Santa Barbara Hotels

Next time you're thinking about a Santa Barbara weekend, consider heading up the coast 20 miles farther, and standing on the bluffs at El Capitan State Beach. You'll see a wild, unspoiled stretch of California. And across U.S. 101, the rustic El Capitan Canyon campground has become an eco-friendly resort in the backyard of Los Padres National Forest.

El Capitan Canyon is a hideaway where you can enjoy campfire s'mores along with hot-stone massages. Tucked into a seaside pocket, the 300-acre resort offers camping for those who want some amenities too. Guests stay in cozy cedar cabins surrounded by leafy stands of giant sycamores. There are kitchenettes, full bathrooms, hardwood floors and bed linens that feel as though they belong at a fancy hotel. Some cabins have Jacuzzi tubs; many come with lofts accessible by ladders, one of many kid-pleasing touches.

Visitors can ride bikes, hike miles of hilly trails, trek to a nearby llama farm or play on the nearby beach. Another option: Use El Capitan Canyon as a quiet base of operation for exploring Santa Barbara or the Santa Ynez wine country.

Eating out: The Canyon Market at El Capitan Canyon serves sandwiches, pizza and other simple, tasty fare and carries a selection of Santa Ynez Valley wines. You'll also find provisions if you want to grill at the fire pit outside your cabin. On Saturdays during summer, there are barbecue dinners and evening concerts in the canyon.

– Donna Wares (Jan. 2, 2008)

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Hole up in...One of 30 12-by-14-foot canvas chalets on a wood platform with private fire pit and picnic table, all shaded by huge oaks and sycamores, and a 10-minute walk from El Capitan State Beach.

Cush factor: Queen-size bed with down comforter, electric lights and heat, daily maid service. Separate bathhouse with private hot showers. In-tent massage for $95 an hour.

Mess hall: DIY with a "barbecue kit" from the Canyon Market: $55 for tri-tip and the works, including s'mores.

– Robert Earle Howells (July 2, 2006)

- Los Angeles Times