Montecito/ Santa Barbara, California
Nothing beats the beaches, the runs, or the weather of Santa Barbara!
- More about your Oliver Guide: Courtney Leary
- Trip type: Adult, Beach
- Activity level: moderate
- Ideal length of trip: A long weekend.... to a lifetime!
to & from
Fly into Santa Barbara directly if you can. The airport is small and manageable– a breath of fresh air! For the weekend, a car is not necessary, but for any longer you will want a car. Other option is to fly into LA airport and drive about 2 hours north.
Or, drive! A night in Carmel breaks up the 5-6 hour trip from the Bay Area.
Where to Stay
Rosewood Miramar. Can you say ON THE BEACH?!! The fact that this resort is actually located on the beach with no road to cross is HUGE in my book. The best part is the lounge chairs on the beach with beach service– so yes, you can order food without leaving the beach, towels are provided, kayaks and paddle boards can be checked out… There are also two pools (adult and kids), a beautiful gym, 3 restaurants and an ice cream shop. This place does not have the charm of The Biltmore but it makes up for it in amenities. And, oh yes, THE TRAIN. There is a train that runs right through the property that we were actually concerned about but it is really actually fun and not annoying– they do a good job of celebrating it yet keeping everyone safe at the same time.
San Ysidro Ranch is absolutely beautiful and famous for its grounds, service and food–however, it is up in the hills, far from the water so we have never chosen to stay here. With that said, it can be quite a bit warmer there, so something to consider if you go to Santa Barbara in the Spring, early Summer or late Fall.
VRBO or Airbnb offer loads of options as well.