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5 Weekend Getaways Around Santa Barbara

Shannie Kuo
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Carmen Ma
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

There is no better weekend getaway destination than beautiful Isla Vista. However, sometimes we just need a change of scenery. Here are some weekend getaway destinations around SB for your adventurous souls. 

1. Solvang

Image via bayarea

Located in Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Valley, this quaint village is known for its Danish-style architecture making it feel like you’ve just entered Denmark! This town is only 45 minutes north of SB and is filled with windmills and cute Danish shops, including Jule Hus (a year-round Christmas store!). Don’t miss out on your chance to get fresh Danish baked goods from numerous bakeries around town. Stop by the Little Mermaid statue, go wine tasting, or even feed an ostrich! The possibilities are endless!

 

2. Los Olivos

Image via 10Best

The historical town of Los Olivos is perfect for a weekend getaway! Also located in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos is well known for its wine, arts, and festivals. This town has expansive views of SB’s wine country! This picture perfect country town is perfect for those 21+ looking to fill their weekend with wine tasting tours!

 

3. Gaviota State Park

Image via outdoorproject

Spend your weekend camping, fishing, swimming, or picnicking at Gaviota State Park. Make a reservation to camp here, gather your friends, and enjoy beautiful hikes during the day and the smell of campfire at night. There are many great hiking trails around the campsite! Hike to Gaviota Hot Springs and relax in the high mineral content (which offers great healing effects for your body!).

 

4. Channel Islands

Images via cistill

The Channel Islands is comprised of five islands: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara (the same names as most of the dorms!). The preservation, protection, and isolation of these islands over thousands of years has created a unique geosystem where visitors can experience coastal California as it once was! These islands are the perfect weekend getaway if you want to escape urban life. You can camp, hike, snorkel/dive, birdwatch
 the possibilities are endless!

 

5. Summerland

Images via squarespace

Summerland is the perfect small town if you’re looking for a small-town beach getaway! Located 15 minutes south of SB, this town is perfect for a day trip. Walk down Ortega Hill Road and experience surf culture in the form of boutiques and cafes. Go to Lookout Park, enjoy a bike ride through town underneath eucalyptus trees (can you think of anything more relaxing?!), go on a horseback ride on the beach, or stop by Summerland Winery.

Shannie Kuo is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has a degree in English. Her passions include health, fitness, photography, and food and she always strives to look for balance within her life. She enjoys going to the farmers market, discovering new coffee shops, and meeting new people. She hopes to find a career that will reflect her passions and allow her to connect with people nationwide.
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Hi, Collegiettes! I'm Carmen, a Communication major at University of California, Santa Barbara and one of two Campus Correspondents for UCSB. I would love to one day work in either fashion, food, tech, financial services or philanthropy. My dream is to find a job that somehow combines several of those elements. Until I get there, I'll be munching on copious amounts of Trader Joe's dried mango, jamming out to my man, Frank Sinatra, and focusing on creating intriguing content! If you like my writing, talk to me. ;)