1. Stay at the Bacara or the Four Seasons
Ask your parents to rent you a room at one of these places, and you’ll immediately think you woke up in Hawaii. During the day you can lounge by the pool or relax in the spa. At the end of the day, you can go out to dinner or stay in and order endless amounts of room service! The secret to making the most out of this rendezvous is to forget you’re in Santa Barbara completely. You will come back feeling like you just spent a week on a real vacation.
2. Go glamping at El Capitan Canyon
Glamping is the best way to get in tune with your outdoorsy side while still staying in a lodge with heat and running water. In the daytime, you can explore the Canyon, go on various hikes or use beach cruiser bikes along the bike paths. If you need a bit of relaxation after a long hike, sign up for one of their Canyon Massages. Either way, you can experience more of what California’s native land offers and come back home with super cute Instagram pictures!
3. Drive down to Malibu for the day
From shopping at various stores to eating lunch at Malibu Farm Pier Cafe, there are endless amounts of things to do here. If you like milkshakes, try Ruby’s Shake Shack at the end of the Malibu Pier, which also shows a view of the world-famous Surfrider Beach. The coastal drive from Santa Barbara is only about an hour, and it’s a nice change of scenery. But don’t forget to take lots of pictures of your meals—all your friends will want to hear about the amazing eats you had on your weekend adventure.