Engage in the rich cultural heritage and environmental preservation in the stunning seaside “American Riviera” and the rich expanse of Santa Ynez Valley’s wine country.
This immersive experience brings to life the regions’ Chumash, Spanish, and Gilded Age heritage with private Bluedot tours of storied Lotusland gardens and Bellosguardo Mansion in Montecito and their remarkable rescue and restoration. Along the journey, enjoy whale watching, Sedgwick Nature Preserve, the Chumash Museum, Rancho San Julian, and exquisite farm-to-table cuisine at top restaurants. The Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara and the welcoming Genevieve in Santa Ynez offer Bluedot Travelers comfort and luxury.
5 nights’ luxury boutique accommodations
All meals listed, including wine pairings at featured dinners
Private guides and experts
Whale watching tour
Visits to all locations, including entrance fees, guides and gratuities
All group transportation
Airfare to/from Santa Barbara
Optional spa treatments or personal shopping
Travel insurance (recommended)
Parking
A luxe hotel in the heart of downtown with Spanish-style architecture, exquisite views, wine-tasting room and barely a block from the ocean.
Stroll through the Funk Zone arts district and wine tasting rooms.
This professionally guided marine experience takes guests into the Santa Barbara Channel — a biodiversity hotspot — to view whales, dolphins, and sea lions. The boat is a quiet, Earth-friendly catamaran, perfect for scenic exploration. Tour is 2.5 hours.
The 27-room Gilded Age estate of heiress Huguette Clark is perched high above the Pacific. Her story is told in the book Empty Mansions and will soon be released as an HBO series. Preserved by a local foundation, Bluedot will have lunch in the estate greenhouse and tour the opulent halls and immaculate grounds, a window into Santa Barbara’s architectural and cultural history.
Enjoy an exclusive docent-led tour of the 37-acre botanical estate followed by a meeting with the executive director. Once home to opera singer and garden visionary Madame Ganna Walska, Lotusland’s rare collection of exotic plants and themed gardens offers an awe-inspiring immersion in sustainable horticulture and natural beauty.
Trolley tour of Santa Barbara’s Spanish heritage district and architecture, and a visit to Mission Santa Barbara. 2 hour tour.
Rancho San Julian, for 183 years under the management and ownership of one family, has participated in the political, social and agricultural history of Santa Barbara County. Today, this regenerative ranch under Jim Poett's leadership is at the forefront of regional land management and conservation. His wife, Marianne Partridge, oversees the most influential and widely read news publication in the region, covering breaking news, politics and culture.
The Chumash Museum’s design and architecture, led by Johnpaul Jones, is a special place that allows the tribe to share its rich cultural heritage with the public.
The Chumash Museum is designed to showcase the Chumash people, both in tradition and in daily life, including areas of medicine, language, song and music, tribal gatherings, family, and community.
Elements of Chumash culture will surround visitors as they progress through the museum, beginning at the Welcome Gallery. The permanent exhibit gallery is where the tribe’s message that spans thousands of years will be told, and a classroom is available for kid-friendly learning and exploration.
Other spaces include a gathering house amphitheater and lush gardens that help visitors learn about the sustainability and balance that have played important roles in Chumash culture for generations.
Formerly the Santa Ynez Inn, The Genevieve has exceptional hospitality and impeccable service in the heart of the town of Santa Ynez. The hotel features The Victor Restaurant and Bar and a beautiful day spa.
Cocktails and conversation, reflections on the day.
Western music and line dancing.
Private guided walking tour, speakers and lunch in the Oak Grove. This 6,000-acre natural reserve managed by UC Santa Barbara is a sanctuary for native species and a living classroom for conservation. Guided walks introduce Bluedot guests to ecology, climate resilience research, appreciation of the landscape and the Chumash cultural heritage.
Steeped in the long history of the Santa Ynez Valley, the land that is now Roblar Winery and Roblar Farm was, for decades, dedicated to horse breeding and training. In the late 90s, with the recognition of the Valley's potential as a premium California wine destination, 21 acres of the equestrian ranch were planted to vineyards. The Gleason Family, as members of the local wine community since 2004, took the helm of Roblar in 2017. Since that time, we have expanded and improved upon the vineyard and wine program, developed a worldclass culinary program, and cultivated a robust organic produce farm—all supporting the vibrant ecosystem that Roblar is today.
Visit Los Olivos, Santa Ynez shopping, hotel or spa.
Farm-to-table cuisine in Santa Ynez.
Stop along the exquisite Gaviota Coast for an ocean overlook before departure.
We're here to help you plan the perfect adventure! For any inquiries or assistance, feel free to reach out:
Phone: (860) 251-9504
Email: travel@bluedotliving.com
Our team is available to assist with bookings, itinerary changes, and any questions you may have. Let us help you make your Hollywood dream trip a reality!
At Bluedot Living Travel, we create immersive, sustainable and luxurious travel experiences that reconnect you with the planet — and with those working to protect it. Our trips invite you into conversation with local changemakers, offering unforgettable moments of inspiration, insight, and renewal in some of the world’s most breathtaking places.
These journeys are more than vacations. They're designed to restore your sense of wonder, deepen your environmental consciousness, and remind you that you’re not alone in caring about the future of our planet. Around dinner tables, on quiet walks, or during hands-on experiences, you’ll meet fellow travelers who are also seeking meaningful connection, learning, and joy.
Bluedot Living Travel began in the wake of personal loss. In early 2018, after fires, floods, and mudslides devastated her Santa Barbara community, founder Victoria Riskin felt the urgency of climate change firsthand. A writer, psychologist, and longtime human rights advocate, Vicki knew the power of storytelling — especially stories grounded in hope, action, and community.
She launched Bluedot Living, a media platform highlighting everyday people making sustainable change. From that, she created the Bluedot Institute, which brings youth into the climate conversation through writing workshops, speaker series, and retreats in remarkable ecological settings.
Soon, a new idea emerged: What if these powerful, place-based experiences weren’t just for students? What if adults could also gather in wild, stunning places to learn, connect, and act? That idea became Bluedot Living Travel.
We’d love for you to join us on a journey — one that leaves you inspired, connected, and ready to shape a better world.
