Planning the perfect vacation takes time and research. So, when you finally take the trip, you hope that it’s just as great as you had imagined.
My husband and I recently got back from a five-day trip to Santa Barbara and it was just as amazing (or more!) as I had hoped. Known as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara sits on California’s coast. The Santa Ynez Mountains meets the Pacific Ocean in the most beautiful way – proving why so many put up with California’s expensive cost of living to have that breathtaking backdrop every day.
From the views to the food scene and outdoor activities, here are a handful of my favorites during my recent stay.
On the first day, I knew I wanted to immediately dive into the food scene in Santa Barbara, especially the seafood. We drove to the city’s iconic Stearns Wharf – the oldest wharf in the state. At the end of the pier sits Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, a casual waterfront restaurant with some of the best clam chowder and crab cakes I’ve ever had! Mexican food is also popular in Santa Barbara and to get a taste of that we had lunch at Corazon Cocina, serving over the counter tacos and quesadillas with the best quality ingredients in town.
As for outdoor activities the city has plenty to do! We checked out Fess Parker Winery (45 minutes away from Santa Barbara) where we not only did the obvious – wine tasting – but also had the unique opportunity to go horseback riding with incredible views of Los Olivos. We also took a sunset cruise along the coast, sailing on a catamaran all the way to Montecito and back. Bring a jacket because us Floridians sure got cold with 50 degree wind blowing on deck.
For accommodations we stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. From the moment we pulled in, the service was 5-stars. They worked with my husband to make our stay even more special – helping him pull out a big surprise with champagne, a beautiful bouquet, and balloons waiting for us in the room to celebrate my birthday. The food and cocktails were also top-notch, as was their cigar lounge with firepits overlooking the outdoor courtyard.
We loved Santa Barbara so much that I will without a doubt be back. Also, who does their PR… because I’d like to offer our services to the city!
