The Art of the Day Trip

Travel truly reinvigorates us, and despite my penchant for finding the most storied and beautiful places around the world, most of what I am looking for actually exists less than two hours away.

Short excursions are an underrated luxury I find as I scroll through Instagram, my eyes dazzled by yet another glamorous beach off the rugged coastline of Italy with the promise of the best linguine alla vongole you’ve ever had. And while I might sound like a complete and total hypocrite as I too swoon over a slice of la dolce vita come summer, I have to admit some of the most memorable travel moments I can recall have come from exploring my own city and the many wonderful towns, cities and beaches surrounding it. Whether a park, a beautiful hotel, or a walk through a new neighborhood; going somewhere new is a good way to reset ourselves. It’s truly the goal of travel, whether near or far.

So for the long holiday weekend, sans Arthur who was away for a bachelor party, my mother and I set out with my 5 year old son Parker for a 90 minute drive up to Santa Barbara and Montecito, side-by-side cities I’ve been to a number of times but always feel a renewed sense of calm after I leave.

Santa Barbara is the larger city, Montecito a sleepier suburb, but my favorite nonetheless. We recreated a shorter version of what we did on my birthday last year, to make it back for an early bedtime. Starting with a visit to the Santa Barbara Zoo, which is honestly my favorite given its relatively small size and pristine attention to detail. With bougainvillea rimmed arches, Spanish tile work and a coffee cart setup in the children’s park that can make me a vanilla almond milk latte—I am sold.

Oh and did I mention the giraffe feedings?

Can’t forget that one.

And the size of the zoo always seems to fit the number of guests they allow in, even on a busy Memorial Day Weekend the place didn't feel too crowded and it was extremely kid friendly. Parker loves the train ride and my mother swooned over the stunning rolling hillside backdrop and ocean views. We saw almost everything within about two hours, although you could easily make a much longer day out of it with its picnic grounds and various programming.

After leaving the zoo we drove a stone's throw into Montecito. Despite my obsession with San Ysidro Ranch less than three miles away, we pulled up to the oceanside resort at Rosewood Miramar. What I love most about this hotel is how truly New England-like it feels. As you enter through the gates and into the formal living room, a wide spiraling staircase to your left and views of the Pacific straight ahead; you instantly feel like a guest at someone’s summer estate. With restaurants ranging from an ocean deck to a glamorous dining room, elegant shops tucked into rooms off the lobby and surrounding cottages and a sprawling well manicured lawn with white Adirondack chairs and soccer balls for the kids—it’s hard not to feel at home here.

I spent the afternoon lounging on the lawn while Parker kicked around some soccer balls with the other kids and my mom browsed the shops, chatting with other parents who were equally grateful for the family friendly setup. Parker offered himself into a few football games and learned the fundamentals of cornhole before we headed to the beach bar for a late lunch overlooking the ocean. I enjoyed my colorful fish tacos almost as much as Parker did his quesadilla and the weather remained a perfect temperature throughout our time there.

It was truly an Arnold Palmer kind of day.

On our way out after lunch we walked the grounds slowly, Parker in need of a few more soccer drills on the lawn and me a light browse through Goop and The Webster. We all admired the yellow beach buggy parked outside, quite similar to the spiagginas we came across in Italy last summer. Another reminder of how great things show up in all kinds of places, regardless of how far away you might be from home. We all left feeling a bit more relaxed on the easy ride home straight down the 101 as the sun wound down, excited by the prospect of being back in our beds before the full sunset.

A little adventure, a little relaxation, a little temptation at Chanel—truly a perfect day for us all. xx

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