Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals Tips for Getting In Holiday Mood without Snow (Hint: Try Festive Food and Drinks!)

For some guests in a Santa Barbara vacation rental, it’s hard to get into the Christmas mood without snow. (Others are deliriously happy not to have to shovel out their cars.) Fortunately, the rich smell of favorite holiday foods and drinks can transport you into a Currier & Ives moment faster and more comfortably than freezing temperatures. Here are some of our favorite options.

December 1-31, 2010 -- Holiday Gingerbread House: Olsen's Danish Village Bakery
Over at Olsen's Danish Village Bakery, Baker Bent Olsen has once again created an unbelievable 8'x11'x10' tall gingerbread house. Made with 250 pounds of gingerbread dough, 150 pounds of powdered sugar, and three gallons of egg whites, this holiday abode has to be seen to be believed! While you’re basking in the rich scents of the Danish-Scandinavian bakery, try one of their famous kringles or buy a loaf of their 100th anniversary whole grain pumpernickel bread at 1529 Mission Drive in Solvang. Olsen’s is open 7:00-6:00 on weekdays and 7:00-7:00 on weekends.
Phone: (805) 688.6314

December 1-31, 2010 -- Ty Lounge Presents: 12 Days of Christmas Cocktails
The master mixologists at Ty Lounge have concocted "Twelve Days of Cocktails," and will be serving up the menu of 12 holiday-inspired specialty cocktails during the month of December. Guests can enjoy a combination of modern creations, such as a white chocolate peppermint martini, as well as traditional wintry favorites such as a hot toddy or eggnog. Ty Lounge is located within The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara and is open from 12:00 noon to 11:00 pm on Sunday, 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am on Friday and Saturday. It is located at 1260 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara.
Phone: (805) 565-2261

December 11, 2010 -- Kids Cookie Workshop with Mrs. Claus
From 2:00 to 4:00 pm., The Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara is offering a fun and creative cookie baking and decorating workshop with Mrs. Claus. Children ages 4-12 and their parents can join one of the resort’s talented pastry chefs in the kitchen, where they will participate in an engaging afternoon of supervised cutting and decorating freshly baked holiday sugar cookies with a variety of colorful icings and garnishes. Cost is $15 per child, reservations are required. The hotel is located at 1260 Channel Drive in Santa Barbara.
Phone: 805-565-8291

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with holiday yummies, before you return to put up your feet in your Santa Barbara vacation rental, you’ll want to work off some of those calories with a holiday shopping marathon.