Bacara Resort & Spa for 5-star Family Vacations
One of the Best Hotels in Santa Barbara for Luxury Trips with Kids
Dec 15, 2008
Santa Barbara is one of Luxury Travel's favorite vacation town along California's Central Coast, but sometimes dealing with the touristy bustle of State Street - Santa Barbara's main thoroughfare - doesn't fit with people's best vacation desires. Two luxury properties that are a quick drive to Santa Barbara, yet definitely outside of it, are The Bacara Resort, and the San Ysidro Ranch. Of the two, the San Ysidro Ranch is hands down the more romantic vacation getaway spot. However, for family trips and girlfriend getaways, Bacara is just about perfect. The Bacara Resort and Spa is approximately 15 minutes north of downtown Santa Barbara, making it a perfect respite for travelers who seek an "almost" away-from-it-all luxury vacation.
Bacara Resort & Spa Overview
The luxury resort hotel's 78 acre property is right on the beach, stretching up to the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains. There are 311 rooms and 49 suites in the Bacara Resort, along with 2 pools, two full 18-hole golf courses, three on-site restaurants and four bars/lounges. As the name indicates, there is also a wonderful, pampering spa. This full-service spa has 36 treatment rooms.
The Restaurants at Bacara Resort & Spa
- The Spa Cafe is, needless to say, right by the Spa.The meals here are organic and very light, as befits a spa vacation. The Spa Cafe is only open for breakfast and lunch.
- The Bistro is a popular, mid-range (for a luxury resort) restaurant. There is some American cuisine, some classic Mediterranean, all in a classy setting that will please adults in the traveling group. The Bistro smokes and cures its meats on-site.
- Miro is the most formal of the resort dining spots. Reservations are recommended here, particularly during peak travel seasons. Named after the Spanish artist Joan Miro, the restaurant serves Spanish (Basque-Catalonian) meals - the menu offerings are more diverse than a novice diner might expect.
The Spa at Bacara Resort & Spa
This is a very large full-service spa! 42,000 square feet over 3 floors ensures a great variety of services and treatments. The fitness facilities are open to all guests of the Bacara Resort, but reservations are needed for the spa treatments. Some spa treatments are hydrotherapy, massages (various types and techniques) body and facial treatments, and ayurveda. In addition, there are various fitness programs including personal training, private pilates, and a body composition analysis. This last one is intended to start off a personalized training program that best suits the individual.
Children at the Bacara Resort & Spa
Depending on the time of year, the Bacara Resort can seem like it's absolutely teeming with kids. Word is out: this is the best luxury resort for high-end family travel right outside of Santa Barbara. This is partly because of the spacious rooms and extremely comfortable beds - who doesn't love that? - and because of the concierge-arranged, reliable babysitting. However, it's the Kids' Club that really helps Bacara Resort & Spa shine as a family -friendly luxury destination hotel.
The Bacara Kids' Club is the on-site camp, and it includes a terrific, well-regarded program for children. Parents can go off and do their own thing, knowing that their children are having a fun time here. Daily activities include arts and crafts, science experiments. kite flying on the beach, and many outdoor activities. Depending on the season and the day, the Bacara Kids' Club "counselors" take children to the monarch butterfly preserve, the beach, or for walks on the property to play tetherball, croquet, soccer, and other outdoor games. Indoors, the child-friendly club activities include the aforementioned arts and sciences, as well as computers (iMacs), foosball and air hockey tables, and many interactive, creative games. The Bacara Kids' Club is much more than just a place for guests to dump their children so that they can play golf or get a spa treatment. It's the reason upscale family travelers return to Bacara Resort & Spa for vacations the whole family will enjoy.
Now, this is no Disney cruise: There are still plenty of opportunities for quiet reflection and serenity. This holds true especially when kids are in school. But there are sure to be more families with young children here than at other nearby 5-star resorts. The Baraca Resort & Spa is not the most romantic spot for a quiet getaway near Santa Barbara California, but it is the best luxury resort for families to bring their children of all ages. It is highly recommended.
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