If you are considering a trip to Santa Barbara, check out some of these hot spots for food, fashioned and fun:

Where to Eat & Drink

Food

• The Santa Barbara Shellfish Company: At the end of Santa Barbara’s historic Stearn’s Wharf, The Shellfish Company provides a casual dining experience coupled with some of the best seafood the city has to offer.
• Arigato: Santa Barbara is full of amazing sushi restaurants! Arigato offers a delicious range of rolls, sushi and other menu items with plentiful wine, beer and sake options.
• Opal: Cozy up next to your new spouse in one of the chic tables facing all the action on State Street. The perfect place to watch the many parades and festivals go by, Opal combines California cuisine with international flair.
  
• The Biltmore: This Four Seasons Resort offers breathtaking views and the utmost in luxury. Stop by for brunch that can’t be beat at the Bella Vista restaurant.

Drinks

• Soho: Check the website for Soho’s calendar of events, or just slide up to the bar to enjoy Santa Barbara wines and a range of premium cocktails.
• The Boathouse: Enjoy your cocktails while taking in an amazing view of the Pacific! The Boathouse offers great happy hour specials, a fun crowd and some of the best scenery in the city.
• Joe’s Cafe: Strong drinks, cushy booth seating and a casual vibe combine to make Joe’s the go-to spot for late night cocktails.

What to Do

• The Santa Barbara Zoo: It might be small, but the Santa Barbara Zoo is full of cute little animals and amazing views of the surrounding area. You’re sure to love the quaint and cozy atmosphere.
• Whale Watching: Every year gray whales migrate past Santa Barbara on their way to Mexico, providing the perfect reason hop aboard a boat for the afternoon!
• The Santa Barbara Mission: Step back in time with a tour of this California landmark, and then fall in love all over again in the Mission Rose Gardens (a popular site for weddings!).
• Beaches: Santa Barbara has a wealth of beautiful beaches where you can spend days lying in the sand and soaking up the sun!

Where to Shop

• State Street: This famous stretch of road features some of the best shopping in California! Cruise down toward the beach to visit shops like Blue Bee and Blue Beetle, which feature fun and fashionable designs for you and your hubby, respectively.
• The Closet: Also known as designer resale heaven, The Closet offers vintage and consignment designs that will make a thrift store convert out of you!

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Sydney is so vibrant and beautiful, I promise you’ll never want to leave.

Where to Eat & Drink

Food

• The Australian Hotel: Nestled in the Rocks—the oldest and one of the most lovely neighborhoods of Sydney—the “Oz” offers a delicious selection of gourmet pizza and beer. We sampled chicken pesto, duck and kangaroo pizza, and loved them all!
• Spice I Am: This Thai restaurant offers  a divine selection of spicy dishes, including green papaya salad, crispy pork belly and a variety of mouthwatering curries. It’s a locals’ favorite, and it’s definitely worth the wait for a table. You won’t be disappointed.

Drinks

• Altitude Restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel: Perfect for pre-dinner cocktails, the Shangri-La offers some of the best views of Sydney Harbor, the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House.
• Opera Bar: We spent our first night in Sydney sipping cocktails at this gorgeous outdoor bar, which is snuggled right underneath the famous Opera House. The view is stunning, the drinks are strong and the atmosphere provides a perfect introduction to the vibrant fun of Sydney.

What to Do

• Royal Botanical Gardens: Wander around the gardens for a little while, and you’re sure to feel inspired and rejuvenated. Keep your camera ready for some spectacular photo ops!
• Sydney Opera House: The Opera House tour was delightful, but watching an actual performance in the Opera House is unforgettable. Check the schedule to see what’s playing when you are in town.
• Museum of Contemporary Art: This free museum in the Rocks is home to a variety of cool exhibits that range from fun and quirky to intensely thought-provoking.
• Taronga Zoo: Hop on a ferry (a fun activity in and of itself!) for the chance to get up close and personal with native Australian wildlife. You walk through the kangaroo exhibit like it’s a petting zoo, with no cages or bars to keep the ‘roos from hopping right up next to you.
• Bondi Beach: Stroll along the Bondi to Bronte beach walk, visit the Underwater Bondi Experience and make time to lounge on this extraordinary stretch of the coastline.

Where to Shop

• Gertrude and Alice: Order a pot of chai tea, gather an armful of used books and get cozy—this bookstore is the kind of place you could happily spend hours in.
• Paddington Markets: Visit these Saturday markets to find everything from original artwork to jewelry, chocolates, furniture, clothing and fresh flowers. The Paddington Markets let you do all your souvenir shopping in one place!
• Bondi Street: Venture down Bondi Street for a collection of chic boutiques that are ideal for traveling fashionistas.

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• Grand Bahama Island:  You can look forward to a memorable mix of historic charm, modern attractions and ecological wonders on your visit to Grand Bahama Island. There’s truly something for everyone. The warm welcome you’ll receive is just extra insurance that you’ll return again and again. (courtesy of Bahamas.com)

Grand Romance Wedding Suite; Grand Bahamas Island.

• Nassau/Paradise Island:  You’ll find the capital city, Nassau on New Providence Island, neighbor to Paradise Island. Offering a distinct blend of international glamor and tropical ease, this unique island pair gives you the freedom to do everything or nothing at all. So, kick back. Enjoy. (courtesy of Bahamas.com)

Nassau Chic Wedding Suite, Nassau/Paradise Island.

• The Out Islands:  These hidden gems we call The Out Islands come in the form of small remote villages and a simple way of life. Here you’ll find some of the world’s most stunning beaches, dive sites, and fishing sites – a welcome surprise if you’re looking for that perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.  (courtesy of Bahamas.com)

Out Islands Wedding Suite, The Out Islands.

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Together, we’re also giving you a chance to win a dream honeymoon escape to Kamalame Cay, an exclusive private island hideaway located just off the coast of Andros in the Out Islands of The Bahamas.

Enjoy a luxurious week-long honeymoon package that includes:

* Roundtrip airfare for two
* Six nights accommodations in a Beach Suite including breakfast each morning and use of resort amenities, including golf carts, snorkeling equipment, kayaks, tennis courts, pools and more
* An indulgent Bath Butler service and a rejuvenating couple’s massage at The Spa at Kamalame Cay
* A private picnic excursion on a nearby deserted cay
* A romantic beach-side dinner for two
* And more!

To enter, simply visit our Dream Honeymoon Giveaway page and fill out the form.  The contest closes June 12, 2009, so make sure to enter!  Good luck!

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From L to R: Crystal Bandeau Bikini; Dior Sunglasses ; Tory Burch Sandals; Juicy Beach Tote; Beach Survival Kit

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From L to R: Streamline Luggage; Luxe City Guide Travel Books;  Sony SLR Camera; iPod Shuffle; Eco-Cashmere Slippers; Neiman Marcus Leather Travel Accessories; Stuart Weitzman Cosmetics Bag

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1. Pink Ribbon embroidered silk passport holder from the breast cancer site safely holds your passports on your way to honeymoon heaven.

2. Make at statement on your wedding day with M&M’s Promise Blend, a delicious mix of dark pink and white milk chocolate m&m’s.

3. The Special Edition Oreck XL Power Team Vacuum cleaner makes cleaning beautiful.

4. The couple that cooks together stays together. KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure program offers a variety of pink cooking products to help the cause. Blend up your margaritas with the KitchenAid Cook for the Cure 5 Speed Blender w/ Poly Jar.

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Pros:

1) Your friends, family and you and your significant other will be able to share an experience of a lifetime!

2) You might save money by having a shorter guest list and less people who will actually come.

3) You will already be at your honeymoon site! No need for paying the extra costs of travel. You’re already there!

Cons:

1) Having a destination wedding may upset some of your friends and family because they might be unable to go, or if they can afford to, will still have to spend extra money on plane fare and hotel.

2) You won’t have as much control over planning and won’t be able to meet often with vendors prior to your wedding day.

3) You’ll have to pack and bring all of your wedding things like your gown and his tux so make sure you find out about your airline’s baggage requirements before you leave and about the marriage requirements before you get there.

Send out wedding invitations with a destination wedding theme like this Palm Trees Wedding Invitation.

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One thing that I’m glad I did was pack one light jacket and one heavy jacket and an umbrella. Though we checked the weather a few days before we left, even the weather report couldn’t predict the sudden cold shift that affected a lot of Europe. While we were expecting sunny skies with 60-70 degrees weather, we got rain and temperatures up to 51 degrees. Without my one warm sweater and an umbrella, I would have been so cold. 

Another thing that I would advise is to put together a little toiletry see through kit and keep it in one place. I had my toothbrush in one bag and my soap in another and it drove me crazy! Keep everything together and remember to pack things like toilet paper and seat covers just in case.  

And if you get motion sickness and are crazy enough to ride boats, plane and trains like me, either pack motion sickness medicine or one of those special wristbands. Try sea band or the psi band which prevents sickness and nausea by pushing down on an acupressure point on your wrists.

I had a memorable trip and I’m sure you will too! Just remember it’s easy to get lost in the romance of your honeymoon but coming prepared will make everything all the more better. 

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-The Big Day has a detailed honeymoon registry with the option to personalize each gift that you list with your own images and copy.  Visit some of the sample registries available on their site to get a better idea of all that you can do.

-Honeymoon Wishes is a similar site with the same great options, including the ability to cash out on your gifts at any time and planning assistance.

-If you want to be your own travel agent and already have the destination, hotels and activities in mind, Honeyfund will be your perfect online destination.  No setup fees, transaction fees or travel booking is required to take advantage of this detailed honeymoon registry.

-The Honeymoon offers a network of professional travel agents local to your zip code so that you can actually meet with someone in person to plan your trip instead of relying on phone and email.

-Say thank you for your honeymoon gifts with style.  Check out Wedding Paper Divas for some chic thank you notes, like this Palm Leaf Thank You to reflect a tropical honeymoon.  With your note, include a photo of you doing whatever activity was purchased for you through your honeymoon registry.  Your guests will love that you were thoughtful enough to not only use their gift, but to think of them while you were doing it!  Such a personal touch will truly show your appreciation.

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