Day 3

Well after yet another early start we had breakfast and checked out of our hotel having thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Long Beach. We didn’t exactly know where we were going to end up but we knew it was on the way to San Francisco. First stop was Venice Beach just outside LA, we stopped there for about 45 minutes and had a brief look around and a coffee in Starbucks before we hit the road again and headed North on US1 towards Malibu, Santa Monica and then a 2 hour drive to Santa Barbara. The route on the way was great as most of it was coast side and the views were great. So after a brief drive we entered Santa Barbara and tried to track down a well located hotel. But the ones on the beach were about $400 a night. So we headed up State Street and found an old favourite, Holiday Inn Express. This hotel was half the price and better situated. So we decided to stay for 2 nights. After we settled into our very well equipped room we strolled down State Street and went into a lovely street side Bistro for lunch. This turned out to be a great choice. Without knowing we found a restaurant that was in the middle of 2 blocks that is closed off at 3:00pm for a street market. As this place is full of eccentric individuals it was a blast sitting there watching the weird world go by. After more than a few beers and a ridiculous lunch ( Caesar salad wrap which was more like a tree trunk filled with salad and chicken.) we walked down to the coast and the pier for yet another drink. Then feeling tired mainly from jet lag we walked back to the hotel to freshen up. Out tonight for modest meal and a early night, unless things change catch you tomorrow.