I spent last weekend in Santa Barbara with two of my dearest friends, and honestly, it was about as perfect as a weekend could get. The landscape was breathtaking, the food was phenomenal, the hotel was dreamy — and sharing it all with two of my oldest friends felt like a true gift.

We hadn’t been away together since March 2020, so this trip was long overdue. When we started tossing around ideas, we wanted somewhere a bit refined — a place with great food, beautiful scenery, and maybe a little yoga. Santa Barbara popped into my head and just wouldn’t leave. I’d never been, but something told me it would be exactly what we needed.

After finally locking in a weekend (which, between our kids' wildly different sports and school schedules, felt like a scheduling miracle), we booked a stay at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara. We lucked out with a promotion — stay two nights, get the third free — which is running through December 2025, in case you're tempted. Thanks to my affiliation with their preferred program, we also received a $100 daily breakfast credit and a $100 resort credit per room. Not too shabby.

Hotel highlights worth noting:

Oceanfront access with epic views. There’s a direct path to the beach, and the views alone are worth the trip. Pro tip: it’s best to walk barefoot — natural tar sometimes surfaces (same idea as the La Brea Tar Pits). The hotel even provides "tar wipes," though we didn’t need them.
A Saks Fifth Avenue suite for private shopping appointments. Yes, really. They’ve turned one of the suites into a permanent Saks personal styling space. Very chic.
A sprawling 42,000-square-foot spa. With over 30 treatment rooms, we naturally booked massages one afternoon, followed by time in the steam room and sauna, and then a blissful hour on their rooftop deck overlooking the ocean.
Complimentary morning yoga. We made it to a class one morning, which helped balance out the indulgent meals that followed.
A freshly renovated lobby. Beautifully done — the arrival experience feels both elegant and inviting.

In the spirit of being moderately adventurous, we ventured out for a hike one afternoon. We chose the Montecito Hot Springs trail — a manageable 2.5-hour round trip that included a peaceful soak at the top. A perfect blend of effort and reward.

Of course, no trip is complete without great food — and Santa Barbara delivered. We had three amazing dinners:

Barbareño, which offers a modern take on California coastal cuisine.
Sama Sama Kitchen, a vibrant Southeast Asian fusion spot downtown — bonus points for being in an adorable part of town.
Loquita, a buzzy Spanish tapas restaurant in the Funk Zone (more on that below).

Before our final dinner, we wandered the Funk Zone and stumbled upon Corks and Crowns, a character-filled tasting room with zero pretension. I discovered a Sauvignon Blanc from local winemaker Qupe that was so good I immediately ordered six bottles to be shipped home. Highly recommend a stop here — and if you’re the type who enjoys wandering cute neighborhoods saying “this is SO cute” every ten steps, the Funk Zone is for you.

This trip felt different from our past getaways. We were in bed by 11 p.m. every night, and two of the three of us now wear readers to see the menu. And honestly? I wouldn’t change a thing. It may have been my favorite trip with them yet. Santa Barbara was the perfect backdrop — full of charm, great food, and peaceful energy — but it was the time with my friends that made it truly unforgettable.

We’re already talking about going back. There’s still so much to explore — we barely scratched the surface. If you’ve been thinking it’s time for a friend trip, take this as your sign. There’s nothing like a good laugh with old friends in a beautiful place. I won’t be waiting another five years.