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#CatTravels: Quick spin to Santa Barbara

By Catherine Toth Fox • October 12, 2013 • #CatTravels, Food

IMG_3638I have to admit, I didn’t really “get” Santa Barbara at first.

But I could say the same thing about LA in general.

On my first two trips to Los Angeles, the last being 12 years ago, I didn’t care for it. Too spread out, too aggressive, too much concrete.

But fast forward to now. I’ve traveled all around the world, lived among skyscrapers in Chicago, learned to enjoy wine — and visiting LA this time around has been different.

I can appreciate the vastness, the quick pace, the crowded highways. It gives this city its charm, and I can now understand it.

But Santa Barbara was tougher to figure out.

I didn’t know where to go or what to look for. We just parked the car and started to walk — and slowly, it all started to make sense.

My only regret, though, it not making it to Santa Ynez Valley, where, I think, the real Santa Barbara would show itself. I think this is where people “get” it — and I’d understand more why this bustling coastal town is so beloved to travelers — and not just wine drinkers.

Here’s what our afternoon in Santa Barbara looked like:

Chocolate Maya

Chocolate Maya
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We had accidentally pulled into a municipal parking lot — first 75 minutes free! — and found this little chocolate shop.

Follow my adventures — with my Mom! — in LA on Twitter @thedailydish and on Instagram @catherinetoth.

Andersen's Danish Bakery and RestaurantCaliforniaCatTravelsChocolate MayaHawaiiLos AngelesMac's Fish & Chip ShopMcConnell's Fine Ice Creampinot noirSanta BarbaraSanta Barbara WinerySanta Ynez ValleyShirley TothState Streettraveltraveling to LAVenturawine tasting
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About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

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4 Comments

  • Reply Dennis October 13, 2013 at 7:04 am

    I have to make time to smell the roses in California besides Disneyland! Thanks for opening my eyes, again!

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 15, 2013 at 2:20 pm

      This is very true!

  • Reply Vin October 13, 2013 at 7:11 am

    Hi Cat,

    I live in Santa Barbara and if you ever get a chance to come back up, make sure to try La Super Rica on Milpas street in downtown SB. In my opinion, the finest Mexican taco stand in the state. Back when she was still alive Julia Child would come by every Wednesday for lunch and it was her favorite Mexican restaurant ever. I enjoy your blog very much I hope you have a terrific trip.

    Vin

    • Reply Catherine Toth October 15, 2013 at 2:20 pm

      I got so many tweets and comments about that place! I’m definitely coming back. I only had an afternoon to spend in SB and it wasn’t enough time!

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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