It’s true that Santa Barbarans love their beaches, but eventually we all get a hankering for a change of scenery, a wide expanse of green grass, and a shady grove for picnicking. Luckily, maintaining a thriving system of parks has always been a high priority in Santa Barbara, and whether you’re looking for a tranquil garden or a rugged spot to hike, you’ll find enough wide-Âopen spaces to fit your every mood (not to mention plenty of room for the kids to run around). The Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary are so spectacular, they get their own separate chapter in this book—don’t miss it!
Overview
In this chapter, we show you the best of our beautiful parks, covering Santa Barbara first, and then heading west to east from Goleta to Carpinteria. Next, we’ll go inland for a look at Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, one of the county’s most popular parks. City, county, and state parks are listed according to the geographical area in which they are found, along with their major features and other useful information.
For information about parks within the city of Santa Barbara, contact Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation (805-564-5433; www.sbparksandrecreation.com), which administers the daily workings and programs at more than 55 parks citywide (a total of 1,764 acres). The Adapted Programs Office (805-564-5421) can answer questions about wheelchair accessibility to the parks; call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. A free city park map which lists all the parks and their features is available at the main office at 620 Laguna St.
All city parks are open from sunrise until a half hour after sunset, except where posted otherwise. During summer daylight saving time, many parks remain open until 10 p.m., but be sure to check the posted hours when you arrive. All city park restrooms are closed at dark, and no overnight camping is allowed.
More than 20 county parks (900 acres) fall under the auspices of the Santa Barbara County Parks Department (805-568-2461; www.countyofsb.org/parks), headquartered at Rocky Nook Park in Mission Canyon. You can make reservations for facilities at any county park by calling (805) 568-2465. You can also read about park facilities or download printable maps at the department’s excellent website (listed above). Park hours are from 8 a.m. to sunset year-Âround.
For a city its size, Santa Barbara has an incredible number of recreational opportunities. Part of this is due to the number of tourists who come to town looking for fun, but it’s also a result of the Santa Barbara lifestyle, which places a heavy emphasis on being health-Âconscious, active, and fit. We think you’ll find just about everything you’d ever want to do listed below, but if you wake up one morning and get the urge to do something else spur-Âof-Âthe-Âmoment, pick up the Santa Barbara News-ÂPress and look in the “Public Square” section for a listing of the day’s activities and events around town.
On Sunday look for the “What’s Doing on the South Coast” calendar, which includes everything happening in the upcoming week. Also check “The Week” listings in the Santa Barbara Independent (distributed free each Thursday). Remember that facilities such as tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, gyms, pools, and running tracks at local colleges may be available for limited public use. Call UCSB (805) 893-3738; the Santa Barbara City College Community Services Department (805) 965-0581, ext. 2726; or the Westmont College Athletic Department (805) 565-6010, for information.
This chapter begins with a list of local sports and recreation companies, facilities, and organizations, then covers area sports and activities alphabetically. It ends with a list of local athletic clubs and spectator sports.
Santa Barbara has some great spots to cast a line. While it may not compare with some of the more famous sportfishing areas of the world, such as Cabo San Lucas or the Florida Keys, there are still plenty of fish in the sea as well as in freshwater streams and artificial lakes.
Santa Barbara has always been blessed with an abundance of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and other forms of marine life. The Chumash Indians found fish aplenty in the channel, rivers, and creeks, and for more than a century, successful commercial fishing enterprises have supplied residents and restaurants with a wide range of tasty bounty. In fact, there’s a fresh seafood market down at our harbor and a Saturday morning fresh market as well.
Given this bounty, angling is a cherished local pastime. You can cast your line from a party boat near the islands, off the Breakwater, into the surf, or beneath the calm waters of Cachuma Lake. Even if you don’t catch “the big one,” you can at least enjoy a few relaxing hours surrounded by incredibly beautiful scenery.
When you think of Santa Barbara, the first thing that probably comes to mind is “beach.” For most residents, the beaches, bluffs, and the blue channel waters provide both recreational and spiritual rejuvenation. We take long walks, sunbathe, frolic, relax, and pursue our favorite watersports, which run the gamut from boating to surfing to paddle surfing.
However, there is a slightly less-Âthan-Âperfect side to our waters you should probably know about before you plunge into the ocean. The water temperatures are not like those off the shores of the Hawaiian Islands or Mexico, where they average in the upper 70s (20s Celsius). During the summer months, water temperatures here tend to be in the mid-Âto-Âhigh 60s (teens Celsius). During the winter months, they drop about 10 degrees to the mid-50s (teens Celsius). In fact September is about the best month to test the waters around here. You won’t see your feet here, like other vacation waters in the Caribbean or Kauai either. Many people wear wet suits or surf shirts so they can stay in the water for hours. Some hardy souls, however, dive and dip without any extra coverage every month of the year.
Only the bravest take part in the annual Polar Beach swim in the winter, and they are no spring chickens. If you find the water a bit cold for your taste, just remember that these very temperatures are what allow for the incredible diversity of marine life in the channel.
Overview
Here’s an overview of where you can go and what you can do in, on, under, over, and next to the water. From our most popular beaches and places to rent or buy beach equipment to the area’s major watersports, listed alphabetically, we have covered boating (including sailing), boat excursions/sightseeing, diving and snorkeling, kayaking, Jet-ÂSkiing, kiteboarding, parasailing, whale-Âwatching, surfing, and the popular paddle surfing.
If you’re visiting between February and the end of April, you might want to check out the Whale-ÂWatching section of this chapter right away. Don’t miss the chance to view one of nature’s most amazing events—the annual gray whale migration. Blue whales, humpback whales, and other types of marine mammals traverse our channel year-Âround.
Whatever time of year you’re here, our beaches and waters beckon you to enjoy and explore. Even a solitary walk, on a chilly, windy winter day, can soothe the soul.