Our Favorite Sol-itude Escapes
for When You Need to Unplug
Let's be honest sometimes the group chat, the inbox, and the endless scroll can wait. What can't wait? Golden hour. Salt air. The kind of quiet that only comes when you're somewhere so beautiful that your phone stays in your bag for once.
We put together our five favorite places to find your sol. Destinations that are sun-soaked, soulful, and worthy of every ounce of SPF you packed. Spoiler: Pearl-fecting Setting Powder made it into every carry-on.
Here are the five places we keep going back to — and honestly, never want to leave.
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01. Todos Santos, Baja Mexico
"The one that feels like a secret the world almost kept."
Tucked on the Pacific side of Baja California Sur, Todos Santos is the kind of town that makes you want to cancel your return flight. Cobblestone streets wind past art galleries, old mission architecture, and taco stands that are, frankly, life-changing. The surf is serious. The sunsets are absurd. And the vibe is somewhere between bohemian hideaway and absolute magic.
This is not Cabo. There are no swim-up bars or spring break energy here and that is exactly the point. Todos Santos is for the sol-seeker who wants to wander, eat well, watch pelicans dive into the Pacific, and remember what slow actually feels like.
The Hotel California (yes, that one) sits right in the middle of town and is worth a mezcal on the terrace even if you're not staying. The beaches are wild and windswept — bring a good book, your SPF, and zero agenda.
Sol tip: The morning light here is unreal. Set an alarm for sunrise once. Just once. You'll thank us.
Skin note: Desert heat meets Pacific wind = your skin needs hydration AND protection. Pearl-fecting Powder is non-negotiable. Reapply. Always.
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02. Santa Barbara, California
"The California dream, but make it actually relaxing."
Santa Barbara has been doing the whole 'effortlessly beautiful' thing long before it was a mood board. Spanish colonial architecture, whitewashed buildings with red tile roofs, palm trees lining State Street, and the Santa Ynez Mountains as a backdrop. It is, quite frankly, unfair how good this place looks at all hours of the day.
The vibe here is old California money meets weekend escape, but it's more accessible than it sounds. The Funk Zone (yes, that's really what it's called) is packed with wine tasting rooms, coffee shops, and galleries all walking distance from the beach. Stearns Wharf at golden hour is a non-negotiable. Butterfly Beach if you want to feel like you're in a movie.
Santa Barbara is also the gateway to the Santa Ynez wine country — a 45-minute drive inland takes you into rolling hills, lavender farms, and tasting rooms that will make you reconsider your entire life plan in the best way.
Sol tip: Rent a beach cruiser and ride the coastal path from the harbor to Hendry's Beach. You will not regret it.
Skin note: California sun is deceptively strong even on overcast days. Don't skip your SPF just because you can't see the sun.
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03. Islamorada, Florida Keys
"Where the water is the color of a dream and time moves like the tide."
If you've only ever done Key West, you are missing the real magic of the Keys. Islamorada, about an hour south of Miami is a string of small islands connected by the Overseas Highway, and the water on either side of that road is almost offensively turquoise.
This is a sport fishing mecca, a snorkeling paradise, and home to some of the best waterfront sunset bars in Florida. Robbie's Marina is a must, you can feed tarpon straight from the dock, kayak through mangroves, or just sit and watch the pelicans judge everyone quietly. The pace here is slow on purpose. Nobody is rushing anywhere.
The restaurant scene punches well above its weight for a small island town. Fresh stone crab, grilled mahi, and key lime pie that will ruin every other key lime pie for you forever. You're welcome.
Sol tip: Book a sunrise kayak through the mangroves. It is one of the most peaceful things you can do on this planet.
Skin note: Water reflection + Florida sun is a double hit. Apply, reapply, and then reapply again. Pearl-fecting does the heavy lifting between dips.
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04. Positano, Italy
"The place that made golden hour famous."
There is a reason Positano appears on more mood boards, Pinterest boards, and 'places to go before I die' lists than almost anywhere on earth and it is not an exaggeration. Stacked pastel buildings cascade down the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to a pebble beach that shimmers in every direction. The light here is something out of a painting because it literally inspired a few hundred of them.
Walk the village in the morning before the day trippers arrive and it feels like it belongs entirely to you. Bougainvillea spilling over terrace walls, the smell of espresso and lemons, ceramic-tiled steps winding between shops and restaurants. Lunch on a terrace overlooking the water with a glass of local white wine is the definition of sol-itude.
Take the path of the Gods hike along the ridge above town for views that will make you feel genuinely emotional. Then reward yourself with a Campari spritz at Lo Guarracino and watch the fishing boats come in at dusk.
Sol tip: Stay at least three nights. One day is not enough. Two is a tease. Three is where the magic happens.
Skin note: Mediterranean sun reflects off white buildings and water from every angle. Amber Hour Foaming Cleansing Powder every night — your skin will be thanking you for washing off the day.
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05. Palm Springs, California
"Desert glamour. Pool days. The best golden hour in the West."
Palm Springs is the kind of place that takes the concept of relaxation very seriously. Mid-century modern architecture around every corner, palm trees against mountain backdrops, and a pool culture that borders on religious. The desert light here is warm, golden, and flattering at basically every hour of the day, which is suspicious but we're not questioning it.
The Uptown Design District is packed with vintage shops, art galleries, and the kind of boutiques you wander into for five minutes and come out with a whole new aesthetic. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is surprisingly incredible — especially in the early morning before the heat peaks. And the aerial tramway up Mount San Jacinto takes you from desert floor to pine forest in ten minutes, which feels like a magic trick.
Coachella Valley has a constellation of towns around Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage all worth exploring. But the city itself, with its neon signs and retro diners and infinity pools everywhere, is a vibe that never gets old.
Sol tip: Go in spring or fall. Summer in the desert is a commitment. Sunset Boulevard at golden hour is worth the trip alone.
Skin note: Desert air is dry and the sun is relentless. Hyaluronic Acid in your skincare routine is your best friend out here and always, always, always your SPF.
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Pack Light. Protect Your Skin. Find Your Sol.
Wherever this summer takes you, whether it's a cobblestone street in Baja, a cliff terrace in Positano, or a poolside lounge chair in the desert — your skin deserves to come along for the ride protected and glowing.
The world is full of golden hours waiting to happen. All you have to do is show up, slow down, and let the sol in.
