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 by
Mitchell Sacharoff
MSMITCHYMO@aol.com
Santa
Barbara and San Diego, Two Great Weekend Getaways
So you want to get out of the heat of Las Vegas and maybe hit the beach
for a few days. Just an hour flight or a long afternoon drive are two of
my favorite beach destinations, Santa Barbara and San Diego.
Santa Barbara still has a wonderful small town feel. The Santa
Barbara Inn is a charming little hotel that sits right across from the
beach. I enjoyed sitting on my balcony sipping a drink and watching a
sunset as the waves crashed along the beach. Below me in the courtyard I
could see other couples enjoying the heated pool and hot tub while
sharing a bottle of Champagne. With nice comfortable rooms, friendly
staff, free Internet, complimentary continental breakfast, plenty of
free street parking, this is a perfect long weekend getaway trip. I
enjoyed sleeping with just the screen door and could hear the soothing
sounds of the waves rolling onto the beach. You won’t find that in Las
Vegas. The hotel will hook you up with sunset whale watching cruises,
horseback riding, wine tasting tours; all sorts of adventures are there.
Sandpiper golf course, known as Pebble Beach of the south, sits right on
the ocean, and is simply stunning. Just enjoy a swim, stroll or bike
ride along the beach.
Just minutes away sits State Street with its world famous Spanish
architecture where you will find lots of shopping and restaurants. The
Avia spa just a block from State Street offers all sorts of wonderful
treatments. I enjoyed the deep tissue massage and a Hawaiian tropical
body scrub.
My two favorite restaurants sit in the Harbor overlooking the boats.
Chucks Waterfront Grill is an upscale restaurant with a relaxed casual
atmosphere where Hawaiian music softly plays from the speakers. Take
advantage of the outdoor patio. Chucks has amazing steaks and wonderful
local wines. The oysters cooked with brie cheese were a delight. I loved
the lobster bisque soup. Try the Australian lobster and save room for
some awesome desserts. The staff is friendly and has great advice on the
food and wines.
Just above Chucks sits The Endless Summer Bar-Café. It is as fun as the
famous surfing movie they are associated with. Many summer nights you
will find live local beach bands performing, always-free popcorn, great
burgers, fish and chips to die for, loved the lobster tacos.
Best way to get more info and to contact these places is on the web.
www.santabarbarainn.com
phone # 805-966-2285
www.aviaspa.com phone #
805-730-7303
www.chuckswaterfrontgrill.com phone # 805-564-1200
www.endlesssummerbarcafe.net phone # 805-564-4666
San Diego is much larger and more spread out than Santa Barbara.
I like North County San Diego. From Del Mar up the coast to Carlsbad is
just beach town charming.
If we are going first class and budget is not a problem, a great resort
just a five minute drive from the beach is the world famous La Costa
Resort and Spa. Just stroll around its bright white Spanish Colonial
buildings, plaza and fountains. The rooms are beautifully appointed, and
spacious. They have an amazing golf course. I have played there in S. D.
Chargers legend Junior Seau’s annual Charity golf tournament. Usually in
March or April if you are interested, play the course Tiger and Trevino
has walked; two champion courses with 40 years of PGA history.
Needless to say, you can get some great golf lessons.
You can also play tennis on the courts Venus and Sharapova have played,
and brush up with tennis lessons as well. Seven heated swimming pools,
and just recently, two water slides were added. This resort has reached
out to become more family oriented with a kidtopia kid’s club and Vibz
for teenagers. So mom and dad can golf, hit the spa, while the kids do
their own thing.
As famous as La Costa is for golf it is equally as famous for being one
of the world’s premier spas. Everything you can think of in spa
treatments they have. It's first class all the way. I enjoyed a
massage for two with my girlfriend. Afterward, we sat in our bathing
suits under the outdoor Roman waterfall. It was pure bliss.
We enjoyed an upscale dinner at the resorts Blue Fire Grill where we
shared some excellent fish and steak and sampled some delightful wine.
The food and staff are quite wonderful. Also the connecting lounge had
live jazz music. There is a beautiful outdoor patio. Sit around the fire
pit, have a glass of wine, gaze at the stars. For breakfast we sat
outside overlooking the golf course and enjoyed some fresh squeezed O.J.
omelet, with bagels, cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Of course San Diego has the world famous S.D. Zoo, Sea World and the
Wild Animal Park - all wonderful. But to beat the Vegas heat I enjoy the
beaches in Del Mar and Cardiff. They offer great swimming,
surfing, boogie board riding and body surfing beaches. There you will
find several moderately priced motels and a half dozen restaurants with
views of the ocean.
The 10-minute drive along the coast between these beach towns is
stunning and the summer sunsets magical. Also the 40-minute hike at
Torry Pines State Park, which ends on the beach, is lots of fun. All a
relaxing refreshing change from life in Las Vegas.
In early summer, just 6 weeks, you have the Del Mar Race Track, where
the surf meets the turf, as the saying goes. Maybe it is the only horse
track with a view of the ocean. When track season is over a huge Del Mar
Fair with food, music and rides takes over the grounds for a month for
great family fun.
My favorite dinner restaurant is minutes from the track and beach.
Paradise Grille offers indoor and outdoor dining. The miso salmon and
pork tenderloin are favorites. I love the scallops; colonial shrimp is
pure delight; wines are very good, but the mango and pomegranate
martinis are amazing, and they carry my favorite beer, Hinano all the
way from Tahiti. Dessert will not disappoint. Say hi to the owner
Connor, he is from South Africa and quite friendly. He and the staff
will help you pick dishes that are just right for you.
If you still have more time 15 minutes south of Del Mar is world famous
La Jolla Village. There near the water you will find lots of shops and
eateries. The La Jolla Cove beach is a national wildlife preserve, and
just feet from the shore you can snorkel and see lots of sea life. Bring
bread or frozen peas and you will have 20 fish surrounding you. The cove
is famous for the bright orange garibaldi fish. Stroll the ocean walkway
just south of the cove 5 minutes and you will see a beach taken over by
sea lions. For more info go on the web.
www.lacosta.com phone#
800-729-4772
www.paridisegrille.com
# 858-350-0809
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