Your days of chugging syrupy rum drinks at overcrowded, oversexed destinations are over
By Emily Tennyson
Photographs by Mauro Bighin and Graça Victoria
When it comes to spring break, I’m—well—particular. Popular destinations such as Florida and Mexico, in the words of Jerry Maguire, never “had me at hello.” For me, Florida spells early-bird dinners, Cadillac-glutted highways and gated communities. As for Mexico—no place that features both “Montezuma’s revenge” and “all you can drink” in a one-line description is any kind of draw. I have three daughters who love spring break, however, so creativity and a budget are a must. Our needs are simple: warm weather (obviously), shopping (no outlet malls) and a minuscule amount of culture. We are also a shameless E! TV family, so if a celebrity sighting occurs, so much the better. Oh, and did I forget food? Enter Cannes, France, and Montecito, Calif.
Cannes is as buzzy as Beverly Hills, minus the exclusively five-star ambience—plus there are museums, a film festival, lovely architecture, a ribbon of beaches and stores to please any teenager with a six-month supply of baby-sitting money. Our apartment on the Rue d’Antibes, a Côte d’Azur shopping mecca, was one block from the Mediterranean and the Croisette, Cannes’ version of Rodeo Drive. Though we literally tripped over Versace, Dior, Gucci and Hermès right outside our door, all is not haute. Stores such as Mango, Zara and Kookai are affordable and light-years ahead of U.S. trends. Cannes is chic, true, but it’s not just about style. Cannes is also about food. It’s everywhere, beautifully displayed, for sale—and not for much. Live it up and lunch at the Majestic Plage as young men in striped shirts lay out lounge chairs and fetch beverages and perhaps a salade niçoise. A perfect night might be al fresco cocktails at the Carlton Hotel before dinner at Felix on the Croisette. It’s a movie-star moment that’s less pricey than South Beach.
Rather than renting a car, we train up and down the coast, making it easy to visit such Riviera high points as Nice, St. Tropez and our favorite, Monaco. Kids love the palace, the largest aquarium in Europe and mountainous views of Italy. For me, it’s the gardens, the cathedral and that shimmering light.
If it’s good enough for Oprah, it’s good enough for us. Montecito, one of Oprah’s addresses and the hillside neighbor of Santa Barbara, is a hideaway for many celebrities, and I can see why. Promotional materials call Montecito a “lush seaside community,” and they’re right. Those mountains, boutiques, hip restaurants (try Cava for tapas or the Montecito Inn for fish) and those big beaches—heaven. Our little cottage, perched over the ocean, boasted decks and patios, as well as my favorite feature, an outdoor laundry room: spin cycle with a sunset view. My daughters still speak longingly of the heated bathroom floors. And yes, there’s culture in Santa Barbara—a mission, a nice zoo, galleries, a symphony—but mostly exquisite Pacific vistas, beach strolls and the obligatory wahine wear for teenagers. Had we been so inclined, we could have taken a Sideways-style wine tour through the Santa Ynez valley, but the ocean held us captive. Besides, Fess Parker of Davy Crockett fame, who owns a local vineyard/seaside resort, stood behind me in line at Blockbuster. And when we scored a Martin Short sighting during a beachfront lunch, our joy knew no bounds. Who needs blue-plate specials or 10-gallon margaritas?
Like movies and red-carpet glitz? The 60th Cannes Film Festival takes place May 16–27. Visit festival-cannes.fr for details.
