UCSB is arguably one of the most unique university campuses in all of California. What other college can boast that it is built on cliffs overlooking the beach? UCSB has so much to offer because of its natural beauty, and there is even more to marvel at in the quaint college town of Isla Vista.
While I have only spent a couple of months here in this beautiful town, I have already experienced so many new things and I have really been pushed to step out of my comfort zone. Since moving to Santa Barbara, I have become very passionate about making the most of the time I get to spend here.
I have compiled a list of MUST-do activities to try before your time at UCSB ends.
Surfing
How can you be a true Santa Barbaran if you haven’t tried surfing here at least once. The surfing culture at UCSB is super interesting and it definitely builds a great community of people. Even if you have never surfed before, you are likely to have a friend who has. And if you cannot borrow a surfboard and a wetsuit from one of your friends, you have another option! If you join the Adventure Club here at UCSB, you can rent out surfing equipment, as well as other things like camping supplies. Even if you are not the best at surfing, it’s worth giving it a try as it is a lot of fun even if you don’t catch any waves.Â
Kayaking to the oil rig
The oil rig is one of Isla Vista’s most notable features. While I have never kayaked to the oil rig myself, it is a very popular activity amongst students. The consensus from kayakers is that you need to be prepared to work, as it is definitely not an easy task. However, once there, it is such a cool experience. Close-up photos of the oil rig are unlike anything I have seen before, so I can only imagine what it looks like in person!
Climb Storkie
This is a more unrealistic goal on my bucket list. Storke Tower is another key symbol of UCSB and used to be open all the time back in the 80s. Now Storkie is almost never open, although once in a blue moon it will be open for the day and you can go up to the top. If you ever stumble upon the opportunity to climb Storke Tower then I would definitely recommend doing it because the views are going to be amazing!
Jumping off the Pier
Jumping off the Goleta Pier is not for everyone and you should not do it if you’re not a good swimmer however I know many people that have and said it was super fun. The height of the pier is approximately 15 feet or just under 5 meters which is not super tall but also isn’t short so be careful if you do decide to do this. This is just another thing on my list that I want to be able to say I did but I don’t know if I will be doing it any time soon.Â
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are arguably one of the coolest features near Santa Barbara. There are ferries that you can take to get to the islands and you could make it a day trip or even an overnight excursion. The islands are beautiful and the nature is super awesome so this is one that you should look into! It’s super easy to plan and pretty price efficient too!
This is just a short list of some activities to do before your time is over at UCSB but there are a multitude of opportunities and fun things to experience. Santa Barbara is an extraordinary place so take advantage of it and make some memories!