Take a dip in easy-to-reach naturally heated waters.

The catch with hot springs is they aren’t always easy to get to. There are plenty of burbling waters that seem like a fantastic destination—until you realize they require a 20-mile hike. Take heart: you can drive right up to Big Caliente Hot Springs , tucked within Los Padres National Forest. The drive northeast out of Santa Barbara takes slightly less than two hours. Spring waters naturally warmed to 100° or more are captured in a crude cement tub that comfortably holds about six. It’s a popular spot; visit on a weekday if you want to have the spring to yourself. Stay quiet and you might be visited by grazing deer.

Every Sunday, we will have a local winemaker present his wines accompanied with cheese and bread from our kitchen. Buy a bottle, Stay for dinner, No corkage This is part of our ongoing Passport to the World of Wine program - Sundays we will highlight our local wine industry especially those small producers that have limited exposure to the public. The first Wednesday evening, of the month, we devote to wines from around the world.