Wanderlust: Santa Barbara and my Top 5

Last year I was lucky to get in some time to travel to the beautiful beaches of Santa Barbara. It's still cold and wintery in Toronto, so what better way to look back at my California trip than today.

Here are my top 5 things to do in Santa Barbara:

1. Butterfly Beach- this beach is away from the main downtown area so you can enjoy your time away from the crowd. Sometimes you might run into tourists with their cameras if you decide to photo shoot on this beach. While I was messing around with this billowy scarf, 2 Japanese tourists started taking my photo. Erm, kind of embarrassing.

2. Rent a Bike Cruiser- The best possible way to cover ground and see all of the beaches on foot would be to rent a bike cruiser for a few hours. Its fun and you get great exercise, especially if you can make it up the peak for the great view of the harbor. I recommend taking some sandwiches and snacks for the rest stops.

3. Pool hopping- Hands down, the Bacara resort has the most beautiful pool to dip your toes in. You won’t be disappointed with their picturesque pool especially when the sun starts to set.

1. High Tea at the Four Seasons Biltmore- A beautiful view of the ocean from the patio and sweeping fabric from the indoor courtyard remind me a Moroccan villa. I recommend the High Tea just so you spend a few hours soaking up the beauty of this place and the excellent service. You definitely need to spoil yourself here.

 5. Farmer’s market- Sunday’s are not complete without checking out the market for the colorful fruit and vegetables, picking up a bundle of Gerber flowers, and fresh herbs for homemade tea.

A few other places that didn’t quite make the cut, but are still worthy to check out:
• walking down State Street, the heart of the city
• the new public market for fresh and organic meals
• getting Mexican food at Playa Azul or Superica

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