California — The Vacation Gals

Romantic Travel in Paso Robles, California

June 16, 2010 | Author: BoomerGal

Paso Robles offers luxury lodging, fine dining, and spa experiences for romantic baby boomer travel. Boomermoon―a romantic trip for baby boomers. Why not? Newlyweds take honeymoons to start the marriage. Expectant parents slip away for a babymoon before the newborn infant arrives. Are wine, fine dining, luxury accommodations and spa relaxation the ingredients for your romantic trip? Follow me to Paso Robles for a boomermoon in central California’s wine country.

Romance in the Hotel Room

La Bellasera Inn & Suites provides the romantic setting for a Paso Robles boomermoon. The boutique hotel sits on a hill, practically around the corner from prime wine tasting country. The gold, stucco building looks more like a Mediterranean villa than a hotel. Since this is a special occasion, let’s spring for a king spa suite. The living area includes a large whirlpool tub, set off by columns and surrounded by an Italian-inspired wall mural. Yes, it’s large enough for two. Since this is a boomermoon, we’ll be limiting the time spent on the complementary computer with wireless keyboard that also hooks up to the flat panel TV. Ten minutes―that’s all―and no ESPN!

In the bedroom, there’s a guest refrigerator for storing a bottle of Paso Robles Pinot Noir for that sundown toast on the balcony. A pillow-top mattress, luxury linens and down comforter add to the romantic feel.

Flirt Over a Glass of Wine

Swirl the wine in your glass, inhale a note of blackberries, then, just before taking a sip, glance into your boomer man’s eyes with a hint of what’s to come. Flirting over an afternoon of wine tasting adds to the fun of a Paso Robles boomermoon. Before heading out to the wineries, visit the Paso Robles Wine Center downtown. After purchasing a tasting card, experiment with different varietals. With over 200 wineries in the area, tasting first helps shape the itinerary.

Don’t start the journey on an empty stomach. First, stop in for lunch at Thomas Hill Organics Bistro and Wine Bar. After ordering a Vietnamese BBQ Pork Belly sandwich, complemented by organic produce from the Thomas Hill Farm, ask if owner, Debbie Thomas, is around. Maybe she’ll share her love story of how a wine tasting led to boomer romance and life on an organic farm in Paso Robles.

But, we have flirting to do and wines to taste. The bucolic setting in the western coastal hills along Adelaida Road practically screams romance. Roll down the car windows, inhale the country air and enjoy the view as you take it slow on the curvy road. Pinot Noir lovers will want to visit Adelaida Cellars, while the ecologically minded will enjoy a tour of the organic estate vineyard at Tablas Creek Tasting Room before sipping a glass of Cotes de Tablas. Continue to the east side of Paso Robles where Sylvester Vineyards & Winery offers a $5 tasting that includes a wine and chocolate pairing, romantic indeed.

Share a Romantic Dinner

With an abundance of fresh, local food products, the Paso Robles food scene offers many choices. For this boomermoon, we’ll try two. Artisan, located in an Art Deco building downtown, serves California cuisine at its best. The bistro-style restaurant has a noisy vibe, but the flatiron steak makes up for it. And then there’s the chocolate brownie dessert.

When it’s time for a quiet, romantic dinner to celebrate the end of a Paso Robles weekend, you won’t have to travel far. La Bellasera’s restaurant, Enoteca, offers romantic dining in front of the fireplace or outside on the patio. The coconut-crusted halibut is yum.

Picnic with History

What’s a romantic weekend without a picnic? Purchase food essentials at Di Raimondo’s Italian Market & Cheese Shop before driving to Mission San Antonio de Padua located on Fort Hunter-Ligget Army Base. The well-preserved adobe buildings recall mission history dating back to 1771. Walk the corridors surrounding an inner courtyard garden to the tinkling of wind chimes blowing in a slight breeze. Enjoy a quiet picnic under the oak trees at this lightly visited location.

Relax at the Spa

Of course a boomermoon wouldn’t be romantic without a spa experience. At River Oaks Hot Springs, soak in a secluded outdoor hot springs tub for two, or enjoy the Winemakers Package that includes two 60-minute full body massages, private mineral springs spa and a bottle of Paso Robles vintner’s wine. A private massage in your suite at LaBellasera is another option.

Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Paso Robles is a convenient get-away for a boomermoon. Not a boomer? Don’t despair. Romance is available in Paso Robles for you, too.

Yes, BoomerGal (Donna L. Hull) took her husband on a boomermoon to Paso Robles. She wouldn’t recommend anything to you without trying it first herself. Donna L. Hull specializes in writing travel and human interest content for online and print publications. Donna’s popular blog, My Itchy Travel Feet, explores the world of active travel for baby boomers.

Posted in: Destinations, Romantic Getaways | 4 comments

Ambassadors of the Environment at Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

June 14, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The Ambassadors of the Environment is an international project started by Jean-Michel Cousteau. The project makes education fun with hands-on, in-depth experiences exploring local environments, and helping children appreciate the natural wonders of the world we live in. My family was lucky to be able to experience the Ambassadors of the Environment program at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua in Hawaii. Now, June 2010, sees the grand opening of an Ambassadors of the Environment at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as well. Laguna Beach CA is a pretty easy drive for me, so my family was delighted to have the excuse to spend a weekend there. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is one of the finer examples of this luxury line of resorts, and it’s the longest tenured AAA 5-Diamond holder in California. The Ambassadors of the Environment program here is brand new, with a terrific staff of trained naturalists. Their passion for the local Southern California animals and plants is readily apparent. What a group of enthusiastic people.

Wherever Ritz-Carlton has opened a branch of the Ambassadors of the Environment (Grand Cayman, Maui, and now Laguna), it has replaced the resort Ritz Kids camp. Ritz Kids is more of a traditional child care/day camp for the children of vacationing parents. The deeper, more meaningful and lasting experience Ambassadors of the Environment provides makes all other resort day camps pale by comparison.

There are drop-off programs for children at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel Ambassadors of the Environment program, as well as activities for the whole family. We tried one of each. Each is led by a naturalist, and the two we met were absolutely terrific with our kids: Never condescending, they intuitively knew exactly how to relate to our kids and the other participants in a friendly, outgoing, but never pushy way.

First, we dropped our kids off for the “Lights, Camera, Take Action” activity. In three hours, my children wrote, directed, and filmed their own public service announcement (my reserved older kid opted to direct, while my younger daughter joyfully performed for the camera). They wrote an obviously age-appropriate public service announcement about endangered animals, and we received a DVD of this at times hilarious, slapdash ad for walruses and the like. It’s a keeper. My kids really had a great time with their naturalist, who also put the DVD together for us before our weekend vacation in Laguna was over.

It was the second activity that really blew us away, though. We signed up as a family for “The Biggest Show on Earth” Whale Adventure which is essentially a whale watching trip — but it’s so much more. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel Ambassadors of the Environment program has teamed up with a couple of local whale watching tour charters; Captain Dave, and his Dolphin & Whale Safari company, is absolutely a treasure. Because its motor is internal, his catamaran is safe to sail through the pods of dolphins we passed. The bottlenose dolphins swam alongside the boat, and Captain Dave’s ingenious setup of a plexiglass viewing pod in one of the hulls lets passengers sit eye to eye with the dolphins. My children loved this, and I did too. Even the dolphins seemed to be enjoying themselves, showing off and looking right back at us.

California Grey Whales migrate past Dana Point in the Laguna Beach area and are a regular sighting for Captain Dave and his crew...and blue whales, the largest animal on Earth, migrate right past Dana Point too! We saw a blue whale surface several times; it was incredible. Captain Dave and his crew were able to figure out that the whale surfaced around every 10 minutes, for three times each, and they followed the whale. Everyone on the boat was awed. There is something about seeing these huge, graceful marine mammals that brings a group of disparate people together in a shared experience — everyone started pointing, talking to each other, and laughing. It was such an incredible, uniting experience that many on board realized only later that they’d forgotten to to take photos of the whale — my self included! Our Ambassadors of the Environment naturalist did, though, and gave us a DVD of his photographs of the “Biggest Show on Earth” activity later.

Captain Dave is committed to the health and safely of marine animals; leading whale watching tours is much more than just a job for him. His knowledge of and love for the local dolphins and the whales passing through is evident. Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel’s Ambassadors of the Environment is smart to partner with him, and my family is so, so lucky to have experienced a whale watching trip with him and his crew. More than just the highlight of our weekend vacation in Southern California, the Ambassadors of the Environment Biggest Show on Earth program is a highlight of our entire year.

The Ritz-Carlton Languna Niguel hosted my family, and a significant portion of our Ambassadors of the Environment participation was provided by the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel as well: thank you from the Vacation Gals!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Travel News | 4 comments

Whale Watching in Southern California

June 13, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Blue whales migrate up and down the California coast, and the Dana Point – Laguna Beach area is considered one of the best places to see them. Grey whales, fin whales, and local dolphins are often spotted here by whale watching groups; after all, the Laguna Beach area is a major convergence point for so many species of marine mammals. My family were invited to experience “The Biggest Show on Earth,” Ritz-Carlton’s new Ambassadors of the Environment whale watching program, and it was simply incredible. My kids and other guests on the catamaran hung out in the plexiglass-walled hull, eye to eye with bottlenose dolphins. That, right there, would have made the ocean excursion worthwhile. It got even better when Captain Dave spotted a migrating blue whale.

We were too excited to remember to take a lot of photos of this part of our Ambassadors of the Environment experience, and a lot of the video my husband took is filled with excited jabbering of our fellow passengers. I like this clip of his a lot, though; it captures the thrill of seeing a giant blue whale surfacing.

Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is a perfectly-turned out luxury resort near Dana Point and Laguna Beach. A Southern California coastal family vacation doesn’t get much better than this, especially with the new Ambassadors of the Environment program.

Thank you to the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and Ambassadors of the Environment for this vacation experience.

Posted in: Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 4 comments

Santa Monica Pier’s Amusement Park Package: Family Fun in Los Angeles

April 15, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

The Santa Monica Pier is one of the best Los Angeles spots for an easy family day trip. Every summer, lots of families take their vacations in Los Angeles. Now, there are plenty of fun, cheap and free things to do in Los Angeles, California. Disneyland, Universal Studios, some terrific cultural experiences and hands-on museums all make Los Angeles a great place for family travel. But theme parks can be pricey; as much as children love them, a theme park vacation can really bust our travel budgets. The Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park is an old fashioned amusement park, with some rides, games, and the standard cotton candy/hot dog carnival type amusement park fare. My kids love it, and for a family looking to save money on a Los Angeles vacation, it’s a cheap option compared to the big theme parks.

Pacific Park, the family amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier, has 12 amusement rides (roller coasters and such), 21 games, and a separate area for younger children. My kids especially love the “Sea Dragon” ride which swings back and forth like a pendulum. Admission is free, and parents can decide whether to pay for each ride or buy wristbands. While Pacific Park is open from 11:00AM to 11:00PM (12:30PM on weekends), I’d recommend that families leave before it gets too late; a rowdier crowd frequents the Santa Monica Pier at night, particularly during the summer travel season.

For amusement park loving families that live in Southern California, the new “Inkie’s VIP Pass” package can save even more money. The amusement park package provides unlimited rides throughout the year – valid an a renewable, yearly basis – and can be bought online. Inkie’s VIP Pass package, just introduced this year, includes:

Unlimited rides wristband with no black out days
Two free “Family or Friend” wristband vouchers
$20 in game vouchers for any of the midway games
Four meal vouchers for Pacific Park’s newly cleaned up oceanfront food plaza
20% off any other meals at the food plaza (there are some “real food” options here)
Two additional free ride tickets at the Santa Monica Pier Carousel
20% off any merchandise bought at the Pier Gear store
15% off a birthday party package at Pacific Park

The VIP Pass at California’s only family amusement park on a pier is currently $125 for children ages 7 and under, or $175 for older kids and adults. While a family vacationing in Los Angeles from out of state should buy the one-day wristbands, those of us who live closer to the Santa Monica Pier year round can save a lot of money on this incredibly popular kids’ activity. I recommend it!

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel, Travel Tips | no comments

Malibu, California and a Perfect Day’s Vacation

February 22, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Many towns in Southern California have certain reputations, and these stereotypes often inform Los Angeles-area travel plans. For those of us who live here, of course, the picture is often totally different. My tween didn’t have school this past week, but since my younger kid did, we couldn’t take too grand an adventure (apparently, the school system frowns upon parents not picking their children up from school). My daughter and I drove up for a day trip to Malibu, and did several activities before returning home.

Malibu is considered the first real surfing destination in the Los Angeles area – it’s no Half Moon Bay, of course, but it’s pretty good for Southern California. We went to Zuma Beach, and there we saw one solitary, sad little surfer. Maybe the waves weren’t rad this particular day! My tween took most of these photographs, by the way, and she was more interested in the cute sandpipers busily running up and down the shore than she was that surfer dude.

Malibu has that mellow surfer culture in spades, of course, but there’s also a seriously swanky side to this beachy community. Lots of media moguls live here, and where there’s money, the luxury shops shall follow. There are a bunch of high-end stores in the Malibu Country Mart and beyond. In fact, one of my favorite sushi restaurants, Nobu Malibu, is in this shopping area. No, we did NOT go there for lunch! We did, however, indulge in a little mother-daughter shopping splurge.

We went to Duke’s for lunch. There are Duke’s in Maui and Kauai, so it was fun to come to this one and compare. My tween thought the coconut shrimp was exactly the same, but I felt that the Hawaii style dresses and uniforms seemed out of place. It is winter now, so the whales are goofing off around Hawaii, but the windows in Duke’s in Malibu give great views of the humpbacks as they migrate to and from the South Pacific.

The northern coastal tip of Malibu has one of those perfect beaches for exploring; Leo Carrillo State Park Beach is rocky, with small caves that can only be accessed during low tide. My kid and I had the best time wandering along the coast here. As an aside, when I was a child myself, my whole family was in a commercial for Tang that was filmed at Leo Carrillo State Park Beach. Little did I know then, that I’d be living within driving distance of it as a parent.

My daughter found one of the largest limpets I’ve seen outside of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. We’d bought a fancy hair clip for her at the Malibu Country Mart, and I’d spent more on a pair of sunglasses there than I usually do – but this limpet, maybe 6 inches long, sun-bleached and almost alien-looking, was hands down the best find of the day.

In fact, she made a necklace out of it when we came home, and wears it still, today. Rather than rush through our day trip and also see the Getty Villa, horse stables and pretty Malibu Gardens (it’s a nursery that looks like a luscious backyard), we took it slow. Enjoying each others’ company, strolling on a beach together, and discussing how a found shell can be more exciting, memorable and valuable than a bought hair accessory – these are the details that make up a perfect day’s vacation in Southern California.

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel | 16 comments

Hiking Trail for Kids in Joshua Tree National Park

February 10, 2010 | Author: ColoradoGal

One highlight of my family’s vacation in California over Christmas last year was our day trip to Joshua Tree National Park. I honestly didn’t know much about the national park (less than an hour’s drive from Palm Springs), except that the desert locale is a popular place for hard-core rock climbers to scale the otherworldly rock piles that were formed more than 100 million years ago. On our visit, we figured at the least we’d drive through the national park, admire the funky shaped trees (so named because their limbs mimic Biblical Joshua raising his hands in prayer), and get some semblance of exercise along a kid-friendly hiking trail.

But when the incredibly amiable and knowledgeable rangers at the West Entrance Station recommended a three-mile trail hike and assured us our 7- and 9-year-old kids could handle it, we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to journey deeper into the park. Indeed, we found the “moderately strenuous” 49 Palms Oasis hiking trail perfect for our entire family — including spry, 66-year-old Grammie. Inclines weren’t too steep; there were plenty of cacti to look at along the way; and the reward half-way through the out-and-back trail: several stands of picturesque fan palms amid pools of water and stacked rocks.

Yes, the return trip back to the parking lot featured a little more whining than we heard on the way in (namely from my 7-year-old), but frankly, we were pleased he made it without too much complaining on the three-mile round-trip hike that took us an 70 minutes on the way in and 60 minutes on the way out. We tried to break up the journey by letting the kids (and their fearless dad) climb to the top of huge boulders. My daughter took the time to fill out her Junior Ranger booklet, answering questions about the flora and fauna she saw along the way. (She’s collected six Junior Ranger badges at national parks we’ve visited in recent years; I highly recommend this educational activity — fun for kids and adults.)

The 49 Palms Oasis is a great, kid-friendly hike for semi-athletic families who are accustomed to exploring the outdoors. It’s not a flat-path nature walk, so if you’re not used to hiking and you want to sample this particular trail, I suggest you do some incline walking at home before you make your way to the pretty palm oasis in this national park.

We barely scratched the surface of 800,000-acre Joshua Tree National Park on our short visit to the area. We look forward to returning to sample more family-friendly hiking trails or perhaps overnighting at one of its popular campgrounds. Here are just a few snapshots from our happy day at Joshua Tree:

My studious daughter working on her Junior Ranger booklet.

My goofy son mugging for the camera.

The kids (and Dad) liked scrambling up rock piles.

Cool cactus.

Fan palms at the oasis.

Posted in: Family Travel | 9 comments

Valentine’s Day Romantic Getaways from The Vacation Gals

January 29, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

Ah, romantic destinations for Valentine’s Day! Every February, couples are given an excuse to celebrate their love for each other. From high school sweethearts to grandparents celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Valentines Day reminds everyone to appreciate romance. There are some wonderful destinations in the world, but we don’t have to go to the best luxury hotel in the world to enjoy a romantic getaway. Here are some of The Vacation Gals’ recommended spots for romantic travel, Valentine’s Day or otherwise.

Hawaii is an island chain that has it all; luxury travel, soft adventure, fun for families, and of course, romantic experiences. the Vacation Gals are huge fans of Hawaii. One lesser-known island, Molokai, is quieter and less overrun by the tourist crowd during holidays. ColoradoGal recommends a romantic Valentine’s Day vacation here.

The Caribbean has many islands with different vacation options (but more humidity and less predictable weather than Hawaii). Jamaica is ColoradoGal’s recommended Caribbean vacation destination for romantic getaways – in particular, the Couples Swept Away Resorts in Negril and Ocho Rios.

St. John is the smallest of the three US Virgin Islands, in the Caribbean. Considering that I honeymooned there (and have been back a couple of times since), St John will always be associated with some of my most romantic memories. I’ve been to St Thomas and St Croix, but St John is my absolute choice for a romantic vacation.

The San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California, is just a stone’s throw from Santa Barbara. Forbes named it the “Best Hotel in the World” in 2009 – not too shabby! Santa Barbara is pretty and fun, and the Ranch utterly romantic. An entire long weekend can easily be spent just exploring the property. Montecito is incredible.

Not many of us can jet off to Tuscany or Provence for every romantic occasion, but Napa Valley CA is closer (and somewhat easier on the wallet) for a culinary vacation replete with wine tastings galore.

Well, California’s not the “most romantic state in the US,” because romance is where you make it, but TwinCitiesGal loves Solvang and Carmel CA – in particular, the Highland Inn of Carmel gets high marks from her for the ocean view, wood-burning stove, and attentive staff.

Speaking of having a romantic getaway where you make it so, TwinCitiesGal also has some handy ideas for creating a romantic hotel room. Not to insinuate that the junkiest, most rat-infested motor lodge can be transformed into a luxury vacation hotel with these tips, but hey – every bit of forethought helps. Be it for Valentine’s Day, a honeymoon, anniversary, or just to get away, romantic travel rejuvenates relationships and keeps them healthy. We hope your next romantic getaway is perfect.

Posted in: Romantic Getaways, Travel Tips | 7 comments

Romantic Getaway Vacation Package at Fairmont Newport Beach

January 15, 2010 | Author: SoCalGal

There’s a lot to like about Newport Beach in Southern California. Like Newport Rhode Island, it’s a pretty swanky town on the water. It has its own fair share of impressive mansions to gawp at, too, albeit with a lot less US history behind them (no Vanderbilts or Astors here). Newport Beach is fun and outdoorsy, but it’s also an upscale, luxury-oriented part of Southern California – perfect for a romantic vacation. And guess what? One of my favorite upscale, luxury-oriented hotel brands, Fairmont, is running a special Valentine’s Day travel deal for Twitter users.

Obviously, not everyone embraces the 140-characters-or-less ethos of the social media tool, but I do. In fact, it’s a Fairmont (the Fairmont Kea Lani, in Wailea Beach, Maui) that serves as my own Twitter wallpaper. But the Fairmont Newport Beach is a LOT closer to where I live, and I LOVE this vacation package. Here’s the rundown: On Twitter, follow @FairmontNewport or @FairmontHotels, and get the “Twitter Only” special code. then call Central Reservations (800) 447-1414 with Rate Code 2U8VAL.

The Newport Beach Valentine’s Day romantic travel package starts at $199/night, which is a great deal for staying at a Fairmont hotel. Package includes:

Junior Suite with private balcony
Breakfast for two on balcony or in hotel restaurant
Complimentary valet and internet access
Two plush robes, monogrammed with your @Twitter Name!
Blue “Twitter” heart-shaped cookies
Choice of Champagne, wine or cider
Late check-out

This Fairmont Newport Beach hotel vacation package is meant for Valentine’s Day, but is good from Feb 1 – March 31, 2010. That gives us two months in which to find the time to schedule a romantic getaway — pretty nice, huh? I think so.

Posted in: Destinations, Romantic Getaways, Travel News | no comments

Rainbows, Clear Skies, and Los Angeles

December 8, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

People taking early December vacations in Los Angeles have likely been disappointed with our purported land of perpetual sunshine. It’s been really cold for us out here in Southern California – 41 degrees is NOT something we take kindly to – with a mix of clouds and rain. What people who travel to Los Angeles might not know, though, is how rare rainbows are here. Yesterday it poured steadily until around 3PM, and when I was picking up my younger daughter from school, I saw one. It was pretty exciting; not only did it mean the weather was clearing up, but obviously rainbows are lovely to see.

Rainbow in West Los Angeles Rainbow in Beverly Hills

After I took a photo of the rainbow, I noticed that a lot of other parents and babysitters were, too. We all smiled at each other. This isn’t Kauai, land of a thousand rainbows, after all. It felt special. So special, in fact, that I couldn’t wait to share my photo with my husband. When he got home, though, he burst through the door and said “Guess what I saw today near my office?” Yep, you guessed it: A rainbow, right in Beverly Hills. We marveled at the idea that we were possibly taking photographs opposite ends of the same rainbow simultaneously.

In our lives, as well as our travels, rain sometimes happens. Gloomy weather doesn’t have to ruin a vacation, or even our moods, though. Sometimes the simple lesson of the rainbow is needed, to remember that grey days always pass. And when they do, the skies are at their clearest.

Pacific Ocean View in Los Angeles

Posted in: Budget Travel, Destinations, Travel News | 2 comments

Fun Travel Activity in Santa Barbara, California – Land Shark!

November 17, 2009 | Author: SoCalGal

Sailboat in Santa Barbara, California

The Santa Barbara Land Shark is an amphibious bus – that is, it’s a Hydra Terra tour bus that takes passengers around the streets of Santa Barbara and next-door Montecito, then goes right into the harbor and continues the tour on sea. I’ve been to Santa Barbara, California lots of times before for romantic getaways and trips with my family, but had never tried the Land Shark. This past weekend we signed up for it. It was an informative and fun experience, albeit a little cheesy.

Our tour guide, Milo, clearly knows his Santa Barbara history. He pointed out many points of interest along the Santa Barbara Land Shark Tour (out2seeb.com) way, with a heavy emphasis on famous people. I found this a bit unfortunate, as Santa Barbara is a wonderful town for an upscale California vacation, even without knowing where stars ate or invested in real estate. Several times, people along State Street – Santa Barbara’s main thoroughfare – hooted at the Land Shark, and Milo enjoyed an easy repartee with them. He showed us Joe’s Cafe, which has the only large neon sign in the town (grandfathered in, it’s from the ’50′s).

Santa Barbara California Sea Lions Things got more interesting and exciting when we plunged into the ocean. Some of the yachts docked in the Santa Barbara Harbor are spectacularly gorgeous, with skiffs and dinghies right alongside. California sea lions, brown pelicans, and the odd egret (what was he doing there?) seemed unperturbed by our eager photo-snapping, though when a fishing boat tooted through, they all snapped to attention themselves.

All in all, my small group enjoyed the Santa Barbara Land Shark. We’d have really loved to hear more about the history of Santa Barbara and less about where James Cagney and Kevin Costner lowered their anchors, but I suppose a lot of California tourists want to hear about the movie stars. Ya gotta play to your audience, after all. In any case, one of the restaurant/bars Milo recommended ended up being our pre-dinner drinks spot. That was a relaxing way to end the Land Shark bus tour. Thanks, Milo!

Posted in: Destinations, Family Travel, Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Getaways | 1 comment

Categories

Tags