay and Amy at 805-569-1610, send an e-mail to
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