The 100 Best Affordable Vacations (9 page)

 
1786
: Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara

 
1787
: Mission La Purisíma Concepción, Lompoco

 
1791
: Mission Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz

 
1791
: Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Soledad

 
1797
: Mission San José, Fremont

 
1797
: Mission San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista

 
1797
: Mission San Miguel de Arcángel, San Miguel

 
1797
: Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Mission Hills

 
1798
: Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, San Luis Rey

 
1804
: Mission Santa Inés, Solvang

 
1817
: Mission San Rafael Arcángel, San Rafael

 
1823
: Mission San Francisco Solano, Sonoma

Visitors should wander the rose-filled garden and cemetery, where American Indians, who built the original structure, are buried. For many Indians, the mission movement is not celebrated, as thousands died from disease and poor treatment. The cemetery also holds the grave of Juana María, featured in the award-winning children’s book
Island of the Blue Dolphins
. The museum has period artifacts from swords to chess pieces and Mexican art.

The Spaniards meant the missions to be outposts of civilization, and that holds true in Santa Barbara. It would be a shame to come here without visiting a few area wineries, which were featured in the film
Sideways.

The
Fess Parker Winery
(6200 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-688-1545,
www.fessparker.com
) offers tastings from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Come dinner, try
Brophy Bros
(119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, 805-966-4418), a seafood dive with stirring sunset views, clam chowder ($4.25), and beer-boiled shrimp ($8.95).

[$
PLURGE
: For a splurge, stay at the
Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore
(1260 Channel Dr., 805-969-2261,
www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara
), which runs about $425, and sip champagne overlooking the ocean at the Tydes restaurant.] A budget option is the original
Motel 6
(443 Corona Del Mar, 805-564-1392,
www.motel6.com
). Rooms once ran $6, but now fetch $80 and up.