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Santa Barbara
The Adesso team and I feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with such an incredible array of natural, artistic, and culinary delights. We find inspiration in our daily activities, whether it is a hike on a nearby trail, a walk on the beach, a stroll through our abundant farmer’s markets or a drive up to our gorgeous wine country. Here is a list of some of favorite places and people in Santa Barbara!
Local SB favorites:
To do:
Hot Springs Hike — There is no shortage of amazing hikes in Santa Barbara, but the one that we all do when we want to share Santa Barbara’s natural beauty with out of town guests is Hot Springs. This hike gives you some great vantage points for beautiful views of Santa Barbara, the coastline and the palatial estates of Montecito.
Yoga Soup — It was hard to pick our favorite yoga studio in town because there are so many amazing ones from which to choose. Yoga Soup is definitely one of the most popular because of its great instructors, variety of classes and cool ambiance.
www.yogasoup.com
To eat/drink:
French Press — We are so grateful to have a local coffee joint to grab a delicious cup of coffee on our way to work, as a mid-day break or for the perfect out-of-studio meeting spot. Owners Todd and Julia have created a hub for the community with great coffee and teas.
www.santabarbara.com/dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=1587
Julienne — We love the occasional dinner at the bar at Julienne where we can watch Chef Justin West and his crew whip up tasty fare from their finds at the farmer’s market.
www.restaurantjulienne.com
Los Agaves — This is our favorite Mexican food restaurant in town. The Rajas con Queso tacos are a must-have every visit, and their fresh salsa bar is the best in town.
www.santabarbara.com/dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=1540
Plow & Angel Bar — The cozy bar in the cold months—or the stunning outdoor patio when it is warm—at Plow & Angel at the San Ysidro Ranch is a special spot to enjoy a fresh cocktail and a delicious burger. The ambiance is truly magical.
www.sanysidroranch.com
Renaud’s — Offering hands down the best chocolate croissant outside of Paris, Renaud’s is a delicious bakery for breakfast or lunch. The French Onion soup is fantastic!
www.renaudsbakery.com
To know:
Anne Van de Water — Offers incredible lifestyle coaching programs in addition to private and group yoga classes. She also has a mesmerizing voice that will soon be heard on her various albums. She will brighten your day.
www.annevandewater.com
Merryl Brown — Will plan the most gorgeous, elegant and environmentally sensitive events. She continues to create show-stopping parties that are truly stunning!
www.merrylbrownevents.com
Lisa Field-Elliot — Captures moments in time through her insightful blog posts and photos. She has photographed many of Adesso's lookbooks. Her journey and work are inspirational and exciting to follow.
www.doorwaystraveler.com
Samantha Hutchinson — Could I Have That?, Samantha’s blog are beautifully curated posts that reflect her incredible style, favorite recipes, travel stories and design tips.
couldihavethat.blogspot.com
Steven Soria — A native of Santa Barbara and 3rd generation leather craftsman offers us fabulous leather goods thru his company, Make Smith. Steve combines his family’s artisan traditions with fresh designs to make functional yet stylish leather pieces. Stay tuned… He will have a studio/showroom open to the public soon!
www.makesmith.com
Valerie Rice — Offers her blog readers delightful insight on eating seasonally from your own garden, how to find the perfect wine for every occasion and the greatest tips for easy, tasteful entertaining. She is constantly updating her gorgeous website with delicious, doable and fun recipes and entertaining tips.
eat-drink-garden.com
To see:
Butterfly Beach — A stunning stretch of beach in front of Santa Barbara’s Four Seasons Biltmore that is perfect for a relaxing beach walk or some serious beach play.
Elizabeth Gordon Gallery — The small but well-curated Elizabeth Gordon Gallery (EGG) carries one of our favorite artists, America Martin, a young female painter based in Los Angeles. America’s bold and colorful portraits beautifully capture the emotions of the people she depicts. It is fun to stop in frequently to see her latest works as well as the other local artists they are featuring.
www.elizabethgordongallery.com
The Mission & the Rose Garden — A historical landmark in Santa Barbara that is wonderful for a sunset picnic or game of Frisbee with family and friends.
Lotusland — The beauty and magic of Lotusland is not to be missed. From the whimsical to the more structured gardens within the 37 acres, you will be left in awe and inspired.
www.lotusland.org
Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market — Weekly visits to the Tuesday and Saturday farmer’s markets in Santa Barbara are a favorite activity of the Adesso team. We are so lucky here in Santa Barbara to have a bounty of produce and other food available to us year-round from local farmers and producers. It is not only a community-gathering place, but also a great way to stay in tune with what is happening in our local environs.
www.sbfarmersmarket.org
Santa Barbara Museum of Art— We are so lucky to have a world-class museum here in Santa Barbara. The SBMA has an incredible rotation of amazing exhibits that bring global culture and art to our local community.
www.sbma.net
To stay:
The Presidio Motel — A motel with a modern, artistic spin. Stay here for a hip place to rest your head. Ride a bike through town on one of their adorable loaner bikes and make sure to stop by their gift shop filled with covet-worthy goods.
www.thepresidiomotel.com
Santa Ynez Valley
Just 30 minutes outside of Santa Barbara, we have beautiful wine country filled with amazing wineries and charming towns. Here are some of our favorite stops.
Bell Street Farms — Jamie Gluck’s new gourmet country eatery and market is a great place to pick up a delicious picnic for a wine country jaunt or to sit and enjoy a lovely meal in the beautifully designed interior or charming back patio. The grilled ham and cheese sandwich and housemade pickles are phenomenal. Bell Street also carries Adesso. Need we say more?
www.bellstreetfarm.com
Demetria Estate — The wines and scenery at Demetria cannot be beat. Live music on the outdoor patio with views of rolling hills and olive trees while doing a tasting is a winning combination.
www.demetriaestate.com
Full of Life Flatbread — One visit will give you a lifetime of cravings. Full of Life uses only the freshest local of ingredients to make their famous pizzas. The menu is ever-evolving, determined by what is in season and, while the flatbread is not to be missed, everything on the menu is worthy of total indulgence! If you can’t go on a regular basis, like us, Full of Life Flatbread frozen flatbreads are available at Whole Foods and other natural food stores nationwide.
www.fulloflifefoods.com
