Last week we headed up to Santa Barbara.

Dave’s Dad and his wife were in town visiting us and, since none of us had ever been before, we decided to venture up that way for a few days. What a magical place! Santa Barbara definitely did not disappoint for a quick getaway from LA. It’s so peaceful and pretty and I’m still dreaming of all the Spanish-style architecture that made me feel more like I was in Europe than California. Dave and I couldn’t help but wonder why we hadn’t visited before as we simultaneously started making plans for a return trip. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take us as long to get back here as it took us to visit in the first place…

In the mean time, here are some photos from last week’s trip, along with a few notes on where we stayed, where we ate, what we did, etc.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO SANTA BARBARA? WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADD TO OUR LIST OF THINGS TO SEE/EAT/DO NEXT TIME WE VISIT?

THINGS OF NOTE

WHERE WE STAYED // We stayed at the Kimpton Canary. The location is great if you want to be right in the center of everything, the rooftop is has some pretty epic views, a pool, hot tub and fireplace {so yeah, you could say it’s kind of amazing} we had delicious food and the restaurant service is great. However, we had a few service issues in other areas and our room was particularly noisy one evening, at least in the room we stayed in {the fire station is located across the street, if that tells you anything}. Also, it’s a pet-friendly hotel so if you have allergies, I’d recommend staying somewhere else. While we enjoyed our stay, I’m definitely excited to check out other properties on future trips to Santa Barbara.

WHERE WE ATE // While we had some great food on our trip, I wish I could say the same for the service. I don’t know if it was just us, or just the time we were visiting, or it was an off weekend, or some other mysterious thing, but it was definitely a little weird in multiple instances. Normally I don’t like to comment too much on service because a) I care more about food, b) servers change and c) you have no idea what is happening behind the scenes or if someone is having an off day, but it was just so wonky almost everywhere we went that I felt like I needed to make a note of it and give y’all a heads up. However, despite a few service issues everyone was still very friendly!

coffee- Dune and Handlebar Coffee {a local roaster; they served their coffee at the Canary but they also have a shop you can visit}

breakfast- One morning we had a rooftop breakfast at our hotel {delicious food, amazing service} and the second morning we went to Helena Avenue Bakery {biscuit breakfast sandwich and cinnamon rolls for the win}

happy hour bevs- Boathouse has a great happy hour and a great location right on the beach; just be sure to make a reservation for the deck and/or get there early; also parking can be limited so you may want to Uber there {esp. if you’re drinking, obvs!}

dinner- Sama Sama is an Asian fusion spot with cool vibes and yummy food; service was definitely off the night we went, but the food more than made up for it and was delicious enough that I would definitely go back! Don’t sleep on their chicken wings and crispy rice salad! Also, their signature Jamu margarita is a must {swap the tequila for mezcal and it’s even better!}.

dessert- McConnell’s, an ice-cream shop, started in Santa Barbara so you’ll see a few locations around town and it’s definitely worth stopping into at least one of them; we also grabbed dessert at our hotel one evening which was really delicious {we got a s’mores pots de creme} and we had great service!

WHERE TO GO // Since it was our first time there, and we were with family, we mostly wandered around taking in the architecture and scenery. The Gaslamp District definitely has lots of restaurants and is a great spot to go out in the evening, the pier was pretty to walk out on {and we saw a seal} and we also really liked Butterfly Beach and Arroyo Burro Beach {where The Boathouse is located}. Also, I didn’t really shop while we were there, but I did make sure to go to Parker Clay’s shop. Santa Barbara is their home base {and also their only store location}, and of course, one of my favorite brands doing some incredible things so I highly recommend checking them out! P.S. You can always use my code ALYSSALOVESPARKERCLAY to get 15% off anything that might be catching your eye!

PRO TIP // Contrary to what everyone thinks, California can still get pretty chilly during the winter months, and Santa Barbara is no exception. If you’re visiting in the winter months, don’t forget sweaters, a warmer jacket and maybe even a hat. I, for one, wish I had brought more of all of the above instead of the swimsuit and sandals that never even left my suitcase.