75 degrees, palm trees, and beaches. Santa Barbara is the California of my dreams.
I was looking for a long weekend getaway that was driving distance from the Bay, dog-friendly, and relaxing. Santa Barbara fit the bill in every sense.
It’s about a five-hour drive from San Francisco if you take the 101 and about a seven-hour drive if you take the 1. On our way there, we decided to take the scenic route and amble our way down Highway 1 (aka the Pacific Coast Highway). Though it was a pain sometimes to drive on a single lane road, the views were well worth it. As we wound along the cliffs, we were awed by the ridges to our left and the ocean to our right. The waves crashing against the jagged rocks. The water a deep, rich blue. The horizon stretching out as far as the eye could see. I felt like I was on the edge of the world.
When traveling with our dog, almost everything we do revolves around her. To break up the drive to Santa Barbara, we stopped at Carmel Beach to stretch our legs. I love any excuse to visit Carmel and I think our pup agrees.
About 3 hours from Carmel is Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo. It’s one of the most beautiful dog parks I’ve ever been to, and it has one of the nicest public bathrooms I’ve ever used. A great pit stop before the final stretch to Santa Barbara.
When we arrived in Santa Barbara, we were amazed by how little traffic there was. Despite its vicinity to LA, having an airport, and being a college town, Santa Barbara had a small-town feel. Everything seemed like a quick ten-minute drive away. The vibe was slower, more relaxed. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry.
Given the perpetually pleasant weather, I don’t recall a single restaurant or cafe that didn’t have outdoor, dog-friendly seating. We ate our hearts out all weekend, and I still think about the meals we had at:
Los Agaves
Helena Avenue Bakery
Jane
Mezza Thyme
Oliver’s
Renaud’s
Scarlett Begonia
When we weren’t eating or sleeping, we were at the beach. While there are several beaches in Santa Barbara and nearby Montecito, we spent most of our time at Arroyo Burro Beach (aka Hendry’s Beach) and East Beach. Arroyo Burro has a designated dog-friendly section. It’s more crowded than East Beach but there’s more to do and see. We spotted surfers paddling out over the waves, a group of kayakers, and even a small pod of dolphins. On the other side of the wharf, we found East Beach to be much quieter and were able to let our dog off-leash without any issues.
Santa Barbara provided the type of relaxation that gave me Sunday Scaries when our time there came to an end. It’s the ultimate California coastal town for a couple with a lively pupperino. I think she’ll be dreaming of our trip for years to come.
“And in this perfect weather, we’ll find our place together”