El Capitán Canyon

Up the coast from Santa Barbara is a vacation destination worth checking out even if you live the short 17 miles away. Amid eucalyptus and oak trees, El Capitán Canyon resort has been featured in Sunset magazine, in which it was lauded for having “tough choices. It’s tempting to sip coffee and be serenaded by birds hidden in the creek-side forest. But it’s also hard to pass up an early hike into the hills or a swim down at the beach.” The resort is offering a summer family package (Sun.-Thu.) through August 31 that includes two nights in a safari tent, cedar cabin, or yurt. You also get a s’mores kit for four, a bundle of firewood, a picnic blanket, trail-mix hiking snacks, and a lunch coupon for four to be used at the Canyon Deli Garden Patio or the Back Market Lawn or for food to go. For more info and reservations, call (866) 352-2729 or visit elcapitancanyon.com.