Spring & Summer Travel Along California’s Charming Central Coast
As we look ahead to Spring and Summer, California’s Central Coast promises to come alive with warmer days, blooming greenery, and idyllic travel opportunities in the picturesque destinations of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. These coastal gems offer a charming escape, with vibrant mountain sceneries, sparkling ocean views, extraordinary culinary and beverage scenes, rejuvenating hotel getaways, and endless local happenings. The journey up or down the coast is just as gorgeous as each destination, and travel is made easy with affordable and climate-friendly train rides via the Pacific Surfliner.
First Stop: San Luis Obispo
Photo Credit: Blake Bronstead
San Luis Obispo, often called SLO, is a charming town nestled halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, where rolling vineyards meet rugged coastline, and a vibrant downtown hums with a relaxed, small-town energy. Known for its laid-back vibe, thriving food and wine destinations, and access to outdoor adventures, SLO is the perfect blend of natural beauty and cultural charm. While in SLO stay at the centrally located Petit Soleil, where French countryside elegance meets exceptional hospitality. Just a 10 minute walk from downtown, Petit Soleil is a newly renovated bed, breakfast and beverage property from the award-winning hospitality group, Good Lion Hospitality. Enjoy beautifully decorated rooms with a nod to nostalgic European charm and elevated minibars featuring a collection of local spirits, custom-made bottled cocktails, and the finest bar tools. Guests can relax on the sun-soaked patio for complimentary breakfast and a daily aperitif hour with wines selected by Master Sommelier Lenka Davis. For those looking for something stronger, Petit Soleil has a full bar in the lobby shaking up your favorite classic and craft cocktails. Opening Soon: Condesa, the expansion of Petit Soleil continues with the Mexico City inspired bar and restaurant concept from the duo of Good Lion Hospitality and notable chef Roman Velazquez.
Second Stop: Santa Barbara
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Kimpton Canary Santa Barbara
Nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara’s ARTS District and steps away from iconic local destinations, the Kimpton Canary Hotel offers a quintessential Santa Barabra escape. The property creates a blissful Spanish-style charm guests have come to love, combining modern California style and Mediterranean inspiration with original hand-painted tiles, wrought iron details, and terracotta floors. Unwind and enjoy Santa Barbara’s largest rooftop pool with stunning 360 views of downtown, the Pacific Ocean and the mountains, then relax and rejuvenate with luxury spa treatments provided by local premium spa partner, FLOAT, which is located just a block away from the hotel. Enjoy refined, yet approachable farm-to-table cuisine onsite at Finch & Fork, where the menu reflects the bounty of Santa Barbara farms, ranches and the Pacific Ocean. Finch & Fork also frequently holds special events to celebrate the season, offering lively happenings that bring locals and travelers together in a spirited and welcoming atmosphere, including a new $1 oyster happy hour, and daily specials. Guests can further enhance their stay with immersive experiences like the Sip & Sail package, or partaking in the many on-property happenings.
Explore Santa Barbara’s beverage scene both in Downtown and the Funk Zone neighborhoods.
Must visit in the Funk Zone: As one of the original Funk Zone tasting rooms, Pali Wine Co.’s flagship tasting room continues to champion this vibrant neighborhood offering visitors and locals alike a true Central Coast experience. Crafting their wines in the Santa Barbara county AVA of Sta. Rita Hills, Pali Wine Co. recently celebrated their 20th harvest. As the only vineyard growing Chenin Blanc in the AVA, Pali embodies visionary dedication to showcasing the region’s unique potential through varieties not found there, recently expanding their estate grown varieties to also include Gamay, Dornfelder, Syrah as well as their award winning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tasting flights allow guests to enjoy their wide variety of exceptional wines from white to red to pink, orange, sparkling and natural, all of which are made from sustainable, organic or biodynamically sourced grapes. The Funk Zone tasting room offers a relaxing patio to sip and enjoy the quirkiness of the buzzy neighborhood.
Must visit Downtown: Another OG, The Good Lion is a staple bar in downtown Santa Barbara from Good Lion Hospitality. This 10-year-old establishment elevated the cocktail scene on the Central Coast by serving high-quality craft cocktails with a consistently rotating menu. Currently, guests can enjoy cocktails inspired by Santa Baraba to celebrate its 10 years with the Nopal St. Cooler with mezcal, prickly pear, banana, blanco tequila, lime, grapefruit, smoked hickory; or the Olive St. Martini with olive oil vodka, gin, tomato essence, french vermouth and balsamic. Down the block from The Good Lion is Shaker Millalso from Good Lion Hospitality, an al fresco cocktail bar, serving everything from margaritas like the Jalisco Daisywith reposado, pineapple, ginger, mezcal, lime, salers gentian (optionally spicy!), frozen drinks like the Fruit Cart Sno Cone with mezcal, fruit cart fruits, pasilla chilis, curaçao, lime, chamoy, tajin, mint, snow; andspecialty shots such as the Jello Shot with blanco tequila, strawberry, campari, vanilla, mezcal, bitter rhubarb and lemon.
Third Stop: Ventura
Photo Credit: Lure Digital
Only 30 minutes south of Santa Barbara lies Ventura, a hidden gem brimming with destinations to explore, including the Channel Islands just a boat ride away. Ventura’s stunning beach, emerging food and drink scene, buzzing downtown, and rich historic sites make for a great getaway destination. Downtown Ventura’s flourishing dining and nightlife scene has all you need for a great night out with establishments from Good Lion Hospitality. Newly opened Jaguar Moon is a tequila and mezcal bar that transports guests to a tropical oasis. Enjoy cocktails like the Oaxacan OF with mezcal, reposado, mole bitters, orange essence or the Jaguar Moon with blanco tequila, pineapple, manzanilla sherry, cucumber, spicy green pepper, mezcal, lime. Cocina Jaguar, from a shared kitchen space inside Jaguar Moon, is the creation of Chef Ramon Velazquez, which features authentic Yucatan-style dishes with a modern twist. Bold flavors are present with every dish such as the Tuna Tostada Tlayuda with Albacore ABC, morita-mayo, avocado, pepitas, macha salsa, furikake, and the Costra with ribeye chicharrón, avocado, seared cheese, arbol salsa, cilantro, served on a house-made flour tortilla. Just down the block is Strange Beast, a bar and restaurant inspired by the izakayas of Tokyo where guests can enjoy sake, wine, beer and cocktails including the Ube Pina Colada and House Old Fashioned made with Japanese whiskey, pandan leaf aged rum, banana peel oleo and macadamia. In collaboration with Santa Barbara-based restaurant, Sama Sama, Strange Beast also offers Japanese tapas such as hand rolls with salmon and ikura, cucumber, scallop, and crab; chicken karaage with tosazu vinegar, spicy mayo, and lemon; as well as Sama Sama’s famous wings. Connected to Strange Beast is Backdoor Bento which serves to-go Japanese-style lunch boxes with rice, cucumber sunomono, marinated egg, braised kombu, and your choice of protein: chashu pork belly, salmon flakes, roasted eggplant ‘unagi’ (vegan), spicy tuna, crab, scallop, or seafood trio.
