The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.
If you’re a graduating senior here at UCSB, you have one last quarter to squeeze in the quintessential Gaucho experiences. Since COVID rudely interrupted half of our time here, you might be a little late to the game. Round up your best pals and get through this IV bucket list before June 13th sneaks up.
- Take a break from your busy day and walk through the Labyrinth by Campus Point.
- Eat an order of nachos from Freebirds with everything on it. Ideally, this should be enjoyed after midnight and following a few drinks. Trust me on this one, the line will be worth it.
- Grab your friends, a blanket, and some snacks and head over to the Santa Barbara drive-in.
- Take a short but beautiful hike up to the Hot Springs Canyon Trailhead. The hot springs are open for swimming so don’t forget a bathing suit!
- You may never live this close to the beach again so take advantage of it! Pack in some morning walks, sunset picnics and afternoon swims at Sands.
- Head downtown on a Thursday night with Bill’s Bus. Skip the Uber fee and get excited for the night ahead alongside your fellow Gauchos.
- Get the full tour of Santa Barbara, both on and off land. Grab a big group of friends and rent a Landshark.
- Do the iconic IV Loop! Take your friends around to each spot in IV that serves beer on tap and order a pitcher to share with every stop!
- Give surfing a go! Pick a sunny day, borrow a surfboard from a friend, and head out to Sands Beach. If you can catch a wave or not is beside the point, just get out there and enjoy the vibes.
- Get dressed up and head to the Funk Zone to browse art galleries, wineries, restaurants, and/or cute coffee shops!
Whether you’ll be experiencing these for the first time or are getting your last hurrah in, I hope you find a way to savor this uniquely IV experience. It might not always be perfect, or clean by any means, but it has been our home! If anything, these will serve as great talking points to relate with UCSB alumni as you network. Congrats Class of ‘22!