With the relaxed vibe of Isla Vista, it’s easy to become comfortable and have no desire to explore the rest of Santa Barbara. The truth is, this city has a lot more to offer than just booze, daygers and DP. Before you graduate, you have to hit these major places at least once. Follow this staycation for a weekend of adventure, food, and fun!
Saturday
Brunch at SB Public Market
The public market is a mix of LA’s Grand Central Market and SF’s Ferry Building Marketplace with a Santa Barbarian twist. If you and your friends can’t decide on what to eat, this place has food ranging from Asian noodles at Empty Bowl Noodle Bar, handcrafted pasta at The Pasta Shoppe, fresh loaves of bread and cheese pairings at Crazy Good Bread Co, and dainty cupcakes from Enjoy Cupcakes. There’s literally something for everyone.
Water Activities at the Pier
Embrace Santa Barbara’s beautiful beaches by channeling your love for water and go paddle boarding or kayaking at the pier. You can enjoy nature and squeeze in a little workout for a really good deal.
State St. Stroll
Whether you have a passion of shopping or not, taking a walk down State St. is so relaxing. There are frequent sightings of cute dogs too. If you’re an art lover, there are also art works on display made by local artists. Enjoy SB’s very own McConnell’s Ice Cream in hand to achieve the most desired state of relaxation.
Dinner at Los Agaves
Santa Barbara has hands down some of the best Mexican food – and Los Agaves will not disappoint. With wallet-friendly prices and unlimited chips and salsa, this is definitely the go-to place for a filling, delicious dinner.
Sunday
Brunch at Jeannine’s
Start the day off right by getting a nice meal in. Jeannine’s is Santa Barbara’s very own Urth Caffe. The similar set up makes the dining experience easy and there’s a large range of food to choose from, like the famous Kahlua Banana French Toast or Vanilla Scented Fig Salad.
Hike to Inspiration Point
The short (about 3 miles to and from) hike is not only fun but also an easy way to engage with nature. Not to mention, the view from the top is beyond breathtaking.
Snack at Backyard Bowls
Grab a refreshing acai bowl, filled with fresh fruits, to energize and reward yourself after a nice uphill hike. Note: If you can’t finish a small (which is huge), the kid’s size is the perfect snack size!
Explore the Urban Wine Trail/ Funk Zone
If there were anything Santa Barbara has a surplus of, besides the beaches, it would definitely be the wineries. There are about thirty wineries to choose from to do a little afternoon wine tasting. This is also a great way to engage with the community as most of the winemakers are locals and natives.
Watch the Sunset
You can never get enough of a nice view in Santa Barbara. Aside from the hike, you have to drive along Alameda Padre Serra or stop by SBCC to enjoy a nice sunset. You won’t regret it.
Fancy Dinner at Zaytoon
End the weekend with a bougie Lebanese cuisine. While entrée prices aren’t too steep, they may be out of range for a college student’s budget. However, the romantic ambience makes up for it. They even have hookah options for you to enjoy. It’s absolutely necessary to indulge once in awhile, if you ask me!
You can even go further south to Montecito, visit the Santa Barbara Zoo, or go to museums that are scattered around town. The possibilities are endless once you start exploring! Bon Voyage!