Santa Barbara: the American Riviera; from wine country and ranches to beaches and fishing, Santa Barbara is Ideal Getaway locale.

Just as the San Luis Obispo/Hearst Castle region is the gateway to central California, Santa Barbara is a magnificent gateway to Southern California.

Those headed south along Route 101 are likely to first see the Channel Islands just off the coast before driving down into the charming seaside city of Santa Barbara.

For many Californians, Santa Barbara is the ideal weekend getaway. Perched along the shore about halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the city is a magnet for romantics, wine aficionados, artists and history lovers seeking to enjoy California's Spanish heritage. Its temperate climate and rocky coastline dotted with broad sandy beaches make It an irresistible destination.

Santa Barbara has long been known as a hideaway for the stars, a place where B&Bs and sprawling ranches blend peacefully into the landscape. It's chic and urban, but also rural and laid back. Anyone can feel at home. Red tile roofs, a Spanish mission and a picturesque bay make up the landscape. The coastal mountains appear to guard the harbor.

The city was among the first coastal towns to establish a string of resorts--and It was the first to claim title to the moniker, "American Riviera." Today, city promoters use the phrase to market the area.

Like much of California, the first residents of Santa Barbara were Indians; but Spanish rule was the norm during the 19th century.

The film industry gained a foothold in the early 20th century, introducing budding stars to the magic of the area.

Charlie Chaplin in 1928 built the Montecito Inn for use by his friends; Ronald Colman bought the San Ysidro Ranch for the same purpose. The Hollywood crowd was influential in establishing theaters and performing arts in the city--a tradition still maintained today.

Santa Barbara's architecture, featuring white stucco adorned with wrought iron and topped with red tile roofs, Is known worldwide, but so is Stearns Wharf--the heart of downtown--with its seaside restaurants and shops.

The Channel Islands, about 25 miles offshore, stretch like a chain of jewels for about 80 miles along the coast Five of the islands comprise the Channel Islands National Park that provides an abundance of sporting opportunities for visitors from scuba diving and snorkeling to bird-watching and hiking.

And after a day at the park--or on the beach--visitors can take a quick jaunt inland to the coastal hills of Southern California's wine country. Today, Santa Barbara County is one of the state's premier wine touring and tasting destinations. It's one of the world's best regions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

About 60 wineries are in the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys alone. Tour companies make winetasting trips more enjoyable, as they do the driving and escort you to the county's best spots.

Of course, visitors can taste local wine just as easily in Santa Barbara's numerous restaurants. Some say the city has more restaurants per capita than many larger cities. A small sampling might include The Wine Cask, with a 30,000-bottle wine cellar and creative cuisine; Citronelle, atop the Santa Barbara Inn, which serves classic Santa Barbara-style meals; and Downey's, a current hot spot for gourmet meals. The hottest new venue is 'dish' where Pan-Asian cuisine meets wine country.

Santa Barbara also is a prime whale-watching spot as these creatures of the sea make their way to Mexico and back to Alaska during the winter and spring.

With these attractions, it's no surprise that top-notch resorts dot the landscape along with other lodgings to suit every budget.

The city also is a magnet for group business.

"We do a lot of corporate and incentive groups," said Donna Mulgrew, director of sales for the convention and visitors bureau.

"It's a great incentive destination."

In addition to resort facilities at places like the Four Seasons Biltmore or Bacara, Mulgrew said the city has numerous sites that offer a unique twist for group events.

She said the Courthouse--named one of the 10 most beautiful in the country--is a favorite for evening receptions, while the historical museum, art museum and maritime museum offer interesting surroundings for special occasions.

"The zoo even hosts progressive dinners," she said.

The Four Seasons just completed a 10,000-square-foot spa renovation that matches the Spanish Mediterranean design of the hotel's original architecture. The pool--across from the spa--is adorned with padded teak chairs.

In all, Santa Barbara has about 4,500 rooms either at the beach, downtown or within 10 minutes of the city's center. More dot the surrounding landscape.

Like other destinations, Santa Barbara has felt the post-9/11 pinch in visitor business, with occupancy falling to about 73% from 79% in 2000--a banner year. But as more people take to the roads and stay closer to home than they did during boom times, the city is poised to meet the challenge.

"We're getting some groups that had planned to go overseas and changed their minds," Mulgrew said.

Room rates vary, averaging about $121 in 2002. But a weekend special is often just an Internet click or two away. And Mulgrew said group rates are competitive for the small- to mid-size meetings typical in the city.

As corporate budgets have waned, creative planners have looked to resorts in their own backyard for something just a little bit different.

That's where Santa Barbara shines.

Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is a 10,000-acre working ranch well suited to corporate getaways for those who otherwise just don't know how. The staff is accustomed to the initial shock when guests learn they have no television or telephone in their rooms. But after a day of horseback riding, fly-fishing or hiking, the same cell-phone dependent guests come back to the ranch house smiling and relaxed.

The resort can put groups of up to 50 in its 3,000-square-foot conference room--but many have more fun out on the Challenge Course or enjoying a winemaker's dinner.

A relative newcomer to the resort arena is Bacara--a name derived from the Chumash Indian word for 'mirage.' This 78-acre beachfront resort is a natural pick for the entertainment industry, with a 211-seat screening room, dressing rooms, executive conference center and tech center. Another 1,000 acres of ranchland adjoin the resort, providing guests a place to hike, bike and picnic.

Accommodations are housed within 28 villas reminiscent of the Mediterranean. A comprehensive menu of body treatments and massages is available at the 42,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. The spa even uses homegrown avocadoes and lemons in some of its treatments.

Golf, dining and swimming beckon as well. The resort's signature restaurant, Miro, pays homage to expressionist artist Joan Miro and its wine cellar holds about 10,000 bottles of fine wine.

Over the hill in wine country, choose from the cozy 14-room Santa Ynez Inn--ideal for a small retreat or romantic weekend--and the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa that dates from the 1930s.

Ojai Valley Inn became an R&R bunker during World War II, but reopened a few years later and subsequently hosted some of the biggest names of the next generation: Clark Gable, Walt Disney, Nancy and Ronald Reagan, Judy Garland and Paul Newman, among others.

In the '80s, the resort redesigned its golf course, added a conference center, and updated the guest rooms to the tune of $35 million, positioning it as a landmark resort. In 1997, a 31,000-square-foot spa debuted, making Ojai Valley Inn one of the first resorts to jump on the spa bandwagon that is now all the rage.

A fractional ownership property by Ritz-Carlton Club will debut in Santa Barbara in late 2004; a couple of other resorts are planning facelifts. Near the wharf, Hotel Oceana has reinvented itself as a smaller European inn that provides in-room or poolside catering from area restaurants.

For eclectic activities around town, try glow-in-the-dark bowling at ZoDo'S Bowling and Beyond; or feel-your-way Sensory Garden at Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, designed initially as a tour for the visually impaired.

If surfing's your thing, get the insider scoop with several combo packages that provide a surf lesson and either dinner for two or wine tasting.

Ventura and Oxnard Add Resorts

As you head down the coast, the road turns inland toward the San Fernando Valley beyond Ventura and Oxnard. Less well known than other coastal cities, these two former agricultural havens are just waking up to resort development; tourism is Ventura County's No. 4 job generator.

Ventura County has 40 miles of coastline and covers more than 2,000 square miles, but still has a population of less than 1 million. That means its beaches are less crowded than better-known areas.

The city of Ventura, made famous by fictional lawyer Perry Mason, has revamped its downtown and added about 50 new retail and dining outlets to its seaside Harbor Village in the past two years. Antique shopping is all the rage, but visitors can just as easily stop by a 1920s-era soda fountain called The Parlor for a look (and taste) of old Americana or visit the Mission San Buenaventura nearby.

The Pierpont Inn & Racquet Club offers a unique chocolate decadence body treatment in its spa, while the newly remodeled Ventura Beach Marriott made its debut earlier this month. The hotel adds 20,000 square feet of meeting space to the city's total. Oxnard--known as the Strawberry Coast for its agricultural heritage--is celebrating its 100th year. Oxnard was once home to a thriving beet sugar factory that brought a diverse mix of immigrants to the area. The military has had a presence ever since World War II.

Today, Oxnard counts 17 historic landmarks and is considered a gateway to the Channel Islands.

Oxnard's new jewel of a resort is Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach Resort, where guests can avail themselves of special romance packages or enjoy two spas, tennis and nearby golf. Small groups can schedule private dinner parties in the wine room.