Montecito for my Birthday

artsimanovsky
Aug 18, 2025
3 min read

I turned 36!

And with my 6th year wedding anniversary so close I decided to combine the two celebrations with a romantic dinner party in our new home. But in advance of the birthday soirée we managed a drive up the california coast on my acutal birthday for a family day of Montecito magic!

I was fortunate enough to sleep in and start the morning with a long, hot shower, plush bathrobe I never get time to actually wear and some strong coffee in my favorite mug; the things I cherish most at this age! We then hit the road straight north of Los Angeles making our way up the coast to the sleepy town of Montecito.

We stopped at Rosewood Miramar, a stunning beachside hotel, for a light lunch on the water and some perusing of the elegant shops housed inside this stunning piece of property. Some favorites of mine being The Webster, Goop and a little peek into Chanel.

A true oceanside estate, Rosewood Miramar exudes that East Coast elegance but with California weather. It's a great place to hang for the day and as much as I would have been happy to remain beachside with a nice cocktail I wanted Parker to have some fun before a nice dinner.

The Santa Barbara Zoo is so Nancy Meyers meets motherhood with some of the most spectacular landscaping and quaint Spanish style architecture. It's small in comparison to most the but has everything you need for an easy advenutre and for us a short afternoon visit.

Parker loved the dinosuar show they put on in a sprawling grassy area with a play structure and a legit coffee truck fully equipped with alternative milks.

Any kid friendly place where I can get an almond milk latte is gold!

We loved the train ride, kangaroos you can walk with and giraffes you can feed. It was a really special time and a place I highly recommend families traveling to Santa Barbara/Montecito or honestly even anyone in LA it makes for an easy day trip.

After the zoo we head over to perhaps my favorite hotels in California, San Ysidro Ranch.

If you ever wonder why people love Montecito, a visit to San Ysidro Ranch will easily explain. It's a slice of heaven tucked away from the coastal drive, perfelctly nestled into the highly coveted residential area, with pristine grounds, gardens and quaint cottages. It costs quite a pretty penny to stay here but if you want a similar and more affordable option I highly recommend you request the Garden House cottage at this hotel conviently located right off the main street in neighborhing Santa Barabara. My mother and I stayed here for one of our annual girls getaways and loved the grounds. The concierge even said they often refer guests from San Ysidro Ranch when they are full!

Regardless I highly recommend stopping by for a fancy lunch or dinner, or even just a drink at the speakeasy they recently added. We enjoyed walking through the rose bushes, lavendar and citrus lined pergolas throughout before heading to dinner under the twinkling lights at their onsite restaurant, The Stonehouse.

And while I've never been the biggest fan of the menu here, aside from the chicken tortilla soup with is to die for, I do absolutely love the setting. Very European countryside meets Southern California and I would like to model my backyard at Citrus Court after it!

Parker stunned every diner present with his adorable white linen jacket I requested he wear for my birthday and was surpirsingly happy to accomodate, along with his generally good behavior at restaraunts.