When The Lincoln House first opened in 1872, Santa Barbara was already a destination town known for its legendary temperate climate. Once Stearns Wharf was completed the same year, and the railroad came to town the next, a flood of tourists descended on the beach town. While many other hotels have come and gone over the past 13 decades, The Lincoln House, which was ultimately renamed The Upham Hotel in 1898, has been in continuous operation—watching Santa Barbara blossom as one of the most elegant cities in the state.

What was originally a boarding house is today a charming inn set on lush grounds of beautiful gardens, with lovely accommodations and an unbeatable proximity to State Street and all it offers in shopping and dining.

If it’s available, book a stay in the Master Suite, situated behind a gate off of the inn’s main building. With a large, private patio hidden behind high walls covered in vegetation that keeps the busy street at bay, in addition to a wood-burning fireplace, sliding plantation shutters, and a large white-tile bathroom with a huge free-standing bathtub and gushing waterfall shower, this two-room suite is a captivating retreat.

At The Upham, a great sense of history and the elements required by the most discerning traveler, come together in one of the most elegant beach towns anywhere.