Explore the "American Riviera" in Santa Barbara. With views of tall mountain peaks pouring into the Pacific, Santa Barbara offers shopping, a diverse dining scene, wine tasting, waterfront strolls (and zoo!), beach trips, and so much more. All easily walkable, a quick hour drive down Highway 101 from Santa Maria makes Santa Barbara an essential Southern California day trip.
Surrounded by several thousand foot peaks on all sides, San Luis Obispo is a decent-sized college town located about 45 minutes north of Santa Maria. With a walkable downtown area featuring shops of all sizes, great dining and drink options everywhere you look, San Luis Obispo (often referred to as SLO, yep, pronounced "slow") is a great stop when exploring points north.
A small ocean town about an hour north of Santa Maria, located on the famous Route 1 "PCH" Pacific Coast Highway. With the famous "Morro Rock", miles-long sandy beaches, waterfront views with seals and sea otters floating by. There are affordable kayak rentals, whale watches, and much more offered year-round.
Located about 30 minutes south of Santa Maria, Solvang is a small Dutch-themed town located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country. With dozens of small specialty shops, a variety of dining options, and wine tasting rooms, you can easily fill an afternoon in the area.
Your stereotypical, picturesque California beach town - with a boardwalk, pier extending out into the Pacific, miles of sandy beaches, and a wide range of dining, hotel and entertainment options. Enjoy an afternoon in the sun, rent a surfboard (and wetsuit) and give the Pacific surf a try, or catch a famous west coast sunset out on the pier. Located 25 minutes north of Santa Maria, Pismo Beach makes a great quick afternoon trip when exploring the area.
Located just beyond Pismo Beach, Avila Beach is a small beach community sheltered by mountains pouring into the ocean. Often warmer than Pismo Beach, and with a small harbor, beach boardwalk, and a few dining and drink options overlooking the ocean, Avila is a must-visit when exploring points north. While there, hang out with local dogs at the Port San Luis Dog Beach, explore the Bob Jones Trail following the river and golf course, play a quick round of golf, or take a quick hike up the Avila Ridge for sweeping views of the Pacific, inland mountains, even as far away as Vandenberg Air Force Base and the Santa Maria area.