The Bacara Resort and Spa is the newest luxury resort on the California Coast. Although not really known as a family resort, we were very pleasantly surprised by the friendly staff, the quality of the children's programs and the activities available for families. Upon our arrival our kids were each greeted with a Bacara Kid's Club Welcome Box filled with a hat, water bottle and all kinds of snacks. The kid's were thrilled and we were off to a great start.

The Bacara, a 78 acre Spanish Colonial style beach resort (with a 1000 acre ranch), is set on a rustic, secluded beach just north of Santa Barbara. The Resort has 360 guestrooms and suites in 28 individual buildings. The winding paths, courtyards, and open balconies give the resort the feel of a small Mediterranean village. There are 3 pools, 26 private cabanas, four clay tennis courts, horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and other water sports gear at the beach house, adjacent golf, and a 45,000 square foot state of the art Spa with pampering body treatments, tai chi, aerobics and much more. The Bacara also boasts a state of the art Executive Technology Center and one of only 3 hotel screening rooms in the country.

The Bacara Kid's Club is impressive. It is staffed with friendly and knowledgeable CPR trained counselors and offers wonderful full and half day programs. The Kid's Club is located in a beautiful, brightly decorated building with multiple rooms and offers everything from air hockey and computer games to arts and crafts and "good old fashion" Lincoln Logs and Erector Sets. There is even a pet chinchilla. Our kid's begged to go back again.

The Resort rooms are beautifully decorated in sand, blue, cream, and gold. My only suggestion would be coffee makers which are now absent from guestrooms. The property offers several restaurants. We ordered dinner from room service and ate comfortably on our balcony with the kids. The food was excellent. I had some of the best halibut I have ever tasted.