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THE WONDERS OF SELF-CARE, SANTA BARBARA STYLE

October 3, 2024

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Living in Santa Barbara is a privilege, especially when it comes to self-care. With our laid-back lifestyle and year-round Mediterranean climate, finding time for soul-soothing TLC is effortless. Santa Barbara offers a diverse range of wellness options that complement the natural beauty surrounding us. Serenity, relaxation, and good vibes are abundant in Santa Barbara, thanks to many self-care activities that nurture physical and mental well-being. The unique blend of our stunning natural landscapes, mild climate, and vibrant community creates the perfect backdrop for self-care Santa Barbara style rejuvenation. Here are some of my favorite spots and activities that help me recharge when I’m ready to unplug and reconnect with myself.

A chaise longue with orange cushion looking out to verdant hills.

Commune with Mother Nature

Spending time outdoors in Santa Barbara is one of the simplest forms of self-care. The stunning ocean and mountain views reduce stress and increase feelings of joy, while the fresh air and natural surroundings can significantly boost your emotional well-being. In our community, embracing the outdoors is part of our everyday culture.

With countless outdoor activities to choose from, it can be challenging to decide where to start. Here are a few of my go-to experiences:

  • Waterfront Walks and Bike Rides: Enjoy a refreshing stroll or bike ride along the picturesque waterfront.
  • Lotusland: Immerse yourself in 25 distinct gardens featuring beloved classics and rare plant collections, all set in a picturesque environment.
  • Meditation at the Mission Rose Garden: Find peace amidst beautiful roses and serene landscapes.
  • Vedanta Temple in Montecito: Discover the 46-acre temple grounds that offer a calming atmosphere.
  • Sacred Space in Summerland: Explore the relaxing meditation gardens that invite you to pause and reflect.
  • Salt Cave Santa Barbara: Nestled at 740 State Street, Salt Cave Santa Barbara boasts two Himalayan mineral caves that provide a tranquil atmosphere for unwinding, reenergizing, and revitalizing both body and mind.

Yoga class on the beach with palm trees in the distance and a group doing a pose on their knees and a women in sunglasses smiling at the camera

Image courtesy of Sol Seek Yoga

Life Balance Through Yoga

Bringing your yoga practice to the beach not only feels idyllic, but it can also improve your physical and mental health. Enjoy the benefits of Vitamin D while connecting with nature and breathing in the salty sea air. Practicing yoga on the sand, with the waves as your soundtrack, can transform your outlook on life.

Some local favorites for outdoor yoga include:

  • Sol Seek Yoga: On weekends, experience transformative classes under the stars at the historic Casa de La Guerra and La Mesa Park.
  • Santa Barbara Beach Yoga: Embrace the ocean backdrop as you deepen your practice.
  • Yoga Soup: Known for its nurturing environment and yoga teacher training.

If you’d rather practice from the serenity of your home or in a studio, the Santa Barbara Yoga Center serves as a community hub for diverse yoga practices and wellness workshops. This business is grounded in the principles of yoga. Plus, the yogis are committed to providing high-quality instruction and accessible classes in a welcoming space where everyone can nurture their body, mind, and spirit.

A handsome Australian Shepherd dog on a sandy trail overlooking to ocean.

Hiking to Clear Your Head

Hiking offers immense benefits for the mind and body, making it one of the best ways to practice self-care in Santa Barbara. Blessed with stunning trails catering to all skill levels, our city provides many options for outdoor enthusiasts. The Santa Ynez Mountains, which run east to west through the Los Padres National Forest, frame Santa Barbara with breathtaking coastline views and the Channel Islands, creating a picturesque setting for your next hiking adventure.

Santa Barbara is a hiker's paradise between the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the majestic mountains. Whether you prefer a stroll or a challenging trek, there’s a trail to suit your needs. As you explore the lush landscapes, you'll find that the fresh air and natural surroundings can significantly elevate your mood and clear your mind. Each step on the winding paths offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, offering physical exercise and a mental reset.

From the scenic vistas at Inspiration Point to the dog-friendly Douglas Family Preserve, every hike invites you to breathe deeply and embrace the beauty around you. For more inspiration, check out the list of the 10 Best Hikes in Santa Barbara.

Healthy Dining Options

Once you’ve cleared your mind and embraced self-care Santa Barbara style, treat yourself to some of the healthiest dining options in town. Here are a few standout spots that make healthy eating delicious:

  • Juice Ranch: Indulge in their 100% organic, cold-pressed juices for a nutritious refreshment.
  • Backyard Bowls: This spot specializes in acai bowls, smoothies, and hot porridge and offers fast, healthy meals without sacrificing flavor.
  • Natural Cafe: Committed to encouraging conscious dining choices, their menu has wholesome, delicious options.
A small, beautiful ranch-style home illuminated from within, with the green hills and blue sky as a backdrop.

Wellness at Home

Why not bring self-care Santa Barbara-style into your own living space? Consider moving into one of my health-focused properties, such as my Serene 15-Acre Ocean View Carpinteria Retreat, pictured above. This stunning estate offers breathtaking ocean and island views set against a picturesque hillside backdrop.

An an intimate and tranquil small wood studio with its door open against a verdant hill and blue sky.

The centerpiece is a charming contemporary home, complemented by a tranquil studio perfect for meditation or a small office. With French doors opening to a lovely ocean view deck, you’ll find peace and inspiration at every turn. A separate pavilion provides an ideal setting for al fresco meals, allowing you to embrace the Santa Barbara lifestyle fully.

In a city as beautiful as Santa Barbara, self-care is not just a luxury; it’s a way of life. Whether exploring the outdoors, engaging in wellness practices, enjoying healthy dining, or finding your perfect home, the opportunities for rejuvenation and growth are endless. Embrace the wonders of self-care, Santa Barbara style, and let the serene environment nourish your mind, body, and spirit.


Representing the highest level of clientele and specializing in selling and acquiring extraordinary estates and land in Santa Barbara County, I urge all buyers to start their home-buying process by finding the right agent. If you plan to move in and around Santa Barbara, that agent is me. Please contact me at (805) 886-9378 or Cristal@montecito-estate.com for a free consultation. I will make the entire process feel like another form of self-care, Santa Barbara style.


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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch