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I recently took a quick girls' trip from Malibu to Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley. We drove up the coast, enjoying the easy and beautiful 1-hour-and-15-minute drive.
We spent the first two days at the Hotel Californian, a charming boutique hotel in the heart of Santa Barbara – the perfect quaint spot for our crew. It’s conveniently located near the Funk Zone, filled with bars and restaurants, and close to State Street for walking and shopping. The hotel’s rooftop pool and jacuzzi are also musts.
Upon arrival, we headed straight to the famous San Ysidro Ranch Hotel for a yummy gourmet lunch. Afterward, we walked around the Funk Zone, stopping into Shopkeepers which was stocked with denim and tees, and then to Mollusk for surf-inspired gear.
We later returned back to the hotel to get ready for a casual dinner at The Lark. Don’t pass up on their brown butter cornbread and fried chicken!!!
The next morning, we woke up early and I went for a run along the bike path by the ocean just off State Street. Afterward, we piled into a car and headed north to the Santa Ynez Valley to explore. Our first stop was mimosas and bread from Bob’s Well Bread in Ballard. They have the yummiest (you guessed it) bread and pastries, coffee, sandwiches, and some takeaway items too. It’s a must-visit spot, even though Bob can get a bit grumpy!
From there, we continued on to Solvang, famous for its Danish-style architecture and wineries, but it felt overly touristy and wasn't my favorite. We quickly moved on and found ourselves in the charming town of Los Olivos. We stopped by the General Store, known for its eclectic mix of candles, oils, and other goods, all thoughtfully curated and mostly local.
We also made a pit stop at the cutest town, Santa Ynez, which was very tiny and had just one main road. Here we explored the Santa Ynez General Store, a highly styled yet cool furniture store where I bought some amazing denim napkins and placemats. I love finding special items that aren't everywhere; they fit perfectly in my Utah cabin.
The new Auberge Resort called Inn at Mattei’s Tavern was our next stop. The property has been around since 1886 and was widely used during Prohibition! It is a mix of cottages and a guest house with no shortage of amenities including a pool and several restaurants. We grabbed a cocktail in the bar which was both parts cowboy and California cool. Surrounding the hotel are several shops, benches, green space and wineries.
That night, we secured a table at Bell's, a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its relaxed French bistro-style dining. The menu, which changes daily, offered incredibly fresh and delicious dishes—an absolute must if you can snag a reservation. While sea urchin isn't usually my favorite, my friends raved that it was among the best they've ever had!
On Sunday, we started our day with a Core Power Yoga class to detox after indulging in drinks and delicious meals. We stopped by Helena Avenue Bakery for brunch, tempted by their freshly baked pastries (think cinnamon rolls and croissants—the aroma was irresistible). I opted for the breakfast sandwich on brioche, literally no words for how good this was. After brunch, we hopped back into the car and headed home to Malibu, wrapping up our quick yet adventurous girls' trip.
