Fodor's Expert Review The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

A luxury resort with four restaurants and a 42,000-square-foot spa and fitness center with 36 treatment rooms, the Ritz-Carlton Bacara provides a gorgeous setting for relaxing retreats. 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 rooms have views of the ocean, mountains, or gardens; all rooms have private balconies or patios and about half have fireplaces. Kids and adults alike can join in Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment program, which connects participants with natural wonders along the Gaviota Coast.