The Bar/Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

"Just a few miles up the coast from Santa Barbara, on 78 beachfront acres, the whitewashed collection of buildings known as the Bacara Resort & Spa—think ritzy Spanish Colonial—is the kind of status-y getaway that attracts new money, old money, wannabe money, and everyone in between"

"Travelers who want to be near a beach with a bit more sand are better off staying at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, instead"

"Hotel fine dining options are decidedly not the main event, but you can always opt for classic dishes at the bar instead"

"The adjacent Sandpiper Golf Club offers one of the state'™s top courses, and downtown Santa Barbara and the wine country are both just a short drive away"

"The Spanish Colonial–style buildings and manicured gardens sprawl across 78 acres next to a rugged stretch of beach 15 miles north of downtown Santa Barbara"

"The Santa Barbara Historical Museum covers the region’s history from Native Americans to surfers and is set in an earthy yet elegant adobe building with a picturesque courtyard complete with fountain"

"Bacara Spa and Resort feels secluded for a reason: it sits on 78 oceanfront acres on the North end of Santa Barbara"

"Occupying a four-story cedar-paneled rotunda and decorated in restful minimalist style, it boasts 42,000 sq ft of luxury, with a long roster of fitness classes, a heated lap pool, indoor and outdoor massage, 36 treatment rooms, four private suites, personalized weight training, Swiss showers, two relaxation lounges, a full-service salon and a boutique"