Coastal California Road Trip
Coast of California
California is always good for the soul. Whether you stay in one spot, or travel along the coast, you CAN’T go wrong when planning a trip to the most breathtaking state in the USA. The below suggestions are best for ALL the memories- from romantic to adventurous, everyone will be raising their hands to take this trip with you.
Malibu
Where to Stay:
Calamigos - I promise you, the cost of this hotel is BEYOND worth it. You will feel like royalty from the moment you step on the property. The customer service is TOP KNOTCH, the facilities are GORGEOUS- the pool alone is reason enough to stay as every hour you are “unveiled” with a new treat (face mist or organic popsicles), and the endless free fresh pressed juices make me committed to coming back.
What to Do/Where to Eat:
Malibu Country Mart- Browse the many shops to get inspiration for your wardrobe, house, or life- we love Surfing Cowboy, Free People, Fred Segal, and Teressa Folglia.
Aviator Nation- You can never have enough sweats or trucker hats, end of story. They also are going to be opening a bar in the store to relax and enjoy your malibu days!
Go to Surfrider Beach and watch the surfers- a great place to soak up some sun while watching people catch waves.
Malibu Farm- Perfect for breakfast or lunch, it’s a staple EVERYTIME we visit Malibu. We recommend the Swedish mini pancakes to share and the fried egg sandwich!
Cielo Farms Winery - A quick 1 min drive when staying at Calamigos, this place IS HEAVEN. The views are unreal and so is the people watching- try the rose and order a pizza!
Ojai
Where to Stay:
Ojai Rancho INN- If you can envision yourself in the 70’s at an adult summer camp, this is the spot that comes to mind. The rooms/facilities aren’t “updated” but the ambiance of the grounds makes you want to let loose and dive into the pool. We enjoyed our small “cabin-like” room with wood framed beds.
What to Do/Where to Eat:
Meditation Mount- One of the most breathtaking experiences I may ever witness. Spiritual or not, we recommend a sound bath on top of a mountain looking up at the blue sky. It was the perfect way to relax, reset, and watch the sunset over the mountain top.
Barts Books- Stop at this outdoor bookstore to browse the thousands of selections- new and old books alike.
Ojai Olive Oil Tasting- no reservations required, they take groups every half n hour to share how they produce their oil and do a taste testing of 8 different oils. We recommend bringing bread to enjoy with the oil and don’t be afraid to ship a box home! They have great recommendations for how to cook/use that you won’t find at your local grocery store!
Topa Winery- Stopped here before dinner to enjoy being in town but still having gorgeous views of the mountain and vineyards! We each did a tasting where they let you choose between variety, all white, or all red!
Hiking - One of the best things about Ojai is being OUTDOORS! We ended our stay doing a 2.5-mile hike starting at Luci’s Trail- slight elevation but not too strenuous!
Deer Lodge- Went here for dinner but also could be a great post dinner spot- we recommend their BBQ! They have live music most nights and have a pool table to kill some time!
Tortilla House- A MUST IN OJAI! Remember to bring cash, as this hole in the wall Mexican spot is grab n go, we chose to walk to the park across the street and enjoy our lunch!
Farmer & Cook- We had breakfast here and enjoyed sitting on the patio. Definitely a “granola” spot knowing everything is organic and locally grown! P.S scraps of food not eaten go to their chickens!
Tipple & Ramble- We were looking for an afternoon wine spot while shopping and were recommended this gorgeous space. They have a cute outdoor bar cart with food and wine options- we opted for a bottle of white wine and sat in the outdoor space!
The Nest- Went here post sound bath for a casual dinner. Recommend- famous chicken sandwich with the side salad! Portions are large and DELICIOUS!
Santa Barbara
Where to Stay:
Airbnb- we stayed at a newly opened Airbnb that had off street parking, was super clean with such high ceilings and walking distance from a lot of spots.
Hotel Californian- For a hotel I would recommend staying here. Definitely a must on the next visit!
What to Do/Where to Eat:
La Super-rica Tacqueria- first stop when entering Santa Barbara- Julia Child’s favorite Mexican spot! Make sure you have cash and be prepared for a small wait, but we promise this no frills spot is worth it. Don’t forget to get your sweets in and get the Horchata!
Loquitas- we had dinner here on their outside patio under the heaters and would recommend this spot to anyone. Ask for their espresso martini that’s not on the menu if you need a little boost! We shared all meals and recommended: Calamres a la planche, Championes, any of the queso’s, and don’t shy away from the churros!!!
Hendry’s Beach- we took a bottle of wine to the beach and some cheesy reads and enjoyed an afternoon in the sun post la super-rice tacqueria. This was an active beach with wind surfers and dogs! If you are looking for a more relaxing spot, head to butterfly beach!
Cloud Climber Wine Jeep Tour- We couldn’t fit this in, but if you are looking for a wine tour in the hills of Santa Barbara, this is the company we’d recommend! Who wouldn’t want to drink wine and ride in a jeep wrangler?
Folded Hills Winery- We also couldn’t fit this in, but on my list for the next time in back. Its half an hour from the town but looks like a magical spot for wine tasting and appreciating the countryside of California.
Leaving Santa Barbara, I recommend stopping at Cold Spring Tavern- a western saloon with local wine on your way north, unfortunately its closed Monday-Wednesday.
Big Sur
If you are driving north from Santa Barbra, we recommend taking highway 1 and enjoying the views Big Sur has to offer.
Where to Stay:
Post Ranch Inn- easily could spend a few days here, and if you are looking for a once in a lifetime resort- this is the place to stay!
What to Do/Where to Eat:
Nepenthe- all the views in Big Sur are breathtaking, but we did a pit stop here for a glass of wine and to enjoy some warm soup on a chillier day!
Henry Miller Library- Closed on Monday and Tuesdays, this quaint bookstore is filled with history and also hosts events like book readings for a more relaxing day instead of hikes!
Carmel
Where to Stay:
We stayed at this Airbnb- perfect for a family or 3 couples. It was right above an Irish bar overlooking a quaint street in central Carmel!
What to Do/Where to Eat:
La Bicyclette- went here for dinner and got the communal private seating in the back with our party of 6. We recommend the olives il forno for an appetizer, Linguine Pescatore and/or margherita wood fired pizza for main course.
Mission Ranch- the other dinner spot we HIGHLY recommend, you cannot get a reservation ahead of time but this spot sits on a farm on the coast of California. The inside is energetic, with a full bar (get an espresso martin) and live music! We sat out on the patio in front of the fireplace which was heaven.
Toro Sushi- Stopped here for a quick lunch while shopping in Carmel, all of the rolls were delicious but we died and went to heaven eating the Dolores!
Antiques from France- One of the highlights of our trip, we stumbled upon this shop and met the owner who shops in France for antiques and brings them back. An affordable spot to get gifts or find unique pieces for your house- we left with many goodies!
