By Rick Stedman

The luxurious Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara epitomizes the casually sophisticated California lifestyle. This one-of-a-kind resort invites guests to indulge in everything from tours of local wineries, golfing, surfing, relaxing on the beach or lounging poolside at the exclusive Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club.

This exquisite property is located on Butterfly Beach in Montecito just outside Santa Barbara, cradled between the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains. The two-story structure features 207 rooms, and is designed in Spanish Colonial adobe with red roof tiles and graceful archways. The brick walkways are lit by romantic gas lanterns set amidst lush tropical gardens.

Closing in on 90 years of dedicated pampering of guests, The Biltmore, now a Four Seasons resort, was originally built in 1927, and now restored to its former glory as the region’s most outstanding resort experience. Back when Los Angeles was still a cowboy town, the film industry was located up the coast in Santa Barbara. Today, the studios have moved to Hollywood, while “America’s Riviera” remains a playground of the glitterati, who come for weekends and for the annual film festival.

Bungalows are popular

A popular choice for accommodations at the Biltmore are the bungalows, which offer a throwback to the former era, but are infused with a touch of modern luxury. The resort’s director of public relations Daniel Howard shared that when the resort first opened its doors in 1927, it featured bungalows scattered throughout the 22-acre resort, in keeping with the preferred style of guest rooms sought after by Hollywood celebrities. The casual-style buildings feature distinctive architecture, hardwood floors and patios providing privacy and a separation from the main buildings where the restaurants and a majority of the resort’s guest rooms are located.

With the increase in family and multi-generational travel, the demand for bungalows has returned and each of the 12 bungalows at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara can now be reserved for parties of up to 16 individuals in four distinct accommodation for each of the bungalow buildings. Bungalows also can be reserved in two-bedroom and three-bedroom suite configurations.

Recently, Traveler Publications’ Editor-in-Chief;  Mayté Rodríguez Cedillo, was able to experience a weekend stay at one of the resort’s bungalows. “We had an amazing weekend !  EVERYTHING about the Resort was simply – A M A Z I N G!” she said.

The bungalow guest rooms also feature tasteful antiques and fireplaces, alongside colorful Spanish Colonial tile bathrooms with heated floors. All bungalows also boast private outdoor patio spaces with seating and tables for al fresco dining.  The size, room layout, and privacy of the bungalows also make them ideal for the booking of in-room Spa treatments. Bungalow guests also enjoy brand new 52-inch flat screen televisions, new artwork selected for each individual accommodation, new upholstered seating and luxurious floor-to-ceiling window curtains giving the homes a freshly-decorated look and feel while maintaining the essence of a country-style home that transports guests to an era where artistry and quality reigned supreme.

Saying “I do”

Featuring lush gardens throughout the property, the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara offers one of the most coveted locations for brides and grooms exchanging vows. The resort has six distinctive wedding event spaces that suit every taste and party size from intimate ceremonies to those on a grand scale. The ocean front La Pacifica Ballroom and Terrace is located directly on top of pristine Butterfly Beach and the resort enjoys customizing lighting so that when the sun goes down, the ocean tides are cast in the hues of the couple’s wedding theme.

The Mariposa Garden surrounds smaller wedding parties in Spanish Colonial splendor while providing an unobstructed view of the ocean horizon and the Channel Islands in the background. Most Mariposa Garden ceremonies utilize the oceanfront El Mar ballroom, complete with dramatic fireplace for dinners and receptions. Larger parties enjoy the floor-to-ceiling La Marina ballroom that frames the Pacific Ocean. Loggia Ballroom features high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a stunning terrace for pre- or post-wedding receptions. Monte Vista Lawn provides a dramatic setting surrounded by a grove of trees and the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains rising in the background. When Sean Lowe and Catherine Guidici of ABC’s The Bachelor needed to find a location to tie the knot, they selected none other than the Monte Vista Lawn at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara for a ceremony that ended up being viewed by a television audience of more than 6.2 million worldwide.

Two of the must-have photo settings for couples are the Spanish Colonial “turret” and staircase and the resort’s enormous Moreton Bay fig tree, which has been growing in Montecito since 1877. Wedding parties travelling together oftentimes seek out the secluded bungalow accommodations mentioned above.

Enjoy the Spaaaaaa

If personal indulgence is on your agenda during a visit, the resort spa offers an inspiring array of restorative beauty treatments based on the bounty of the sea blended with botanicals from the gardens of Santa Barbara. Enjoy 11 personalized spa treatment rooms – including four day suites, each with a fireplace – or in the privacy of your guest room.

Choose from 14 different massages, including hot stone, couple’s, deep tissue, and Swedish. You can also indulge in a wide range of body treatments from body wraps and scrubs to soothing baths. Restore your natural radiance and maintain a youthful complexion with advanced facial treatments. Also, José Eber Santa Barbara offers a wide range of luxurious hair styling, coloring, and make-up services in a serene and glamorous setting.

Whatever your indulgence, you can find it at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. Visit www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara.