san diego or santa barbara
 

Looking into an August anniversary getaway with husband. We're mid-thirties, live in the south so would like to escape the heat for a long weekend. San Diego (Coronado or LaJolla) and Santa Barbara have come up in discussions. We'd like to relax, possibly do some beach time, pool time, spa services, good food and some shopping. Which would you choose or do you have other suggestions?

Moomoo,

I would go with Santa Barbara. I have been to and enjoyed both, but Santa Barbara seems more relaxing and romantic to me. We stayed at a hotel right on the ocean and near State Steet, the main drag. Lots of shopping and restaurants are within walking distance.

San Diego always makes me think of more active things like surfing, snorkeling and such.

Amy

Both are nice places you won't be disappointed. Personally I love San Diego/LaJolla. the Coronado Hotel is lovely, great Sunday Brunch and La Jolla for a nice walk and lunch dinner at the Valencia Hotel with a view of the water can all be done in one day.
Old Town San Diego has good Mexican food and shopping too.

A vote for Santa Barbara. SD is nice but has traffic/some big city grit to it wherever you go. Santa Barbara seemed more serene with plenty of shopping and is just gorgeous with the mountains in the background.

i love both but santa barbara will be a bit of a slower pace then san diego.

I wouldn't do Coronado, but La Jolla is nice. Will you have a car? Downtown La Jolla has nice restaurants and shops, and ocean views where you can see seals. La Jolla Shores is where you would actually want to swim - the beach is sandy and the water is a little warmer. Very relaxing, and if you like, you can rent kayaks (no experience necessary) and kayak the sea caves and see the sea lions. I'd recommend La Jolla Kayak if you go. Santa Barbara is awesome - one of my favorite places, but the beach, I don't think, is as nice. But if you'll have a car it's near the beginning of the famous route 1 towards Big Sur, and amazing drive for a day or night. I'd also check out Laguna Beach - great shops, antiques stores, and restaurants, and a really nice beach, but I'm not sure where you'd fly into. One important thing- the pacific is NOT like the atlantic, especially if you're used to the warm waters of the Carolinas or Florida. The water is COLD and the waves are rougher- that's why people surf, in wetsuits! Have fun!

If I wanted to escape the heat, I would head for the mountains (Aspen or Banff) or the Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach).

Banff is a pleasant drive from Calgary, and Cannon Beach is a 75-mile drive from Portland.

However, of San Diego and Santa Barbara, I would pick Santa Barbara, and of Coronado and LaJolla, I would pick LaJolla.

The coast around Santa Barbara is beautiful and there are loads of interesting places to visit, such as Ojai.