Make Santa Barbara Your Mantra
by: Barbara Steinberg Published in Lux Life Magazine January/February 2009
Twisting mountain and charming valley roads . . . endless white-sand beaches . . . abundant marine life . . . fabulous wineries . . . feasting delights . . . trendsetting shops.... This is the mantra that locals and visitors chant as they describe Santa Barbara and beyond. They liken it to an “American Riviera” that’s almost a country unto itself. So diverse, it offers every possible distraction – even more than most countries claim.
The pleasures begin upon arriving at the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara, where it is immediately apparent that paradise has been found. Towering palms, exotic flowers, cascading vines, winding paths and quiet courtyards create a restful atmosphere at this renowned resort. Built in 1927, the hotel has been painstakingly refurbished to its golden days, No detail, no stone, no fountain has been overlooked and every possible comfort and extravagance has been carefully planned. This five-star-rated Four Seasons should be reclassified. It is unmistakably a 10! Thanks to its owner, visionary Ty Warner.
Guests who are spellbound and who can’t envision anything more exquisite should cross the road to the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club. It has been meticulously restored under the tutelage of famed architect Peter Marino, who defined the conversion of this 1930s beach club as “Art Deco meets Zen.” Re-opened in 2008 at a red carpet, star-studded affair, the waterfront casino includes an Olympic sized pool and heart-stopping coastal views. Sumptuous to the core, Coral Casino is exclusively exclusive. Only members and hotel guests may partake of its blissful delights. Casino amenities include a fitness center, locker rooms, steam rooms and saunas, poolside café, whirlpool and children’s wading pool. Guests can lounge serenely and meditate on the surreal splendor of this Eden. The Casino overlooks Butterfly Beach – one of America’s “Top 10” according to Travel+Leisure Magazine.
A foodie’s desires are equally satiated in Santa Barbara. The Four Seasons’ Bella Vista Restaurant provides a tranquil setting that’s perfect for savoring imaginative California country cuisine. At Coral Casino, the newly launched Tydes Restaurant features authentic Mediterranean cuisine from France, Spain and Morocco with a focus on seasonal and local ingredients. At the helm is acclaimed Executive Chef Pilar Sanchez who returned to the Four Seasons after several years in the Napa Valley. “Santa Barbara is such an exceptional part of the world in its abundance of fresh ingredients,” says Sanchez. “It has inspired me to create a menu that transports you vicariously to other parts of the world yet remains grounded in eating well, in a way that is nurturing to body and soul.” Tydes’ dazzling vistas of Butterfly Beach and the Channel are for hotel guests and members only.
Read the rest of the story in Lux Life Magazine
Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club Pool Credit Barbara Steinberg
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