Belmond El Encanto

Last weekend, we decided to indulge in a last minute escape from the city. We skipped out of Los Angeles (in the usual bumper to bumper crawl) and drove up the coast to Santa Barbara.

I have family just north of Santa Barbara, so I spent a lot of my childhood driving to and through this central coast city. I also lived here for the first two years of my undergrad at UCSB, before I transferred to UCLA. I was never a fan of the crazy party scene at UCSB (hence the transfer), but I have always loved the city itself.

It was so nice to be back.

The Belmond El Encanto was home for the night. A quaint little hotel perched on one of Santa Barbara’s massive mountain ranges.

The guest rooms were all in separate little buildings on the grounds, nestled amongst the palm trees, bungalow style.

It took no time at all to settle in and raid the minibar (two things that are basically synonymous).

And then we went outside to explore.

Just beyond our room was a small pond packed with lily pads…

…and sun soaked turtles.

Just casually living the life.

xx

k