It all started with a discussion of Lisa’s upcoming 40th birthday and a failed attempt to get away together in May when her agency canceled travel due to “the sequester.” We decided that Santa Barbara, California, would be a lovely place to spend a few days. It has the beach, wineries, good weather, the Channel Islands, and more. Perfect – we booked it for the last weekend in June!
So, one sweltering June morning we boarded a plane for the west coast. For those of you who may not have enjoyed a plane ride from Colorado to Southern California during the day, if you have a window seat, there is plenty to see. First you go over the Rocky Mountains and then you get to see the Grand Canyon! Here’s what the big canyon it looks like from this perspective:
We did arrive and safely made it to our lovely Lavender Inn room, just blocks from the coast in Santa Barbara. We were giddy to find that the hotel provides a complimentary bottle of bubbly with real champagne flutes! I recommend this hotel – not only did we get the free bubbly and, of course, a continental breakfast, but there is also an evening wine and cheese service (complimentary) as well as tasty cookies at night. I was also impressed by the well-kept grounds full of flowers and succulents and other climate-appropriate plants.
Anyways, we spent the rest of the evening perusing State Street in Santa Barbara, getting dinner at Pierre Lafond, and watching the sunset on the beach. Here are some photos to give you a feel for our experience:
Stay tuned for the second installment of the California trip!
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