West Beach · Santa Barbara, California
Blue Heron Retreat
A soulfully furnished 1927 Spanish Mission guest suite atop historic Burton Mound. One block from the sand, less than two blocks from the best restaurants and wineries, and a couple of blocks from Stearns Wharf.
Book your stay
Pick your dates to see availability and pricing, and book direct with Ted & Liv.
The stay
Blue Heron Retreat was built in 1927 and has all the characteristics of a well-built Spanish Mission style duplex — tiled roof, thick rounded white walls and authentic Spanish tiles. Big trees and beautiful gardens in every direction. Birds abound. Shade and sun. We furnished our home soulfully and joyfully: authentic handmade Turkish rugs, art gathered from travels all over the world, and the feather blessings of the blue herons that live in the trees right above.
- 6guests
- 2bedrooms
- 3beds
- 1bath
Room by room
This is a duplex — you'll stay in the private downstairs unit; your hosts live upstairs.
Living room
Extra large living room with a glorious 8-person dining table, a queen pull-out couch/bed and a romantic fireplace. A large half-moon front window looks out to the lush, sunny front garden.
Parties of 6 use the queen pull-out in the living room as one of the beds — it's comfortable and the room is open and large, but privacy is limited for parties of 6.
Dining & library
Our 8-person dinner table was made from upcycled railroad tracks. Lots of handmade and vintage rugs fill the space, and a library of precious books and sentimental artifacts collected over the years is yours to enjoy during your stay.
Bedroom 1
Queen bed with an organic wool and latex Japanese shikibuton, and a walk-in closet.
Bedroom 2 (small)
A full bed with a cooling memory foam mattress. The room opens to the back patio with an Adirondack loveseat under the pines, with views of the Santa Barbara mountains. It has a mini clothes rack, plus a beach blanket, towels and games to take to the beach.
Bathroom
A large full bathroom with clawfoot tub and Spanish tiles.
Kitchen
A fully equipped Spanish kitchen with a dishwasher and a cute nook for small group meals. Morning coffee on us — we always have coffee, tea and cream — plus staples like olive oil, salt and pepper, and a reverse-osmosis water filter.
Back porch
Our tranquil back porch is covered by three old pine trees. We created a little nook for you to soak in the beauty that surrounds you. Birds abound.
Front yard
Iron patio table and chairs among beautiful landscaping, including three young olive trees — a great spot for morning sunshine. Even though you're two blocks from all the liveliness of Santa Barbara, it's a serene neighborhood.
Laundry
Washer, dryer and detergent, accessed from your kitchen. The laundry room is shared with your hosts.
What this place offers
Kitchen & dining
- Dishwasher
- Oven, stove & microwave
- Refrigerator & freezer
- Coffee maker, coffee & hot water kettle
- Toaster & baking sheet
- Cooking basics, dishes & silverware
- Wine glasses
- Dining table
Bath, bedroom & laundry
- Clawfoot bathtub & bidet
- Shampoo, conditioner, body soap & shower gel
- Hair dryer
- Bed linens, extra pillows & blankets
- Room-darkening shades
- Hangers, iron & clothing storage
- Washer & dryer
- Essentials: towels, sheets, soap, toilet paper
Family
- Crib & Pack 'n Play/travel crib
- High chair
- Baby bath
- Children's books, toys & tableware
- Board games
Outdoors & beach
- Beach access — beach is a short walk
- Beach essentials: beach towels, umbrella, beach blanket, snorkeling gear
- Outdoor seating, patio
- Garden view
Comfort & connectivity
- Wifi
- Heating & portable fans
- Fireplace
- Single-level home — no stairs
- Private entrance, keypad self check-in
- A television-free zone
Parking & safety
- Free driveway parking (up to two mid-size cars)
- Free street parking (check signs)
- Smoke & carbon monoxide alarms
- Fire extinguisher & first aid kit
New · Optional guest experience
Private Backyard Thermal Sanctuary
Enhance your stay with a private, 90-minute sauna and cold plunge experience in our peaceful backyard sanctuary. Your sauna will be preheated before your session, and we'll provide a brief introduction before you enjoy the space privately.
$90 per session · up to 4 adults
- Exclusively for registered overnight guests
- Advance arrangements required; subject to availability
- Adults 18+ only
- Optional — not included in the nightly rate
Heat · Cold · Rest90 private minutes in the backyard sanctuary — sauna preheated and ready when you arrive.Central to everything
West Beach is one of the oldest continuously inhabited beach villages in California, and has preserved its historical feel with lower-density hotels and bed & breakfasts. Blue Heron Retreat sits on the highest point in West Beach, known as Burton Mound — old Santa Barbara, where many houses and buildings are historical landmarks. Trees and birds abound, and there are no telephone poles or wires in West Beach.
Turn left at the bike path for Stearns Wharf, East Beach or Butterfly Beach. Turn right for the Marina, Leadbetter Beach and Shoreline Park. From here everywhere is walkable — save the time, money and hassle of parking.
- West Beach — one block to the sand
- Funk Zone wineries, breweries & shopping, and MOXI museum
- Stearns Wharf & State Street
- Santa Barbara Marina & fish market
- Historic train station — a block away
- Farmers markets & countless eateries
Approximate location; the full address is provided on booking.
What guests say
★ 4.94 from 236 reviews on Airbnb · 5.0 for check-in, communication and location · Guest favorite, top 10% of homes.
Gorgeous home and perfect location. We barely used our car during the stay because we could get everywhere on foot. Liv’s instructions were clear and communication was easy. We’d love to return one day.
— Lex, September 2026 · Airbnb reviewAmazing location, amazing hosts, amazing space. Couldn’t ask for anything more! Will be back soon - for the third time!
— Pamela, July 2026 · Airbnb reviewPerfect location, beautiful and comfortable house. So close to the beach, bars, restaurants and shops (also very close to the train station if that’s how you come in) Hosts were very responsive and friendly. Parking provided which is much needed in busy SB. Highly recommend!
— Savannah, August 2026 · Airbnb reviewA beautiful home in a perfect location for walking to the beach and restaurants. Liv was so kind and communicative. Would stay again!
— Gabe, July 2026 · Airbnb reviewHouse rules
- Up to 6 overnight guests
- No pets
- No smoking, including vaping and e-cigarettes
- Quiet hours 9:00 PM – 9:00 AM
- No parties or events
- No commercial photography or filming
- Lock up at checkout
- Shoe-free house! Our house is filled with beautiful authentic, handmade rugs — please step on them with the house slippers we provide, socks or bare feet. You will not regret it.
Good to know
- Keypad access — we'll send your code and instructions before arrival
- Free driveway parking for up to two mid-size cars, plus street parking (check the signs)
- Your hosts share the laundry room
- We have a friendly Beagle named Sunshine who lives on the property
- Outside-facing security cameras on the Ring doorbells
- A television-free zone
Your hosts, Ted & Liv
Ted & Liv have lived at the Blue Heron Retreat since 2017 and know the neighbors and neighborhood intimately — Santa Barbara is their forever home. Together they own a sandal company (LUNA Sandals) and an active vacation business. Ted is a well-known health & fitness spokesperson and a surf artist; Liv is CEO of both businesses, and her family is known for a famous Turkish rug shop in Istanbul — her design touches are seen throughout the house. Liv responds within an hour, with a 100% response rate.
Come stay with the herons
Book direct with us, or reserve through Airbnb.