Why you should stop talking about visiting the Channel Islands and just go

After school got out last spring, a couple of friends and I thought we deserved a weekend getaway after long days spent losing our tans in the library. No, we didn’t hop in the car and head to Vegas, instead, we decided to abandon society all-together. We hopped just off the coast of Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Island with a few backpacks and some disposable cameras.

Before this trip, I had no idea what the Channel Islands were like, other than that I could sometimes see them from Isla Vista on a sunny afternoon. They looked like little rocks – not exactly my idea of vacation. But that all changed once I found out what was really waiting on the other side of a rocky 50-minute ferry ride. This, my friends, is what the Channel Islands are really like.

Climate

Like Santa Barbara weather, the Channel Islands will have you reaching for hoodie one minute and the aloe vera the next. We visited the island in early June, so I was worried that we would be encapsulated in June gloom the entire time we were there. While we were inside a cloud the entire first day of our visit,  the second day we woke up in a sweat and enjoyed an entire day in the sun.
A word from the wise: water and sunscreen. Okay, that was two words. But on a serious note, the sun is extremely strong on the Channel Islands, and the reflection of it’s rays off the ocean amplifies its strength severely. We all got home looking like a cajun-style raisins: dehydrated and burnt to a crisp.

Beaches

 Because the Channel Islands are, well, islands, you can get a million dollar ocean view from almost any hiking path. However, a few of the trails lead to tiny secluded beaches. It’s the anti-Cabo, no people, no booming music, just bright blue water and light sandy beaches. And tar, lots of it. If you choose to take a dip, be prepared to dig that nasty stuff out of your swimsuit, skin, hair, etc. It’s worth it though, I promise.

Wildlife

Little foxes! While they may be cute and remind you of your pet Chihuahua, visitors are cautioned against feeding or interacting with the little guys because the islands are their sanctuary, and the only place they can be found in the world (beside the Santa Barbara Zoo). The ferry ride to and from the islands offer a great opportunity for whale watching, ooh-ing and ahh-ing at jumping dophins, and Snapchatting seals frolicking in the seaweed. The $80 boat ride was definitely a painful purchase, but well worth it after seeing the iconic whale tail image.

Amenities

If you are expecting the Four Seasons, you should probably opt for a different getaway. However, Santa Cruz Island is just about as good as it gets for camping. There’s running water, campsites with tables and food lockers, and bathrooms. Sure, you might have to pack your trash out and bring it back to shore, but at that point it won’t matter because you and your garbage will probably smell about the same.

So, my friends, there you go. Now that you know what to expect at the Channel Islands, it’s time you go experience it for yourself. Have fun and DONT FORGET SUNSCREEN!