We’re delighted to have just discovered the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail, where we fell in love with four different wineries…and that’s just the four we tried. [Read more...]
A Santa Barbara “ReTweet”…I Mean, Retreat
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Three nights of gorgeous sleep later, we’re just back from a long weekend in Santa Barbara…having entirely unplugged for the sake of our marriage.
After two weeks of working like dogs and communicating mostly by IM, we fled to the refuge of a new summer ’09 deal called Retweet with Broughton Hospitality, choosing their cozy Inn of the Spanish Garden property as our home base.
Broughton apparently has hotels in Palm Springs, Santa Monica, Solvang, San Simeon, and Chicago, too, but we had Santa Barbara’s cool breezes and lush flowers on our minds. [Read more...]
Lean Times for Luxury?
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Last weekend, Adam surprised me with a weekend at the immaculate Bacara Resort & Spa in Goleta, California, just minutes north of Santa Barbara. What surprised us both was how empty it was…surely a sign of the recession/coming apocalypse. [Read more...]
Central California: Santa Barbara
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Santa Barbara is the perfect place to spend a plain old weekend away from Los Angeles. Except for the plain part.
The Best of Central California
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The ubiquitous California Valley Oak
We get away to Central California as often as we can — it’s a couples’ paradise, with driving routes that hug both the Pacific Ocean and gently sloping hills dotted with gnarled trees.
Within this region of the state you’ll find pristine beaches, historic towns and buildings, excellent wineries, a great meal here and there, sweeping views, little inns, posh resorts, and the new millenium phenomenon known as “upscale camping.”
With all of its attractions between 2 and 5 hours north of Los Angeles, it’s easy to take regular two- or three-day weekends and always feel like you had a true vacation.
