Stay in a vintage airstream trailer in California: An unusual base for exploring coastal Santa Barbara

Laura Holt checks in for a different overnight experience

One of the five Airstreams

Pulling into the drive of Santa Barbara's Autocamp feels like a very “now” experience – with five spruced-up American Airstream trailers, originally from the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, standing in landscaped gardens, with their own barbecue and beach-cruiser bicycles. In reality, this site in Santa Barbara – one of California's loveliest cities, midway down the Pacific Coast Highway road-trip route – can trace its existence back to 1915, when city councilman A W Dozier returned from an auto tour, reporting to have witnessed thousands of makeshift roadside rest stops for travellers along the way. Deciding there might be a market for motorists “just passing through”, he recommended land be designated in Santa Barbara for this purpose.

By 1919, the first auto camp had opened and as of 1922, Santa Barbara Auto Camp had launched too, which today continues to operate both as a traditional RV trailer park and as home to five repurposed Airstreams, installed by Prospect Hotels in 2013 with the goal of attracting a young, fashionable crowd in search of a different overnight experience.

The rooms

Each of the Airstreams has been designed by local firm Hoffmann Architecture, successfully making use of every available space. There's a compact bathroom with a loo, sink and shower, a kitchen, and two sleeping spaces that would comfortably cater for two adults and two children (four grown-ups at a push), one overhung with a flat-screen television.

The overall effect feels comfortable, cool and spacious, especially when you venture outside to your mini-garden – ours, No 3, sits beneath a fruit-bearing avocado tree – which has a hot plate-style barbecue, a parking space and two bicycles. These come in handy because the one downside of Autocamp is that's it's a fair distance from downtown. At night, you'll need to get a taxi or bring your own lights for the bikes.

Out and about

Santa Barbara has earned itself the title “the American Riviera” for good reason, blessed as it is with a reliable year-round climate, palm-fringed beaches and fine restaurants. The best place to start is State Street, where you can rummage through the treasures at Antiques Alley (001 805 962 3944) or browse the wares at trinket-laden Punch Vintage (001 805 770 3921; punchvintage.com), before dropping into The Closet Trading Co (001 805 963 8083; theclosetsb.net), which buys and sells designer labels. Afterwards, hit the beaches at the end of State Street, where you can try stand-up paddleboarding with What SUP Yoga (001 805 570 4175; whatsupyoga.co), from $15/£10 per hour, or attempt yoga while you do it ($40/£27).

Beyond the city, try wine tasting in the Santa Ynez valley – as featured in the 2004 film Sideways. The area is best accessed along the 154 scenic road, which loops through dusty pink mountains and vine-planted fields to link with the wine-tasting towns of Los Olivos and Los Alamos. If you don't want to drive, Santa Barbara Taste (001 805 325 1580; sbtaste.com) does day tours from $200pp (£133), with transfers, tasting fees and lunch.

Food and drink

Two blocks from Autocamp, there's a branch of Trader Joe's supermarket (001 805 563 7383; traderjoes.com), great for barbecue or breakfast goods. Beyond that, you'll want to hit as many of Santa Barbara's dining spots as you can. Just along the street, there's Yellow Belly (001 805 770 5694; yellowbellytap.com), a cool, no-frills restaurant and tap-house that serves up great burgers ($12/£8) and craft beers ($6/£4) on a lovely outdoor deck.

At the other end of the scale, you can head up to the smart terrace bar of the Belmond El Encanto hotel (001 805 845 5800; belmond.com) at sunset for elevated views of the city and the sea (wine by the glass $13/£7).

Eat your way along State Street by stopping at Something's Fishy (001 805 966 6607; somethingsfishy-restaurant.com) for Japanese sushi rolls from $5 (£3.50) and Uncle Rocco's (001 805 884 0994; uncleroccosnypizza.com) for New York-style slices from $4.50 (£3).

Finally, don't miss the Funk Zone (funkzone.net) – a formerly run-down area of warehouses close to the railway station, that's been converted into cool restaurants and bars. Favourites included The Lark restaurant (001 805 284 0370; thelarksb.com) where reservations are essential, followed by the adjoining Les Marchands wine bar (001 805 284 0380; lesmarchandswine.com) and the Figueroa Mountain Brewery Co (001 805 694 2252; figmtnbrew.com), which often has live music.

The essentials

Autocamp, 2717 De La Vina St, Santa Barbara, California, USA (001 888 405 7553; autocamp.com). Airstreams start at $150 a night (£100), with a minimum two-night stay.