"People From Away"
Where I've been finding travel recs + our trip to Santa Ynez
Post-baby, I’ve been sourcing my travel recommendations from an unexpected subset of people online.
Transplants. Expats.
“People from away” as the locals call them on my parents’ island in Maine.
It’s interesting phrasing: people from away. Such nomenclature evokes the image of a person from some ambiguous place, quite far from the one they’re currently inhabiting.
To the locals on my parents’ remote island, it doesn’t matter where exactly someone is from; anywhere else is just vaguely… away.
It’s possible that my recent inability to relate to many of my friends’ child-free travels has led me to find inspiration from these types of people online. I used to be able to take more word of mouth suggestions, but in this life stage, it’s been necessary to dig deeper than before to build trips that accommodate the ever-changing needs of our family.
And while recommendations from true locals are always integral to trip planning, there is something intriguing about seeing a place through the fresh eyes of someone who has intentionally chosen to make it their home.
Often when we are from a place, as I can attest as a New Yorker, we take for granted the small elements that might thrill someone from the outside.
So it’s the “people from away” who have been leading me to some of the best travel inspiration as of late.
The ones who romanticize their adopted homes because there will always be a bit of them who remain a visitor there, too.
Four of the people from away I’m inspired by…
Marron (@marronesme): Mallorca by way of The Netherlands
Marron’s island lifestyle, frequenting cafes and beaches with her son, was fun aesthetic inspo for our recent trip to Mallorca. I saved tons of spots from her posts. It’s evident that as a transplant, she is getting the most out of Mediterranean life.
Ryan (@cinnamonryan): Paris by way of New York
Ryan moved from New York City to Paris with her two children and now runs her floral business in NY from abroad. Sartorially, Ryan and her family’s style is an exciting mix of vintage and contemporary. Seeing Paris through a New Yorker’s eyes renders some useful recommendations.
Chelsea (@mama_stelly): NYC by way of Canada
A corporate banker who moved her family from Canada to NYC to grow her career, all while traveling to new countries with her two toddlers on the weekends. Her posts about New York remind me of the excitement I had moving to the city at 18 years old; she captures the magic of the place.
Christine (@cestchristine): San Diego by way of NYC/Sacramento
I’ve followed Christine since my study abroad days in Argentina twelve years ago. Originally from Sacramento, she traveled full time before moving from NYC to San Diego and having her daughter. She shows San Diego through an artsy, literary (and still beachy) light while traveling - often solo! - with her daughter on the weekends.
And the one that inspired our most recent trip…
Joe and I have a tradition where we visit a new place in California every winter.
Our first year living here, we did a babymoon to San Luis Obispo / Pismo Beach on the Central Coast. Last year, we took our first California road trip as a family of 3 to the Ojai Valley.
Our parameters for this year’s California winter weekend trip were as follows:
Four hour drive, max. We only took Friday off from work for a short 3-day weekend and didn’t want to spend the whole weekend driving. Not to mention the goal of minimizing time in the car with a toddler in the back seat.
Different from our home environment, which eliminates the beach. Preferably nature (greenery, hills, sprawling landscapes) or a city.
I was thinking we could visit an inland destination, but we’ve already been to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. So somewhere north?
Then, I remembered a certain “person from away”.
Geri (@gerihirsch): Santa Ynez Valley by way of Los Angeles
Geri, a founding team member of Saie Beauty and mom of three, moved from Los Angeles to start a quiet - albeit extremely chic - country farm life in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.
She writes beautifully about what she calls “the in-between”, referring to this stage of life where we balance parenthood, career, health, and relationships. And, she examines the experience of moving from a bustling city life to a quiet country one while navigating working motherhood.
After discovering Geri, I learned that the Santa Ynez Valley (SYV) is wine country to the east of Santa Barbara.
It felt questionable, at first, to consider a wine country trip with a toddler. But the wide open spaces, new surroundings and the pull of a place so clearly loved by a cool mom led us to give it a go.
We booked this Airbnb and ultimately had a highly recommendable weekend bouncing between small towns, farms and wineries.
The best thing about this area? The towns of Solvang, Santa Ynez & Los Olivos - plus tons of wineries and farms - are all within 15 minutes drive. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to travel between activities quickly, a luxury when everything needs to be completed within the limits of a morning or afternoon wake window (we’re on a one nap schedule).
Keep in mind, though, that the towns of Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and Ballard are very small.
My recommendation would be to stop into the towns for meals and a brief walk around, while focusing the majority of your time on the many farms and wineries in the region.
Where We Went in the Santa Ynez Valley with a Toddler
Farms & Wineries
@ostrich_land : I expected this to be a cheesy kids activity. It turned out to be a simple, beautiful farm with space to run around & plenty of ostrich & emu to feed.
@summersetfarm_syv : A great farm stand and working farm - they were growing strawberries when we visited and have a pumpkin patch in the fall. Room for kids to explore and tables for a picnic lunch.
@sunstonewinery : Provence by way of California. Stunning winery with tasting menu; BYO food for anything more than a charcuterie plate. Kids and dogs are welcome - we saw many of both. My husband reports that this was his favorite spot we visited, for the record.
@vegavineyardandfarm : Sweeping vineyard with a whole host of animals you can feed. Live music, outdoor games, mercantile shop and restaurant. We could have spent an entire day here.
Solvang
@peasantsfeast : Michelin-starred restaurant in Solvang. Provided crayons, high chair, a kids menu and they checked in on Mila all throughout dinner.
Other activities we didn’t do: the Solvang Trolley, Hans Christian Andersen Museum, visit a chocolate shop.
Santa Ynez
@sykitchen : THE spot in the town of Santa Ynez. Make a res unless you go at 5p like we did. Big booths outside for kids to wiggle around. BYO crayons/entertainment. No kids menu but Mila (22m) loved their grilled octopus, t-bone sliders and beet salad.
@eatpanino : Easy spot to pick up sandwiches and salads to go, or to grab a quick bite. Several locations in the area.
@brass_tack : A vintage boutique with unique style and a little bookshop in the back.
Los Olivos
@leftyscoffeeco : Coffee & pastries in Los Olivos. Huge outdoor area in the back with seating.
Ballard
@bobswellbread : As good as everyone says it is. Fresh bread and egg dishes for breakfast/brunch. Super accommodating staff. Basically the main attraction in the town of Ballard.
Santa Barbara
We stopped in SB on the drive up to the Santa Ynez Valley from SoCal.
Alice Keck Memorial Park : Huge pond filled with turtles and ducks for endless toddler entertainment.
@sbpublicmarket : Food hall with tons of options and space to walk around.
Who are the “people from away” that have inspired you?
Thank you for reading! Know someone who travels, has kids, or is thinking about having them? I’d appreciate if you’d send Carry On their way 🙏🏼
p.s. you can always see all posts on the website