As our twenty-third birthdays rounded the corner, Kendall and I cruised down the California coast to Santa Barbara to reunite with our friends, Alexis and Eric, in Isla Vista.

Post-road trip, we crave fresh, light foods to replenish and enliven ourselves into our first night in a new place. We dined on amazing veggie bowls at Silvergreens, and I highly recommend the Teriyaki bowl!

Sun shining through the fog over the ocean, we rode bicycles around the charismatic town, which concluded in locking them up and strolling along contrasting blues and greens of Santa Barbara Shores Country Park and neighboring bluffs. Later on, the four of us slid into wetsuits and surfed, breathing in the revitalizing smell of the Pacific Ocean.

On Kendall’s birthday, we went out in hopes of finding fresh seafood and mojitos. Lure Fish House ensured we were not disappointed with some of the best crab cakes, fish tacos, and oysters that we’d ever had.

To our surprise, a colorful, alluring carnival happened to be at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, so we spontaneously decided to get tickets, admire the goats and llamas, hold hands on the Swing Carousel, and nibble on funnel cakes loaded with strawberries and whipped cream.

 

As we ate some vegan pizza at Blaze Pizza, State Street bustled with people of all ages, pedaling on bikes, promenading in flip-flops, and dancing their ways in and out of busy bars, brightly lit restaurants, and small shops. A certain highlight of the night was the luscious Sangria at Wine Therapy.

Our last morning in Isla Vista, we squeezed in one more surfing session at Campus Point Beach and swooped out with delicious breakfast burritos from Super Cuca’s, sand still in between our toes and tangled hair washed anew with saltwater.