One Day in Santa Barbara: Coastal Charm and Idyllic life

Taking a day off at my company is a rare luxury, and I wasn't about to let it slip away. Santa Barbara, with the allure of a Spanish pueblo and the promise of good food and scenic wonders, had always been on my travel list. So, I set off on a spontaneous day trip to Santa Barbara on Dec 15, 2023. Little did I know, it would turn out to be a day filled with unexpected delights and dreamy moments.

First Stop: Pacific Coast Highway

Along the Pacific Coast Highway, I came to the Ventura Beach. Basking in the warm SoCal sunshine and gazing at the serene blue ocean, I felt an immense sense of freedom and inside peace. Sometimes, a random find on the road can become the highlight of your trip and always shine in your memory.

Brunch at Renaud's Patisserie & Bistro:

After a brief stop at the Pacific Coast Highway, my stomach started to remind me of the more important thing: food. The eateries in this Spanish pueblo are never dull, and it was time to test it out.

There were a lot of brunch choices on Google Maps, but after I sorted out the non-American style, not many were left, and Renaud was one of them. I am not a fan of American egg-bacon-potato style brunch, I love the crispness of whole wheat bread with arugula, the refreshing and delicate prosciutto with burrata, and the simplicity and freshness of thinly sliced smoked salmon with mashed avocado squeezed with lemon juice. In my mind, breakfast should leave some room for the stomach, with a refreshing taste complemented by the right amount of protein to start the day full of energy. If it's a brunch, swap the morning americano for a cappuccino, you'll need a full stomach, but not so full that you can't walk after eating.

What attracted me to Renaud was their Avocado Salmon toast, which was exactly what I needed after a 2-hour drive, something light but refreshing. My friend ordered ham & cheese toast, which was heavier, and more like a lunch choice. Besides, we randomly picked Exotic as our dessert for its sunflower look.

My Pick👍:

Avocado Salmon Toast: 4.5/5

Croque Monsieur (ham & cheese toast): 4/5

Dessert: Exotic (passion fruit mousse): 3/5

The Avocado Salmon Toast demanded attention, and it delivered beyond my expectations. The salmon was very fresh and smoked just right, garnished with thin slices of radish, and next to an adequate amount of vegetable salad and sundried fruits scattered among them, the warm and cool colors contrasting with each other in a way that shows the chef's excellent aesthetic. The salmon glistened in the sunlight and straight away whetted my appetite.

Croque Monsieur (ham & cheese toast) was not a star in Renaud’s, but solid and tasty, easily brought you satiety. If you’re not a salmon fan, and really hungry, this can be a good choice.

The dessert Exotic was not that exotic since passion fruit is not something people rarely know right now. The cream took up too much proportion, turning the mousse more sweet and creamy than refreshing, and the freshness of passion fruit is masked, turning it into an ordinary dessert.

 

Coffee: crushcakes & cafe

Continuing my exploration, one hour within the brunch is the coffee time for me. And this time, I wanted something unusual, no matter the drink flavor or the owner’s taste.

Crushcakes & Cafe caught my eyes before we ate in Renaud’s when we were trying to find the parking. The bear painting on the wall with the Spanish-style decoration made me unable to walk away. And, it did present an unexpected delight – the Apple Chaider (apple cider with Chai). Initially quirky, all my thoughts were “What the hell is this”. A few sips in, and I was captivated. It offered a warm embrace for us in the SoCal winter, and I felt I was in the apple orchards in Oak Glen.

 

Early afternoon: Santa Barbara Courthouse Garden

Court house is one of Santa barbara's iconic attractions, and I went there on a whim, only to feel a tinge of disappointment. Outside the beautiful building, homeless people (although I'm not sure if there was a welfare distribution going on outside the door) were sitting on the grass, and the lawn wasn't exactly clean. Walking through the archway into the court house, I was greeted by at least six couples taking wedding photos at all angles, professional camera equipment everywhere, but it was hard to appreciate the beauty of its own serene architecture. "Maybe I came at a bad time", I said to myself.

 

Early afternoon: Wandering on the lawn of Old Mission Santa Barbara

Old Mission Santa Barbara was established on the Feast of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786 by Fr. Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, and was the tenth of the 21 California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. I’m not a religious person, but still mesmerized by the unique style of this pink mission and the beautiful scenery outside.

"What a peaceful place! It was a Friday with only three cars in the parking lot. We didn't go inside the mission due to limited time, but we spent a long time wandering on the lawn, sitting on the bench, and overlooking the sea and houses in front.

If the idyllic pastoral life does exist, then what I have seen is undoubtedly the closest form of it. With religious faith and beautiful scenery as far as the eye can see, whatever troubles are in such a life would be much better, right?

Lying on the grass for almost one hour, chatting about our past lives, sharing memories, happiness, and feelings as an international, my friend and I had a blend of emotions: we are like floating weeds, drifting alone in the lake of a foreign land, trying our best to earn a better life, but sometimes still can’t resist the relentlessness of fate. We hope we can become seeds, so that we can be sown into the ground, as time goes by, we can grow into trees fighting against the howling wind and torrential rain.

 

Sunset: Stearns Wharf

When the sunset was about to come, we set off to Stearns Wharf, the best place for sunset in Santa Barbara. Built in 1872, it’s the oldest continuously operating wooden wharf in California. We drove on the wooden wharf because we didn’t know where to park outside, but if you can find parking outside the wharf, walking would be highly recommended.

What could be more intoxicating than breathing in a salty ocean breeze, watching a spectacular sunset, and feeling the stunning Pacific Coastal blue? When night falls, sitting in the patio, sipping wine and tasting authentic seafood, life's most enjoyable moments are just like this.

People and animals chilling

No expectations, but Stearns Wharf turned out to be the undeniable highlight of my day. Restful seagulls stopped by the fence, enjoying the view, love birds holding each other in their arm, whispering and kissing.

Breathtaking Sunset

The sunset was beyond breathtaking – the sea transformed into a living painting, while boats gracefully glided by, and the sky adorned in hues of purple, orange, blue, and pink. The night and sunset glow covered the sea with ripples, turning the sea into a profound canvas. “Do not go gentle into that good night.” Dylan Thomas said so. This dreamy spectacle transported me far from the chaos of the world.

 

Informal Dinner: Santa Barbara Fish Market & On The Alley

Why informal? Because none of them are a restaurant with seats inside. So, there is no need to take my camera out and shoot beautiful photos for them😅.

Why choose these two? Because of our limited budget. As a graduate student and a work bee who just graduated, we still wanted to save more. Luckily we found these 2 affordable choices.

At Santa Barbara Fish Market, with only $16, you can get one pound of fresh Sea Urchin, and oysters are $3 each. Compared to the market price of those in LA restaurants, here you definitely will have a more satisfying meal at a much cheaper price. We ordered oysters and were impressed with their freshness and soft texture. A nice tip is to come early since most of them were sold out when we arrived after 6 pm.

On the Alley is famous for their baja fish tacos and pork belly tacos. Our rate was they were indeed good enough. If you really wanna compare that with Baja California Tacos in Culver City and Taco Nazo in El Monte, I would say On the Alley is slightly inferior to them, still worth a 4/5 rate.

Back home

As I walked away from the pier, the sea breeze gently caressing my face, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the unplanned moments, the culinary delights, and the coastal charm that made this Santa Barbara day trip an exploration of the senses – a journey that unfolded like a poem to the idyllic life by the sea. Until next time, Santa Barbara, your coastal magic will linger in my heart.