Our bungalow looked at best rustic on the outside, but I was wowed once I opened the door. It was positively perfect on the inside with modern amenities and best of all with doors that open right onto an waterfront view.

My goal on this road trip adventure was spending quality time with my husband, seeking beauty, relaxation, fun and an attempt to switch off and tune out the world as my ever-busy brain is always on the move. So San Diego, Carlsbad, and Santa Barbara were on the agenda.

Paradise Point Resort and Spa was the escape that it promised to be with waterfront views, several swimming pools, a marina and delectable restaurants such as their signature restaurant Tidel, which was filled with international flavors.

Each day was filled with activities from relaxing massages to surfing lessons to romantic boat rides around the marina while watching the sun set and the seeing the firework rise high into the sky.

After a few days, we ventured onwards to San Diego proper and stayed at lovely property called Hotel Indigo which had an amazing beach vibe, casual yet elegant. Our room had a balcony where ocean breezes lifted the curtains and little birds chirped happily outside our window. Located in Del Mar it was central to everything such as the farmers market, outside shopping malls, parks and the beach.

The culinary choices in San Diego are endless. The Kitchen 1540, located in the L’Auberge Del Mar Hotel, is the place to experience its devotion to fresh local ingredients, organic produce and farm-to-table delicacies. One evening, we shared a delectable dinner with old friends Jeff and Lori and dined on an exquisite meal filled with steak, seafood and salads all bursting with taste and rich with vibrant colors. The desserts were spectacular and complemented by after dinner drinks. It was a feast filled with flavor.

While many might think of San Diego as simply a beach town, there are many attractions such as the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Pepper Grove Children’s Playground and Mission Trails Regional Park.

One of my favorite places was the Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage & Meditation Gardens in Encinitas which is both peaceful and beautiful. It is an oceanfront garden with colorful plants, meditation nooks and koi ponds. Visitors can walk through, study, meditate and gaze as the spectacular shoreline. It’s not widely found it guidebooks, more-so word of mouth type of place and it is worth a visit.

In my quest for scenic and serenity we headed to Rancho Valencia, which again is a short drive from the bubbling city, but an escape with a Mediterranean feel where we touched down in a hacienda-style-suite. Our room had a private garden, outdoor Jacuzzi and I must confess the most hilarious part was the Japanese style toilet. It opened up the moment one walked in the door, had a seat warmer and provided a myriad of other functions which were both hysterically funny and useful.

The property is filled with Spanish style courtyards, gushing fountains and boasts an uber-relaxing atmosphere where it’s easy to unwind and forget the world outside. I indulged with a massage and truly relaxed in the spa while enjoying cakes, fruits, specialty teas and an actual newspaper.

After just chilling out, which is something I don’t excel in, we headed to a sumptuous dinner which was a culinary masterpiece at the resorts signature restaurant Veladora which is run by Executive Chef Jarrod Moiles and Chef De Cuisine Josh Holt. Everything was mouthwatering from the Heirloom tomato salad to the pan seared salmon complemented by fresh nonalcoholic fruit infused beverages and over the top desserts that to this day make my mouth water.

Our journey continued driving up the coast to Carlsbad which is known for surfing, whale watching tours and the nearby Del Mar Racetrack. For families with kids Legoland is often the nearby destination of choice.

The streets were filled with wandering tourists and simply strolling throughout the city was entertaining as there are many art galleries, eclectic antique shops and of course ice-cream and candy stores. After all what city is complete without a good piece of chocolate!

A great place to stay is the West Inn & Suites, an 86-room boutique hotel that boasts creative excursions for its guests. One fun option is the Hops Highway Retreat, which is a four hour tour, a must for beer lovers (and it includes luxury style transportation) to the Stone Brewing Co., The Lost Abbey and Mother Earth Brew Company.

The hotel also offers a tour of its 3 acre farm, where the chefs use the seasonal vegetables in their extraordinary meals. Additionally it’s a fun place for families as there are pop-up beach parties, game nights and it makes every kid feel at home with cookies and milk at bedtime. It’s a thoughtful hotel which also offers free shuttle services in the area too.

Our next stop was the magical city of Santa Barbara. Perhaps it is the almost always perfect weather, the pristine beaches or just something in the air, but if nature, calmness, peacefulness and beauty is on the agenda, it is the city to visit.

The farmers market never ceases to delight with fancy fruits and unending colorful, fragrant flowers as well as vibrant vegetables filled with flavor. It is the perfect city to have a hotel with a kitchen.

While cooking was not on our agenda, relaxing was, and the beachfront view from the Fess Parker Hotel is the way to go if you wish to dreamily stare at the ocean. The hotel is centrally located so visitors can walk to the center of town and enjoy The Santa Barbara Museum of Art which always boasts great exhibits as well as a fantastic permanent one.

Another venue to explore is the Granada Theatre, which hosts everything from the ballet to top international touring acts.

Perhaps one of the most unique and special places we visited was Ganna Walska Lotusland, which located in Montecito, a short drive outside the city.

The 37 acre gardens were created over four decades by Polish opera singer Madame Ganna Walska, a fascinating woman who had been married six times She owned the property as a private residence from 1941 until her death in 1984.

Visitors need to make an advanced reservation and are taken on an incredible journey with a guide throughout the gardens which are phenomenal. There are species of plants from all over the world and one can see everything from cactus to Japanese gardens.

It reminded me of gardens in Europe. Lotusland was filled with colors, flavors, fruits and what made it even more special was the stories behind the woman and her massively beautiful creation.

Traveling is always full of surprises, and this trip seemed to have an international, exotic flavor without even needing my passport. A peaceful, perfect, relaxing vacation. In other words, my mind was cleared, I was relaxed – so yes mission accomplished.

Happy Traveling!

The post California Road Trip appeared first on Traveling Archive.

For those who love the beaches and beauty of Santa Barbara, but want a slower paced, less touristy atmosphere, the small town of Goleta is only a couple miles up Highway 1, on the same stretch of coast known as the American Riviera. 

The family and I recently snuck away to Goleta and discovered a charming, boutique hotel and a compact and walkable beach community with everything we needed for a three day, two-night stay. 

Our getaway began at The Leta Hotel (www.theleta.com), where I enjoyed a free local beer upon check-in and then stepped into room 154, a light and airy California beach-inspired unit. Covered in earthy, eccentric textures and fabrics that give a nod to surf-culture nostalgia, the room was welcoming and efficient. It came with a comfy king bed, mini-fridge, large TV, table and chairs, and huge windows overlooking the property’s pool and winding paths lined with tall palm trees and rich vegetation. 

After unpacking, we hit the pool area where we swam and lounged against a beautiful backdrop of swaying palms and the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. It was a gorgeous Goleta day and we could feel the cool sea breeze coming from the ocean about a mile away as the crow flies. 

From the pool we explored the hotel. Formerly known as the Kimpton Goodland, The Leta is an easygoing, California-cool hideaway tucked between the Pacific Ocean and rolling mountains. 

“If your idea of the ultimate Southern California retreat is longboards, poolside cocktails and coastal cuisine, you’ve found your place in the sun at one of the best Santa Barbara hotels around,” reads the hotel website. “Here at The Leta, we have a Golden State of Mind attitude, surf-inspired décor, and eclectic accommodations, plus a passion for music shared through our vinyl record shop and live music scene. All of our eccentric, laid back touches will no doubt have you enjoying the good life, one day at a time.”

Besides the pool, the 158-room hotel features a small fitness center, a restaurant / bar, 6,000 sq-ft of meeting space, free beer at check-in, and free record players for guests to use. There is a social hour each evening with complimentary wine. 

In front of the lobby there is a classic old Woody station wagon and an iconic, silver Airstream trailer. One of the property’s best selling points is its fantastic location, within walking distance to great food, and a couple miles drive to the ocean, Santa Barbara Airport, and hidden gems such as Lake Los Carneros. 

We heard about Lake Los Carneros from Barry Dorsey, general manager of The Leta. He said if we were looking for a nature walk, with beautiful scenery and animals, and lots of history then the lake was a must-see. 

Located two miles from the hotel, the 136-acre Lake Los Carneros recreation area boasts numerous trails, small forests, and a bridge to explore. Los Carneros Park Trail is a 1 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

Lake Los Carneros (https://www.santabarbara.com/activities/parks/lake-los-carneros/) is also great for bird watching. There are migrant Rufous and Allen’s hummingbirds, warblers, tanagers, and grosbeaks, who are attracted to the fruits of the shrubs planted along the pathways and around the lake. The lake itself is frequented by Soras, Great Blue Herons, Virginia Rails, and more. Anytime of year you will find raptors hunting for prey. This is a great place to watch the many varieties of ducks that migrate here in the winter. 

If this isn’t enough, the lake also boasts an 1873 Victorian home named Stow House, an old Southern Pacific box car, and small train rides for kids at the nearby Goleta Depot.

After enjoying the lake, we headed back to The Leta Hotel for an afternoon swim. We then walked across the street and found Nikka Fish Market and Grill (www.nikkafish.com) for lunch. This popular local eatery serves up an exciting and eclectic seafood mix, with touches of Mexican, Japanese, Thai, and Sri Lankan spices. 

For our lunch we split a bowl of Nikka Cioppino with sautéed salmon, mahi-mahi, shrimp, crab leg, scallops, clams, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and bell peppers, in a tomato basil sauce. Served with fries or salad, the dish was delicious and memorable. We also sampled the spicy and tasty Pasilla peppers, stuffed with shrimp, brown rice, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions. 

After lunch we drove 5 minutes from The Leta Hotel to Goleta Beach Park (www.santabarbara.com/activities/beaches/goleta/goleta-beach-park/). Here we found a lovely, sandy beach, with lots of free parking spots right next to the water. We also found plenty of room to toss our blanket down, relax in the sand, build castles and play in the water. 

Besides great surf and sand, Goleta Beach Park features 29 acres of grass, with numerous grills and picnic tables. There is also a paved bike path at the park that goes all the way to Santa Barbara and 1,500-ft-long Goleta Pier that is perfect for fishing and strolling. 

For wine lovers, The Leta Hotel is also close to Santa Barbara’s world famous wine country (www.sbcountywines.com) a region known for some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Santa Barbara County vineyards produce more than 70 varietals, primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Cabernet, in seven approved AVAs (American Viticulture Areas). More than 275 wineries speckle the landscape in rural northern Santa Barbara County and line the streets of cities, towns, and villages. 

The Leta Hotel is located at 5650 Calle Real, Goleta, CA 93117. For more information on staying at the hotel or current specials, call  805-964-6241 or visit: www.theleta.com  

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In the blink of an eye its forty years later and Ball and Sultan have obviously heeded Gaynor’s advice, not only ‘surviving’ the journeymen’s lifestyle, but flourishing in those roles. Both musicians have achieved a number of milestones and been called almost everything; but the ones we can print here are musical historians, composers, authors, mentors and of course, performing artists. And both men continue to share their gifts by teaching. Kenny “regularly,” Tom “sporadically.” Their productivity, discography and the road they’ve traveled, has been nothing if not impressive. Sure, they’ve played every type of venue you can imagine, and some you probably can’t. From International open air music festivals in front of 50-thousand plus, to a regular haunt, an old West stage coach stop in the mountains above their Santa Barbara home base, called the Cold Spring Tavern.

When off the road, they are prolific. Their catalogue for Flying Fish/Rounder Records has blossomed. There are now eight Ball and Sultan duo albums and six solo releases, Kenny has two and Tom, four. They both do session work, Tom says. “I think it’s up to over 260 CDs for me now as a sideman.” Add to that, music scores for film and television and the instructional books, “I have five instructional and one novel. Kenny has at least that many, plus he has apps and about 5 DVDs. He’s more prolific in the teaching department than I am.”

There’s more than a hint of ‘pre-destined’ in Ball and Sultan’s unique musical journey. “Both of us grew up in the L.A. area and frequented the Ash Grove.” Tom says. “But we didn’t know each other.  When I moved north to Santa Barbara in 1978, Kenny was already here.” Almost immediately Ball says he began gigging with an electric blues band called ‘Blues Company’ backing national acts like Pee Wee Crayton, Phillip Walker and Smokey Wilson. “We had a few good gigs, but I was aching to play acoustic blues. I saw Kenny’s name in the paper and wanted to go catch his gig, but my band was playing that night. So I asked my girlfriend, now wife, Laurie if she could go check him out. She came back with a full report. ‘Great finger style player. Plays Blind Blake and Gary Davis. Good sense of humor. Drinks Heineken.’ So I figured this was someone I needed to meet. Heineken and Blind Blake were two of my biggest hobbies.”

That shared love of Blind Blake, beer and the Rev. Gary Davis has now culminated in 40 years of friendship and music. So how did you and Kenny first meet? “We finally met at a Santa Barbara Blues Society show.” Tom says. “Big Mama Thornton! I introduced myself, we got to talking and Kenny invited me over to his place to pick a bit. It sounded pretty good. The next day Kenny was guesting on local radio KCSB, drumming up business for his teaching gig at UCSB. He asked me to come accompany him. After we’d played a song, the phone rang — it was the Sojourner Cafe, offering us $15 and a pizza to play there on Friday night. We accepted… but only after holding out for free beer. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Other than beer and pizza, the Ball-Sultan bond seems strengthened by the admiration and respect they both share for the early players. “I used to hang out at the Ash Grove.” Kenny grins. “My older brother used to take me there, on his dates. I was 11 years old and he’d take his kid brother. I remember going to see Furry Lewis, Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin’.” You were eleven? “Everybody else was listening to the Monkees and I was listening to Howlin’ Wolf!”

One bluesman really struck a chord with Kenny. “Lightnin’ was great! I remember seeing him at the Ash Grove, just sitting up there with his big, black electric guitar. Sitting up there smoking…in a smoke-filled room…with sunglasses on! He was great! You hear him play and you know it’s him.”

When Tom and Kenny perform, you immediately recognize there is more to their artistry than blues. Much more! Their unique combination of style and musical arrangement give a distinctive signature to the more traditional sound; “We don’t dwell on the depressing side of life. We keep it up tempo and we deal with light subjects.” Kenny says. “Blues can be fun and humorous, they don’t have to always be sad and about your troubles in life. I’m not sure we’re blues musicians exactly. Obviously we love blues and play blues, but we play a little folk, ragtime, country and bluegrass as well. When I think about blues players, I think about Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. They would come out and play Blues! Tom and I play a lot of different styles. In reality, we’re musicians who like the blues and incorporate that in our music, but we do a lot of different things. We’re not down and out…. we live in Santa Barbara.”

Nodding in agreement, Tom adds. “We never worked in any coal mines. People that have the true claim to the blues are Son House, John Hurt, J.D. Short, Blind Blake, Bukka White. Those people lived the blues. They had troubles, they had pain and suffering. They worked on levee camps and were sharecroppers and had a real reason to sing the blues. Kenny and I enjoy that tradition in so far as it’s a soulful tradition, an important American tradition. But we learned the blues mostly from old 78 records.”

“We don’t profess to be something we’re not,” says Kenny. “We’re ourselves on stage; we don’t put on any act up there.” He smiles, “That’s why our business card says ‘Good Time Blues’.”

How’s the next 40 shaping up for you? “We have a few festivals coming up: Millpond in the Sierras. Shobefest in Ojai. Next year there are a few on the books as well. At this point we just hope to keep breathing. And we need to say thanks to everyone — these 40 years could never have happened if nobody was showing up and listening.”

Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan have had an amazing ride together and as previously mentioned are serious contenders for ‘weirdest venue’ honors. “We were playing in the recreation room of a mental institution in the Netherlands.” Kenny remembers. “It was for the criminally insane and the rec room was the only place where they didn’t monitor the patients. They just sort of let them be themselves. So we had twenty people, kind of, sitting on our laps and pulling at our hair…and poking us.”

‘Good Time Blues’ journeymen working the ‘fringe’ elements. “There was one guy,” Tom says, “who could speak only two words of English. The only thing he could say was, ‘El Monte! El Monte!’ He would come up to us, poking our faces and guitars and chests and yelling, ‘El Monte! El Monte!’ A pretty interesting guy.”

“We were playing,” Kenny continues. “And everybody really wasn’t getting it. And this one lady was laughing at the right spots, like on ‘Bloodshot Eyes’ and ‘Chicken Ala Blues.’ I’m going, ok, she must be staff, you know, cool. Then Tom left the stage and I’m doing my solo, obviously an instrumental… and she’s STILL laughing! That’s how it was… AND we had to STAY there.” (laughing) “That was our accommodations for the night… on the hospital grounds. They put us up in; I don’t know what you’d call it, a bunkhouse? We did our laundry there. That was interesting; a lot of folks watching the dryers go ’round. It was a good gig, a memorable gig.”

Well, there probably won’t be any laundry service at the Anniversary show but you can count on it being ‘memorable.’ The Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara will play host to Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan’s 40^th Anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 26^th. Showtime is 8PM.

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My getaway to El Encanto began recently when a friend and I checked into a gorgeous, deluxe premier bungalow. Immersed in a forest of gardens and trees, the 650-sq-ft bungalow was private and elegant. It was highlighted by a large main room with hard wood floors, king bed, sofa and chairs, a cozy fireplace and lots of windows. The room also boasted a mini-fridge, Nespresso coffee-maker, iPod dock station, office desk with Wi-Fi, and a widescreen HDTV.

The bungalow also came with a private patio with tranquil garden views, and a huge marble bathroom with heated stone floors, deep soaking tub and a separate, glass shower.

When not relaxing in the room in my Belmond bathrobe with a glass of Santa Barbara wine, I enjoyed the rest of the seven acre hotel property. A landmark since the 1920s, the Belmond El Encanto completed a $134-million renovation in 2013 to become Santa Barbara’s only Forbes Five-Star resort for three consecutive years. Today the hotel features 92 California-styled suites and bungalows, overlooking the Santa Barbara “American Riviera” and the Pacific Ocean. The architecture is a mixture of Craftsman-style and Spanish Colonial.

One of my favorite hotel spots besides my room was the zero-edge pool. Overlooking the ocean, the heated, outdoor, saline pool is a great place to absorb the Santa Barbara sun and charm. Below the pool is the hotel gym, where I worked out after lazing poolside.

For dinner my friend and I experienced the Belmond Dining Room. Offering contemporary California-coastal cuisine, the restaurant is known for artisanal ingredients and rich flavors, matching the region’s culinary abundance. For our meal we sat on the outdoor terrace, admiring the lights of Downtown Santa Barbara twinkling below.

Our dinner began with Hawaiian kampachi sashimi appetizer with lime caviar, celery, black olive, pineapple vinaigrette and sumac. We followed this with a glass of Flor De Campo Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County and an heirloom beet salad with cooked and raw beets, halloumi cheese, local figs, caramelized sesame seeds and tahini dressing.

For the main course I devoured wild king salmon with cauliflower espuma, heirloom carrots, crispy quinoa and smoked tomato jam. My friend enjoyed Wagyu ribeye steak with fingerling potatoes, seaweed tapenade, watercress and miso mustard.

After dinner we retreated to the lounge/bar area, where we sipped wine beside a large fireplace and listened to a classical guitarist. We concluded the evening by the fireplace in our own room.

In the morning I had an incredible, rejuvenating deep tissue massage at the El Encanto Spa. The full-service spa offers a range of treatments and services including a romantic couples treatment room, manicure/pedicure stations, dedicated facial suites, massage and wet rooms, private outdoor terrace and relaxation lounge. My relaxing, 50-minute rubdown was a perfect complement to the luxurious Belmond surroundings I found myself in.

After the massage, I joined my friend for a 10 minute walk to the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Founded by Spanish Franciscans in 1786, the mission sits on 13 acres overlooking the ocean. The grounds include the beautiful Mission church, Historic Cemetery and Mausoleum, and multiple lush gardens, including La Huerta Historical Garden, which features authentic and ancient Mission-era plants, trees and paintings.

The Mission also houses a nine-room museum of historical artwork and artifacts, which includes the Chumash Room, featuring Native American artifacts, along with traditional crafts and tools; a re-creation of a 17th century kitchen with original 1790’s adobe wall and 1805 front stone wall; a Padre’s bedroom with chess set, Bishop’s glasses, staff and desk set; and a Trades room with agricultural, blacksmithing, and weaving tools, as well as historical mission-era photos.

Back at the El Encanto we had lunch in the lounge and then watched the turtles play frolic in super slow-motion in the lily pond.

The Belmond El Encanto is located at 800 Alvarado Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. The hotel also offers free shuttles to town and complimentary Electric Faraday Bikes to ride. For more information, reservations and current specials, call 805.845.5800 or visit the Belmond website.

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One thing that I love about traveling is a chance to meet new people from places far and near. This seems to happen more frequently when we stay at a B&B designed to encourage conviviality and conversation.

We made a delightful discovery this past weekend when we stayed at the Cheshire Cat Inn, upon the recommendation from a good friend of mine. Although it was a wet, wild, and windy weekend, staying in a cozy B&B provided a welcomed retreat from the rain.

Owned and operated by the Dunstan family for over 30 years, initially, the inn began as two Victorian Queen Anne homes built by German immigrant, Joseph Eberle who arrived in Santa Barbara in the 1880’s. Over the years, the property has expanded, and now consists of fourteen rooms and four cottages. The Alice in Wonderland theme of the property lends itself to a bit of whimsy, which was so much fun!

Whether you are a couple, or a sprawling family, there are accommodations suitable for everyone. In fact during our stay, a group of fourteen Argentinians descended upon the property, all having a wonderful time and enjoying the amenities of the inn.

The location of the inn lends itself well to walking throughout downtown Santa Barbara to enjoy a myriad of restaurants, shops, and other points of interest. It’s easy to hop on the freeway if you want to explore outside the area.

Since the weather was a challenge, we mainly enjoyed hanging out at the inn. Nightly, we parked our damp limbs by the fireplace to enjoy some appetizers and wine, and to make temporary friendships with people who had traveled from various parts of California.

Breaking bread with strangers the following morning over a robust breakfast created some lasting memories. We’ll be back.

Cheshire Cat Inn
36 West Valerio St.
Santa Barbara, CA. 93101
805-569-1610

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