Wellness on the Go: A Simple Road Trip Up the California Coast
From Santa Monica to San Francisco in 6 Days...Wellness Intact
After much thought about what to do for a summer holiday, my boyfriend and I decided to keep it easy. We went back and forth on European trips at one point, but our work schedules kept us busy until late summer so we aimed to keep it as simple as possible—a road trip up the California coast.
The goal of this vacation was to relax and remain as healthy as possible, incorporating hikes, bikes, workouts, and eating clean healthy foods. After all, I am training for the Berlin Marathon so I couldn’t exactly slack off. That said, I did indulge and let my hair down…a little.
Alright, now a little bit about the trip, how I kept it “healthy” with the bits and bobs of our itinerary…because I could not recommend this trip more to anyone needing to unwind and get out of dodge.
Los Olivos
The first stop was a bucket list for me: The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern. I’m a huge fan of the Auberge properties and have had the chance to stay in quite a few (I wrote about Bishop’s Lodge for Vogue.com which you can read here).
Bottom line, this is a must-visit. The decor, atmosphere, food, gym, and pool are all top-notch. Each menu had a plant-based, vegetarian, or healthy option making it easy to dine and not feel bloated or downright awful. The cocktails are fresh for those wanting that type of thing, but they also have an alcohol-free list as well.
I indulged in all of the fun little elements, like drinking my coffee by the fire pit on the cold crisp mornings. I worked out in the gym, dipped in the pool, and made a major dent in my book between swimming and snacking. Pro Tip: rent the cabana for shade, complimentary drinks, and snacks.
Night one we decided to scrap our plans and stay in and order room service. Honestly, this was the best move and really needed to lean into relaxation mode. Night two we had dinner in the Tavern on property at Mattei’s Tavern, which was delicious. I highly recommend SY Kitchen for those looking to get off the property for a night.
Between working out, swimming in the pool, treating ourselves to a spa treatment, and eating delicious squash, greens, and grains—I was even able to dry brush courtesy of the hotel’s wellness touches. My best advice when traveling is to keep the planning simple and take the pressure off of yourself to meet any goals or expectations. I certainly sipped a few margaritas and enjoyed myself.
Before I travel to any new place I read the menu and prepare myself as best I can knowing they have vegetarian and dairy-free options. Also, I map out running routes and will often ask the front desk what’s safe and doable. However, I opted out of road running in Los Olivos due to the heat and instead braved the tread.
A small but mighty list
Stay:
Eat:
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Tavern
Coffee:
Felix Roasting Company
Taste:
E-bike
This Doen dress was a lifesaver. It was basically the least amount of clothing I could properly wear while biking in 100-degree heat. This was such a fun day. We stopped at Roblar for some wine and ended up staying for a while relaxing and chatting.
I have been swimming in a lot of Hunza G recently. Those comfy bikinis and one-pieces, plus my Doen go-to’s, made packing easy.
Big Sur
Big Sur, heaven on earth. This leg of the trip was a reminder that simple is best. We spent 48 hours at the Treebones Resort, and they were the most relaxing hours I have had in a long time. Bonus, the food—rather the culinary experience—was beyond. Chef Kyle (whose sister I happen to know) prepared some of the most delicious dishes. Shout-out to the cauliflower dish with tahini. If you drink wine order the Epoch Tempranillo. Also, don’t skip the greens; they are dressed in a perfectly balanced vinaigrette.
Stay:
Treebones
Ventana
Post Ranch Inn
Eat:
Treebones Restaurant (book ahead, and you have to prepay)
Sierra Madre (Post Ranch)
Pitstop:
Cambria for a walk down Main Street
Taste:
in Cambria along the way: Linn’s Pies (no vegan for me, but if anyone loves pie stop at Linn’s)
Hike:
Here is a list from AllTrails
Important Note: there is a shit-ton of poison oak on the trails. Also, apparently, they have ticks. Additionally, there are rattlesnakes and the trails in Big Sur are quite overgrown at the moment. Take caution when planning your routes.
My favorite activity was sitting on the deck looking out at the ocean.
Sunset over the ocean and the view from our tent. Heaven on earth.
Well, that’s this week’s newsletter. I’m cooking up a few fun recipes and thoughts that I will send through in the next one! Message me if you have any questions about this trip. It was perfectly simple, and that was the goal. You can also check out my Instagram, where I posted quite a bit in-feed about it.
