We left LA after breakfast, filled up the car, and headed toward Malibu. After two busy days exploring Los Angeles, it felt good to have the Pacific ahead of us and a long stretch of California coastline to follow.
Our first stop was Malibu Pier. We walked along the pier, spent some time by the beach, and took a few photos. The morning was relaxed, with no need to rush from one place to another.
From there, we drove to Point Dume. The viewpoint gave us a beautiful look at the Pacific and the coastline around Malibu. We took the short walk to the overlook and stayed long enough to enjoy the view without turning it into a full hike.
Then we headed to El Matador State Beach, which became one of my favorite stops of the day.
The coastline here is stunning. Huge rocks sit in the water, waves roll between them, and the cliffs create some great photo spots.
After Malibu, we got back on the Pacific Coast Highway and started toward Santa Barbara.
This was one of those drives where you don’t need to plan much. The Pacific stayed beside us for long stretches, with the hills rising on the other side. Every few minutes there was another view worth looking at.
We reached Santa Barbara around lunchtime and stopped for a relaxed meal at the waterfront
Stearns Wharf was an easy afternoon stop. We walked along the pier, looked out over the water, took photos, and enjoyed the slower pace. After the crowds and traffic of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara felt calm.
We made a quick visit to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse before getting back in the car. It was a short stop, but the building was worth seeing.
Then it was time to leave for Lompoc.
The drive north felt quieter as we moved away from Santa Barbara. The scenery changed, the roads opened up, and the pace of the trip slowed down again. We reached our hotel in Lompoc, checked in, and called it a day.
Malibu had given us some of the best coastal views of the trip so far. Santa Barbara brought a completely different feel. The drive between the two made the day feel like a road trip rather than a checklist of places to visit.
And that was exactly what I wanted from this part of California.
Kenrick Vaz 