re: Need help planning a California trip...

Well, my itinerary when we were there will probably be much different than yours given that my husband and I had 2-, 4-, and 7-year olds with us. We stayed at the Fess Parker Doubletree Hilton which is right by the beach and walked down to the big touristy pier for ice cream (met some other Baton Rouge tiger fans out there), walked around town, found lots of beautiful things to photograph (personal hobby), etc. We were there just for one night, passing through. Some friends of ours went the next year and spent the whole week in Santa Barbara (just husband/wife, no kids). They did wineries, more romantic things. Can't help you with those unfortunately.
The town itself is very pretty, though. I loved the sidewalk by the beach from our hotel to the pier. It was stereotypical California in my mind- beautiful water on one side, mountains on the other, towering palm trees, pastel-colored lifeguard huts, sailboats on the water, people doing yoga on the beach in one spot, playing beach volleyball on the next, etc. I would go back in a heartbeat. The drive/trip you are doing is probably one of my two favorite trips we've done.