If you read my blog on the regular, you probably already know that there is absolutely nothing I love better than a good staycation. A quick little trip to clear your mind, get away from it all, and a chance to indulge in all the things you love best, I mean, what’s not to like about that. Well, after a few crazy weeks in LA, Emil and I woke one one morning and decided we needed a break. So, we packed our weekenders and headed to Santa Barbara, otherwise known as our go-to place for a quick yet always very relaxing mini vacation.
Why Santa Barbara? Well, the city is beautiful, but I think what we love best about it, is that we keep discovering new, amazing places and things to love every time we visit. And so, without further ado, here is our guide to a perfect Santa Barbara staycation.
Where to Stay: Though we’ve stayed in many hotels in Santa Barbara, The Californian is hands down our absolute favorite. Newly remodeled, the property is just gorgeous, the food is delicious ( I don’t know about you guys, but I can’t imagine a proper staycation without breakfast in bed experience ), and the spa is amazing. I am a bit more than partial to a good body scrub ( first of all, it’s relaxing but also, your skin feels like silk afterwords, so a win win kinda situation ) and the citrus body scrub at Majorelle spa was easily one of the best I’ve ever had.
Where to Eat: We love the Lucky Penny. First time we went there which was a coupe of years ago, we walked in simply because we loved the decor, but what kept us coming back again and again is the food! Our all time favorites include The Lucky Margheritta pizza, the pulled pork sandwich and quinoa and arugula salad, oh, and their frozé ( frozen rosé ) is absolutely delicious!!!!
What to Do: Anything and everything! Santa Barbara is a great walking city, so normally when we get there I put on my most comfortable pair of shoes and we spend the whole day exploring! Some of our faves include the Funk Zone, a district which houses some of the best restaurants, tasting rooms, galleries and boutique shops in Santa Barbara. Another must, a walk on the pier during sunset, the experience is absolutely magical, and if you get lucky, which we definitely did this time around, you may catch one of the most beautiful lavender-pink sunsets you’ve ever experienced. Basically, there are so many things to do and see in Santa Barbara, we always leave with a game plan for next time, which is one of the reasons why we keep coming back again and again!
