West Beach

If you're looking for the best place to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July or New Years, or you want to watch boats coming and going from the harbor, or you want to play volleyball or rollarblade, then come to West Beach. This is also where the Ka Nai'a Outrigger Club holds their Sunday lessons and where many kayaks, windsurfers, and sailboats set out.

There aren't a lot of facilities, but you are close to the Chase Palm Park and Wharf so it's not really needed. There are a number of excellent restaurants across the street. Leadbetter is about four blocks down and the breakwater is about three blocks away.

HIGHLIGHTS: Bike Path, Life Guards

Directions: Take the Garden Street exit and turn towards the ocean. At the end of the road turn right. There is on-street parking and if you're willing to walk a bit there's parking on the wharf and parking for East Beach.

Refugio State Beach

This beach is unique among Santa Barbara beaches. Many locals find that they come here to over other beaches closer into town. It just feels different than the others.

It might be the abundance of picnic tables and grills or maybe its all the quirky little palms that dot the thin strip of border grass. It could also be the camp grounds that bump right against the beach.

Who knows for sure, but this beach is worth the drive from the city. It's a long 1.5 miles of beach that offers plenty of sand and surf. If you feel adventuresome, this is a great beach for diving and snorkeling. Hiking and biking trails round out the list of things to do while here.

HIGHLIGHTS: BBQ Pits, BBQ Grills, Camping, Dogs OK, Fishing, General Store, Lifeguard, Picnic Area, Playground, Restroom, and Showers

Directions: Take the 101 north of the city. Go beyond El Capitan and follow the signs.

Leadbetter Beach

This is one of the busiest beaches in town. A long strip of sand flanked by green grass at the base of the city college.

Leadbetter is in the city on the edge of the "strip" and offers all the amenities.

The Shoreline Beach Cafe offers diners tables on a patio or even in the sand. Outdoor showers, restrooms, a grassy picnic area combine to make this a mecca for the young and active. The normally light surf draws beginning surfers, windsurfers and sailboats.

Our favorite part is at low tide you can walk around the point to a wonderfully private, isolated strip of beach.

PLEASE NOTE: Lots and lots of activity. If you're seeking privacy, forget it (unless it's low tide and you can slip around the point...)

HIGHLIGHTS: BBQ Pits, BBQ Grills, Lifeguards, Picnic Areas, Restrooms,

Directions: From the 101 freeway exit Garden Street or Castillo Street. Turn south towards the ocean. Turn right on Cabrillo Blvd. After you have passed the harbor, Leadbetter will be on your left. Some free, mostly paid parking.

Goleta Beach

This beach has a little bit of everything for just about anybody. A long sandy beach is flanked by a grass. There are plenty of grills and picnic tables and a brisk wind keeps bathers from getting over heated. There is a busy walking trail nearby.

The parking is free. A fishing pier, restaurant and snack bar, volleyball nets, restrooms, and large areas for group picnics provide plenty of amenities. Although it is close to the University and the airport, ground and air traffic seem very far away.

PLEASE NOTE: The area is rich in oil deposits, which occasionally give it a tar smell. It is a very busy beach and parking can be difficult to find. Since it is right off the highway, it isn't possible to park on the road.

HIGHLIGHTS: BBQ Gills, BBQ Pits, Bike Paths, Boat Launch, Dogs OK, Fishing, Pier, Gift Shop, Lifeguards, Picnic Area, Playground, Restrooms, Showers, Restaurant, Tidal Pools, Volleyball Courts.

Directions: From the 101 take the 217 until you come almost the end. Take the airport exit and at the bottom of the ramp turn left. Go under the bridge and turn right into the parking lot.

Gaviota Beach

Most people - even long time Santa Barbarans - don't even know this beach is here. It is a ways out of the city - 33 miles west of Santa Barbara to be exact.

This is a great beach for the surprise element. You actually have to walk under the train trestle to get to the sand. Very cool!!!

If the swimming and fishing don't get you, the hike to Gaviota Hot Springs might!

PLEASE NOTE: The wind can get pretty wild along this stretch of the coast. Except on the hottest of Santa Barbara days, you will probably wear a coat here rather than a swim suit.

HIGHLIGHTS: BBQ Grills, BBQ Pits, Boat Launch, Camping, Dogs OK, Fishing, Pier, Gift Shop, Hiking Trails, Lifeguards, Picnic Area, Restroom, Showers, Snack Bar, Volleyball Courts

Directions: Take the 101N from Santa Barbara until you come to signs for Gaviota State Park. Be very careful, however, if you are going northbound as you will be crossing oncoming highway traffic!

El Capitan Beach

This is a beautiful beach for those who love beaches. It's not the biggest in town, but it has plenty of sand, and the level of privacy is delicious. Since it is away from the city there is a sense of getting away, even though you don't go too far.

The beach is part of a State Park, so there are plenty of facilities. One of our favorite aspects of this park is how true to Southern California it is in many ways. There are more live oaks than palm, more chaparral than ice plant. You might even be able to find some cactus if you looked.

PLEASE NOTE: It's on State Park, which means you have to pay a $5 per car entrance fee. It's good all day or if you go for just 20 minutes. There's not a lot of "entertainment," as far as volleyball or rollerblading go. However, if you're looking for swimming, surfing, or sunning, this is the place to go.

FEATURES: BBQ Grills, BBQ Pits, Bike Path, Camping, Dogs OK, Fishing, General Store, Hiking Trails, Lifeguard, Picnic Areas, Playground, Restrooms, Surfing, Showers, Snack Bar, and Volleyball Courts.

Directions: Take the 101N past Goleta and drive until you reach the El Capitan signs. The road will take you right into the park. The park is approximately 10 miles out of town.

East Beach

It's hard to say enough about this beach. Beautiful, long, sandy, deep even at high tide and bordered by a grassy, tree-lined park.

It has all the amenities a sun worshipper could wish for - a full beach house, snack bar, volleyball courts, play area for children, and a bike/rollerblading bath. It's also a favorite for special activities - Saturday afternoon drumming, Sunday afternoon art show or an occasional soccer game. East Beach is in front of some of the largest hotels in Santa Barbara so it is the Santa Barbara default beach.

Cons: There is plenty of parking but it tends to be scattered. The free parking goes fast.

Note: If you have children you need to make sure that they stay away from the road. Cabrillo Blvd. is one of the busiest streets in Santa Barbara and the traffic goes very fast, regardless of the 25 mph signs posted along a large stretch of the road.

BEACH HIGHLIGHTS:

BBQ Pits, BBQ Grills, Bike Path, General Store, Lifeguards, Picnic Areas, Playground, Restrooms, Showers, Snack Bar, Beach Volleyball Courts

DIRECTIONS:

East Beach is accessible from just about any exit along downtown Santa Barbara - Carrillo Blvd, Milpas, Garden, Castillo. Turn away from the mountains and when you reach Carrillo, you can't miss the huge stretch of park between Stearns Wharf and the bird refuge.

Butterfly Beach

Across from the Four Seasons Biltmore, this beach is deceptive in its simplicity. Since it is a Montecito Beach, and Montecito and the Biltmore have more than their share of celebrities, you have a good chance of seeing somebody famous here.

Of course, if you do see somebody famous, you'll want to act cool, like it happens everyday because - well - here it does.

This is also one of the few west-facing beaches in Santa Barbara so you can see a sunset over the water!

Cons: Bring your lunch and water and sunscreen because there are no public facilities at this beach. It's a real locals kind of place.

BEACH HIGHLIGHTS:

none

DIRECTIONS:

Take the 101 to Olive Mill Road in Montecito (a few minutes south of Santa Barbara). At the stop sign, turn towards the ocean (away from the mountains) and follow it a quarter of a mile along the coast. Butterfly Beach is on your left. Parking is limited and will be packed with cars on most weekends. Park on either side of the street along the beach or drive up Butterfly Rd and park in the nearby neighborhoods.

Hendry's Beach

Officially named Arroyo Burro Beach, this beach is just a ten minute drive along the Coast from downtown Santa Barbara.

Hendry's is secluded by towering cliffs and a curving coastline. Surfers and children vie for territory as the waves tumble into shore.

Hendry's is centrally located to a great deal of other fun. Elings Park is a half mile up Las Positas so you will often see hang gliders and paragliders launching from nearby cliffs. Right next door to the beach is the Douglas Family Reserve, which features some of the most pristine cliffside terrain in all of Santa Barbara.

BEACH HIGHLIGHTS:

BBQ Pits, Dogs OK, Fishing, Lifeguards, Public Areas, Restrooms, Showers, Snack Bar, and Tidal Pools

DIRECTIONS:

Take 101 to Los Positas. Turn away from the mountains. When you come to a T-intersection and turn right. Take the second left at the base of a cliff.