Heaven on Earth is probably the best way to describe the Four Seasons Biltmore. We arrived on a gloomy and rainy day, which is rare for Santa Barbara, but the ocean was greeting us with its beauty. As we drove into the hotel driveway we were in awe of the beautiful architecture of the Spanish style hotel. It instantly brought back memories of my childhood in Mexico. Some of my favorite memories as a child are staying in haciendas with beautiful decor and history. The Biltmore is nestled in charming Montecito, which is just 10 miles south of Santa Barbara. As you wind your way through the beautiful resort you find yourself getting lost in the stunning gardens with magnolia trees, palm trees and flowers growing as far as the eye can see.
What makes the Biltmore unique are the breathtaking views of the ocean. The first night as we were trying to decide where to go for dinner, we walked through the stunning lobby and saw that the Bella Vista restaurant in the hotel had a front seat to watch the ocean as the sun was setting. How could we pass that up? After a breathtaking sunset we enjoyed homemade pasta that melted in our mouths. It was the perfect end to our magical day.
The following day we enjoyed a casual walk by the ocean to get one last glimpse of our view. After we check out of the hotel we of course had to stop into our favorite shops in town – Rooms and Gardens, Diani, and Dressed in Santa Barbara and Botanik in Summerland. All of these are a must!
As we left to continue our road trip down to LA we agreed that another stay at the Biltmore was definitely in order – it was the perfect home away from home.
Photos by Caitlin Flemming
“Getaway” will be appearing on Sacramento Street to document my travels. I’m hoping to make it a monthly feature. If you have a favorite hotel in your city that you think should be featured please leave a comment or email me. I’ll be traveling a far amount in 2013 and hopefully it’ll be to a city you recommend!