After 14 hours of a flight from Paris, we arrived in the beautiful city of Santa Barbara. The sun was beating strong, the air smelt like the ocean, and our views of baguettes suddenly tranformed into views of palm trees. 

I had the amazing opportunity to join my Lincoln family here in Santa Barbara to celebrate the launch of their new SUV – the Nautilus. You might recall from Dave and my trip to NYC last year that they announced the production of this car; but I hadn’t had the chance to experience it until now. And boy, was this 3 day whirlwind of a trip to Santa Barbara the perfect backdrop for this beautiful do-it-all vehicle. 

As with any Lincoln trip, evert detail, activity, meal, and view was inspired by the beautiful aspects of the vehicle. And as with every new Lincoln vehicle launch, I found myself wanting more (and craving to buy the entire fleet… if only though, right? haha)

Lincoln vehicles have always been extremely inspiring to me. I find the way that their vehicles combine luxury with functionality, and exude subtle class, to be so enticing. The Lincoln Nautilus is no exception. 

I’m no car journalist, but here are the things that caught my eye and really peaked my interest: 

The Body

Dave and I have actually been looking into investing in an SUV for a while. The ability for SUV vehicles to grow with you and your life is a kin to buying a house instead of a condo, I think. I used to think they were disguised mini vans, but getting the chance to see this beauty make me think twice. Adorned with the new sexy Lincoln signature grille and the sleek lines (that kind of resemble smooth ripples of water), makes you feel like it’s just as sexy as a sports car. 

Comfort

As with all of the Lincoln vehicles, the Nautilus does not compromise on comfort. The seats have 22 way adjustability, are leather trimmed, heated, AND ventilated… and of course, can also feature their massage chair capabilities.

Technology

I love that vehicles are becoming so much more than just getting you from point A to B nowadays. The Lincoln Nautilus features wireless inductive charging that begins right when you phone nestles itself beside the charging pad in the front console media bin. 

The Nautilus also boasts the Revel Audio system, which you know I made full use of and had a full fledged carpool karaoke situation. 

Driving

I find Lincoln vehicles to be SUCH a smooth drive. Santa Barbara was filled with twists and turns and tons of bumpy roads, but I definitely wouldn’t have known it sitting in the back. The vehicle also has lane centering (so once you choose your destination, it wathces the road for you – like whoa). It’s a part of their Adaptive Cruise Control which keeps your vehicle in the centre of the lane (don’t worry, you still have to keep your hands on the wheel). 

You can learn more about the all new 2019 Lincoln Nautilus here.

Beyond drooling over the new Lincoln Nautilus, this 3 day trip introduced me to the beauty of Santa Barbara (I had never been before). Here are some highlights and the Nautilus-inspired experiences that were just as memorable as the car itself:

The Belmond El Encanto 

A gorgeous resort nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara, this was the perfect property to experience the 3 days in all its glory. Between in-house electric bikes, a pool that seems to drop right off into the ocean, and meals that I’m still dreaming of, I’m still dreaming of being back here. 

Ohai

Reflective of the hidden details of the Lincoln Nautilus, we had the amazing opportunity of visiting the town of Ohai close to Santa Barbara. The history of this town is filled with art and meaning. We visited the Porch Gallery and had the chance to speak to an native artist from the area. The beautiful, understated elegance of this small town definitely reminded you of the charm of the gorgeous new Lincoln Nautilus. 

Sailing

Naturally, sailing was a part of the itinerary – both because of the namesake of the vehicle and because you can’t NOT be on the water on the gorgeous coast. We all learned basics of sailing and even had a couple of races with other sail boats. It wasn’t as smooth sailing as the actual Nautilus drive, but then again, what is right?

Santa Barbara

Before leaving on our flight, Vic and I had the opportunity to take a couple of the electric bikes out to the Santa Barbara pier. The town and street leading up to the water is absolutely gorgeous and ever-so-charming. Cruising down, I totally imagined my life here on the west coast – driving a Lincoln Nautilus through the winding roads, sipping a coffee by the pier, and soaking up the rays. I’m an east coast girl at heart, but hey, maybe there’s a bit of west coast nestled deep within. 

Cheers to discovering more of life, in and out of our cars!

Have you ever driven a Lincoln vehicle? Have you ever been to Santa Barbara?