Mussel Shoals--This beautiful, scenic stretch of coast is a fantastic place to stop on your Highway 101 journeys between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Often bustling with surfers, swimmers, jet ski enthusiasts and RV campers who love the unspoiled beauty and spectacular vistas of the California coastline north of Los Angeles, where there homes, hotels and restaurants are few. Santa Barbara and Ventura are close and offer your best bets for shopping, movies and dining.

 

Fortunate travelers discover that there is a "find" in Mussel Shoals called Cliff House. You can stop for a meal or stay the night (reservations definitely recommended on most weekend, holidays and summer.) Chosen one of the best romantic getaways by Los Angeles Times readers and home to the Shoals Restaurant, its restaurant was also voted the most Romantic Restaurant in the area. Booking available by clicking  " MUSSEL SHOALS Accommodations" below.

 

Five to fifteen minutes north  is horseback riding, tennis, golf, boat and whale watching tours, bike, surrey and inline skate rentals,  hot-air ballooning, hang gliding, Santa Barbara Zoo, Mission, Natural History Museum,  Stearns Wharf and several days worth of shopping.