If you're looking for some restaurant recommendations while in Santa Barbara, get the inside track from locals such as Rob Lowe, former Bachelor manmeat Andrew Firestone and Iron Chef Cat Cora. Find out where Santa Barbara's celebrity residents like to chow down by watching "Sip & Savor," a Web video from the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission.

The stars name-drop their favorite local haunts in the four-minute video so you know where to get some grub and a celeb sighting. They list everything from off-the-beaten-path picks like Plow & Angel to Mexican eateries like La Super Rica Taqueria. Explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the legendary Jacques, names the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company on Stearns Wharf as the place to get super-fresh local catch. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2009-10-02T08:46:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/11/73037/1023

With the economy in the toilet, you might not have the funds to head out on once in a lifetime diving trip, and with that Swine Flu constantly lurking around every corner the only safe place is under the sea. That’s why we’ve compiled some strange SCUBA spots right here at home. If you’ve got a better one (or a worse one), please let us know!

Although you may want to wait until the wildfires subside, Santa Barbara offers up some great SCUBA diving opportunities right off the coast of the Channel Islands. The waters here are remarkably clear, and sometimes visibility can even range up to 150-feet. The highlight is swimming through the giant kelp forests. You’ll be able to check out nearly 800 species of marine life while you “walk” through the forest. ]]> kjb 2009-05-11T10:18:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/5/10/231310/181

After a suspenseful and tragic week in Santa Barbara as wildfires evacuated 30,000 people and destroyed over thirty homes, a Pacific mist is helping to turn the tides, but will the city recover in time for summer tourism?

Californis Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger—we'll never get used to writing that—declared a state of emergency for Santa Barbara on Thursday, sending residents fleeing to the city's hotels, among them the Four Seasons Biltmore (fire rates from $250-ugh) and numerous Motel 6.

Relocation won't save you from the intermittent power outages or terrible air quality, however, and as a result Santa Barbara survived the weekend as a ghost town with the beaches clean of volleyball players and joggers and the streets full of closed shops unsure of their ability to conduct business or attract customers during this time. ]]> JetSetCD 2009-05-11T08:46:52-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/26/73349/7773

If your Labor Day plans usually involve a buffet of beer, burgers and beans, you may not be up for the Pier to Peak Half Marathon which takes place on August 31 and certainly looks like quite a challenge on paper.

Participants will start out on Santa Barbara's Stearns Wharf and will make their way up through the city. Try not to stop for photos as you pass by the Santa Barbara Mission--though you might stop in and pray for a little extra energy. The race ends when you reach La Cumbre Peak and start to enjoy views of the city and the Channel Islands while you try to catch your breath.

If this isn't your idea of a relaxing holiday weekend, then take the opportunity to visit over 40 studios during the Santa Barbara Studio Artists annual tour. A $20 ticket will get you into all the studios and a Friday evening reception, with proceeds supporting the town's arts fund. Artists on hand will be more than willing to explain their work and, we're sure, send you home with an expensive souvenir.

Related Stories:
· Pier to Peak Half Marathon [Official Site]
· Santa Barbara Studio Artists [Official Site]
· Labor Day Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Matt (mistergoleta)]]]> kjb 2008-08-26T11:00:16-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/3/10515/72205

Come for the lush landscape or the cadre of bold-faced names--the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has both. Running January 24 to February 3, the festival's program is jam-packed with indie, world, short and local films. We think the real draw for this year's festival-goers, however, might have something to do with the 2008 festival's honorees: Angelina Jolie, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Cate Blanchett and Ryan Gosling.

Of course, the adage holds true: Fame comes with a price. To watch the honoring of Angie at the city's Arlington Theater will set you back $75. Even the "cheapest" pass for the festival's movie screenings totals $297. There are two ways to do the SBIFF: Going for all-out extravagance, or sating your pop culture obsession.

One guess as to the one we'd prefer.]]> laurenuta 2008-01-03T13:05:01-05:00 34.424389 -119.70671 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/2/20/92220/1232
Tara Reid stepped out at the Bacara Resort & Spa, a celebrity favorite in Santa Barbara, on Saturday. She hit up one of the resort's three main pools to show off her ever-improving frankentummy, which was until recently seriously scary due to some crap liposuction job.

The resort has extensive spa and fitness facilities, but we know you doubt she used them. Yes, the Bacara also has a restaurant, Miro, with a huge, award-winning wine cellar. Much more Tara's speed, and the opportunity to drink in peace is only 95 miles from L.A.

Related Stories:
· Improvement [Dlisted]]]> djk 2007-02-20T09:32:25-05:00 34.431371 -119.90641 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/8/27/191721/924
Long distance lovebirds Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo took some time off last weekend to get away together.  The two shacked up at Santa Barbara's nicest resort: Bacara.  They spent the day in one of the 26 private cabanas, occasionally taking a dip in one of the resort's three infinity pools. Not too shabby.

Vanessa was spotted catching some rays while Nick was spotted doing his usual, checkin' out whatever T&A was in sight. We can only wonder what he's thinking about...Jessica? Jessica who?

[Image via PopSugar]

Related Stories:
·   Nick Gets Caught [PopSugar]]]> sedona 2006-08-28T07:55:53-05:00 34.431371 -119.90641 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/