A friend of mine asked for some Santa Barbara tips today and of course I had some for her. I love Sb, It’s my second home, my happy place and one of the prettiest cities in California – don’t get me started! Anyway… while I was listing my favorite spots I remembered a place that is really cool to visit, if you’re in the mood for something a little different. It’s a bit out of the way, somewhere around here… in these mountains.

But not too far away from downtown.  Cold springs tavern is a hidden treasure, hidden in nature with a rustic charm. Fun for brunch on weekends with live local bands. The setting is absolutely gorgeous. Like most things in Santa Barbara.

Adorable.

Pics borrowed online.

In Twentynine Plams everything is called twentynine something. Can be confusing and you can end up at the wrong place. Twentynine Palms is a small city out in the desert on the end of Joshua Tree National Park. The road thru is called Twentynine Palms Hwy and this hotel 29 Palms Inn. It has about twentynine rooms and……I could go on and on. Anyway, this is an awesome spot for the ultimate desert experience.

We stopped for brunch on the way out of the Park and walked around a little. Cool place and a very relaxing atmosphere. It is hard to find good quality food out in the desert and the fact that they have their own little farm on the property makes the whole thing just so great and we enjoyed a really yummy breakfast.

The place has been around since the 30′s and is the place to stay if you don’t wanna camp out – which I totally understand.

A room can look something like this.

A unique place. The only natural oasis in the high desert.

Book a room and have fun!

Saddle Peak Lodge is absolutely amazing and a true hidden gem, if you want some peace and quiet. Take your time to drive away from the city, up the canyon and enjoy something completely different for a while. This place is hidden of the beaten path of the mountains above Malibu and is a old school, wild game kind of place. The patio is so rustic and pretty, surrounded by flowers and their own little herb garden. They serve expensive meat dishes here but please don’t let that scare you away. They offer fish and salads as well and if you get here between 5 and 6pm there is a “5 bucks everything” on their happy hour menu which is fantastic. High quality dishes for that price is really nice. This place is famous for their Elk tenderloin and they serve it with a butter knife, thats how tender it is. I am kidding but you know what I mean. You have to experience this place, the patio, the wooden rocking chairs in the garden and the canyon views even if you’re not a meat fan. Promise you check this place out!