Okay so last weekend I was feeling a bit down and unmotivated. I knew I could do one of two things: spend the weekend sad, in bed, and let the weekend go by OR get up (as difficult as it may be) and do something fun. I’ve done the first option many times, but I chose to do the latter this time. I decided to take myself on a date to Santa Barbara!
Santa Barbara is such an incredible place. If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend you plan a visit. It has all the things you’d want in a city, but the entire place is heavily influenced on Mediterranean and Spanish architecture, so it’s extra beautiful. Not to mention, it’s got amazing mountains on one side and the ocean on the other. It’s a fully functional city, but has a relaxed and sophisticated vibe to it, so it feels like a small town. It’s seriously one my favorite places in California. Book your flight, plan your drive, just go there, trust me.
Here’s what I did on my solo day in Santa Barbara! I hope it inspires you to go there, and if not, I hope it inspires you to just have a solo date with yourself wherever it may be!
The Drive There
I woke up at 6:00am, showered, put on a cute outfit, did my makeup, and was out the door at 7:00am. Santa Barbara’s about an hour away from where I live, so I had prime time to listen to a podcast. I listened to Katy Bellotte’s Thick & Thin podcast. She’s just incredible and tells amazing historical stories and sometimes has raw heart to heart episodes, highly recommend! If you’re not in the mood for a podcast, the drive would also be the perfect excuse to have a full on concert in your car and jam out to your favorite songs.
Visit A Site
I recently heard about the Chumash Painted Cave up in the Santa Barbara mountains. I decided to go there first. If you’re considering going, it’s worth mentioning that you have to drive up a very narrow and windy road for a few miles to get there. Anyways, it was really cool! I recommend checking it out if you feel like seeing a wondrous historical sight and exploring. Although it was scary, the narrow road was definitely worth it, because the view on the way down the mountain was absolutely incredible! Full panoramic view of the mountains and the ocean.
Get Yourself Some Breakfast
Next stop, your girl wanted a chocolate croissant. I went to a local coffee shop called Handlebar Coffee Roasters, got my croissant, and sat on a bench across the street outside of a rustic and historical museum. It felt great to sit and people watch and the croissant was delicious! Took me back to when I was in France two years ago.
Drive Around And Explore
One of my favorite things to do is drive. I love exploring neighborhoods and town streets because it’s relaxing and it helps to orient me with the place I’m in. After breakfast, I decided to just drive around Santa Barbara. I drove through some of the residential neighborhoods in the mountains, found some beautiful parks, and just explored this beautiful place. If you love driving too or want to familiarize yourself with a place, I highly recommend turning off any gps or map, and just drive anywhere and everywhere that your mind and steering wheel lead you to!
Walk Around State Street
By this time, it was about 10:30am. It was time for State Street. State Street is basically the main road in downtown SB that has lots of shops and restaurants and it’s incredible for walking. I walked up and down all of State Street (at least the main portion of it in downtown), stopped in some shops, and got my steps in. There are so many cool local shops, but also lots of chain stores that you can find in any mall. I definitely recommend checking out the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Store (they always have really cool items and trinkets), the consignment stores, and honestly just all the shops.
Lunch and Beach Time Baby
All the walking and time that had passed had me ready for some lunch. One of my favorite restaurants is The Natural Cafe. They have a few locations across SoCal, one of them being right on State Street in SB! It’s a super relaxed place with lots of healthy food options. I ordered the Tostada Salad to-go, brought it back to my car, and drove to the beach. You could absolutely go to one of the beaches in Santa Barbara, they’re so beautiful, but I decided to go to one in Ventura. I brought out my beach chair, found a good spot, ate my lunch, then read a little bit of my book. It was great ending my day being super relaxed by the ocean.
After the beach, I headed home mid-afternoon and concluded my amazing solo date. It was the most perfect and relaxing day, not to mention so affordable. Not including gas, I spent less than $20 the entire day. $4 for the croissant and $12 for lunch. Granted, I didn’t do any shopping on State Street, and if I had, it would’ve been more, but still, that’s a super wallet-friendly day if you ask me.
Like I mentioned before, I was feeling a bit down and sad and unmotivated at the beginning of last weekend, and choosing to have a happy day in Santa Barbara really did make me feel so much better. When I got home I felt good and ready to take on the upcoming week. It just goes to show that when you’re not feeling great, you don’t have to wallow in it and you have the power to make it better. There’s always a happy route!
I hope this inspired you to take yourself on a date to Santa Barbara or anywhere for that matter. If you want more solo date ideas and travel recommendations, check out this page!
