The Top Parks and Beaches in Santa Barbara
The Top Parks and Beaches of Santa Barbara
Hey, friends and fellow lovers of Santa Barbara. This month, in honor of spring, we've put together the ultimate playbook for parks in Santa Barbara.
From idyllic dog-walking paths to dramatic ocean views and picnic-worthy fields of green, there's a public slice of paradise you'll love.
A few months back, we filmed the top 7 beaches in SB. We've linked to that again here, in case you missed it. Slather on a big goop of sunscreen, it's time to get outside.
In most coastal Californian cities, huge swaths of the coastline are labeled as protected land. They are occupied by the ultra-wealthy, or dedicated to public and private beaches.
In Santa Barbara, an astonishingly vast chunk of coastline is dedicated to public parks. This is something you often won't in other small, luxury cities around the country.
Let's explore two of the most prominent coastal parks, Shoreline and Chase Plam, along with several other local favorites.
Shoreline Park
One of Santa Barbara's most iconic walks is through Shoreline Park, a 14.6-acre grassy stretch lofted atop the Mesa's coastal bluffs that directly faces the Pacific Ocean. Shoreline Park serves up views of the mountains, the ocean, and the city below.
Featuring a playground, paved walking paths for your pup, public restrooms, benches, and ample parking, this park is both breathtaking and easily accessible. We love walking the full 1.5-mile stretch and looking out over the water at the surfers below on Leadbetter Beach.
Chase Palm Park
A palm-tree-lined park that straddles East Cabrillo Boulevard and the ocean and stretches from Stearn's Wharf to East Beach, Chase Palm Park is home to a flurry of activities such as musical gatherings, picnickers, skateboarders, tightrope walkers, runners and joggers, yogis, and Santa Barbara's Sunday Arts and Crafts Show.
Featuring a bike path, walking path, skate park, playground, and soccer field, Chase Palm Park is built for outdoor adventure and accommodates families big and small.
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens
Much the opposite of Chase Palm Park's flurry of activity, Alice Keck Park is a tranquil oasis of tended gardens with a pond full of colorful koi and turtles, and a rich collection of over 70 diverse trees and plant species.
Take a soothing stroll across the soft, bending gravel pathways and pause to lay out a blanket and read in one of the spongey grass patches—you won't regret it.
Elings Park
The largest privately funded public park in America, Elings Park is a 230-acre behemoth equipped with sports fields, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, event venues, and unparalleled 360-degree mountain and ocean views.
Elings Park hosts 200,000 annual visitors and a smorgasbord of events such as weddings and concerts.
Yet, at the right time of day, you can sit unbothered at the top of Elings, gazing blissfully across the big blue Pacific with hardly a sound around you, save for the tires of a distant mountain biker treading across one of the smooth dirt paths.
Other Parks In Santa Barbara
We've only highlighted four of the dozens and dozens of parks that make the America Riviera the spectacular place it is.
From large open areas to tucked-away gems, peruse this list of all the parks SB has to offer and start uncovering your own personal favorites.
We Can't Forget The Pups
Right below Elings Park is the official, unofficial dog park of SB called Arroyo Burro Beach County Park or Hendry's Beach.
Let your dogs run on the beach and groom them yourself in the self-serve dog washing station! Tag along with Joe in the video above to check it out.
We Said Parks and Beaches... Here are the Beaches
Did you miss our top 7 beaches tour a few months back? Now's your chance to be whisked away.
Our all-encompassing tour hits on the best and most beautiful beaches including Devereux Beach, Sands Beach, Hendry's Beach, East Beach, Butterfly Beach, Summerland Beach, and Santa Claus Lane Beach.
Thanks for spending some time with us and learning more about the town we love.
Let us know how we can help you.
Joe Parker, Garret McCaw & Avi Becker
The Santa Barbara Group at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties
3868 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 886-5735
https://TheSantaBarbaraGroup.com
Cal BRE #01314939
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