Welcome back to our travel series, where we spend the next few months aggressively encouraging you to leave Los Angeles for 24–72 hours before inevitably returning and telling everyone, “Honestly, there’s just nowhere like LA.”


Next on our list: Santa Barbara.

There’s a reason Santa Barbara has earned the nickname “The American Riviera.” Spanish-style architecture. Palm trees swaying over ocean views. Wine country fifteen minutes away. Only the gas prices will remind you how close to your LA home base you actually are.

For generations of Angelenos, Santa Barbara has been the default answer to “We should get out of town this weekend.” It’s close enough for a spontaneous Friday departure, yet somehow manages to feel like you’ve traveled much farther than two hours north.

And unlike some California beach towns that feel overly sleepy or aggressively touristy, Santa Barbara somehow manages to be both effortlessly elegant yet grounded. It’s luxurious without being flashy. Refined without feeling stuffy. The kind of place where five-star resorts, surfboards, multi-million-dollars in Kardashian-Jenner real estate, wine tastings and award-winning fish tacos all coexist quite peacefully.

I highly recommend taking PCH at least once. The drive alone is cinematic enough to justify the trip. It’s the closest most of us will ever come to feeling like the main character in a lifestyle car campaign.

Like a stiff martini or a little black dress, Santa Barbara is proof that a classic endures for a reason. It survives trends because it consistently delivers. Good weather...great food...beautiful scenery.

Drive time: About 2 to 2.5 hours from LA depending on where you live, what day you’re leaving, whether Malibu has decided to cooperate and how many other Angelenos had the exact same idea. The fastest route will usually take you up the 101, but if you’ve never done the PCH drive, consider it a required Santa Barbara rite of passage.

Where to stay:

  • San Ysidro Ranch—one of California’s most legendary properties, tucked into the Montecito hills with vine-covered cottages, award-winning gardens and enough Hollywood history that “summering in Santa Barbara” sounds like a solid life choice. The property is also home to the iconic JFK suite where he and Jackie honeymooned, which tells you everything you need to know about the level of SoCal luxury we’re dealing with here.
  • Rosewood Miramar Beach—another gold coast landmark. Think perfectly manicured grounds, Travis Barker dropping a knee for Kourt K on the resort’s private beach, white umbrellas lining the sand and the kind of effortless indulgence that makes ordering a midday spritz feel medically necessary.
  • The Ritz-Carlton Bacara—a massive oceanfront resort hidden within its own stretch of coastline. It’s honestly perfect for the kind of weekend when you can’t be bothered to leave the hotel. Just rotate between the pool, spa, beach and your next meal.

What to do:

  • Browse several lush, open-air shopping destinations like Paseo Nuevo, where charming cobblestone paseos and sun-drenched terraces are home to more than 50 shops and restaurants. Wander through Victoria Court (don’t miss Covet by Kate) and La Arcada Courtyard for a mix of recognizable brands, independent boutiques like Domecíl and local art galleries. Even if you arrive with no intention of shopping, Santa Barbara has a remarkable ability to convince practically anyone otherwise. Consider this your official warning.
  • Stroll down State Street and downtown, where Spanish-style architecture, hidden courtyards and independent boutiques create a perfectly curated fever dream in which time, calories and financial responsibility cease to exist. Are we noticing a recurring threat to our bank accounts yet?
  • Channel your inner Montecito Rich Mom (in Tinx we trust) with a shopping detour to Coast Village Road. My must-hits are Aquarius and WUNDERKIND.
  • Explore The Funk Zone, the industrial-turned-artsy neighborhood with converted warehouse wineries, waterfront vintage stores and surf shops. You can even find Mid-Century Modern gems at the three-level The Blue Door antique store.
  • Explore Santa Barbara wine country, which quietly rivals Napa but without everyone turning their thesis on “tannins” into a Ted Talk. Downtown’s Urban Wine Trail makes wine tasting incredibly accessible, with walkable tasting rooms throughout The Funk Zone’s converted waterfront warehouses. And if you’re willing to drive 35 minutes toward Los Olivos, congratulations—you’ve entered an oasis that encourages day drinking in an extremely tasteful way.
  • Hike local trails like Inspiration Point or the Cold Spring Trail before immediately rewarding yourself with the above-mentioned wine, carbs and shopping (exactly as the balanced California lifestyle intended).

Where to eat & drink:

  • La Super-Rica Taqueria, for the legendary Julia Child and Gwyneth Paltrow-approved tacos. The magic is in the food, the picnic tables outside and the fact that a place this beloved still doesn’t have a website or social media. It’s gloriously old-school.
  • Santo Mezcal, my favorite reminder that upscale Mexican restaurants should still prioritize the highest level of quality instead of just expanding into every wealthy SoCal zip code (looking at you Javier’s...)
  • Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch, a Michelin media darling in its own right that celebrates the freshest ingredients pulled straight from their onsite gardens. The ultra-romantic spot features crackling fireplaces, one of the largest wine lists in the country and an atmosphere that feels closer to the South of France
  • Dusk inside Drift Hotel when the night calls for mezcal and a moodier atmosphere. Order the Into the Sky if you want a cocktail that looks like a fortune teller’s crystal ball, complete with a giant smoke-filled bubble that you pop yourself.
  • End any night at The Manor Bar inside Rosewood Miramar Beach for ice-cold martinis and live music. Don’t blink or you’ll miss the recently divorced billionaire in the corner reading a first-edition novel pulled from the hotel’s bookcase.
  • Promise me you’ll hit Test Pilot, Shaker Mill and The Good Lion for a bar run that perfectly captures Santa Barbara’s blend of polish and playfulness, pouring everything from the classics to the chicest tiki drinks.

— Your Friend