Great view, free. Not two things that go together much in an expensive place like SB. Definitely…read moreworth the little drive up.

We drove up the winding road to this park to take in the view of Santa Barbara below last week when…read morewe were visiting the area. It was a pretty view but not the best we saw in the city. I did see some people picnicking, and that seemed like the best way to enjoy the park. I did appreciate that they had reasonably clean public bathrooms! A nice park with nice views, but I wouldn't say it's a place you must visit in Santa Barbara. Nice if close to where you're visiting.

Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara is a 15-acre coastal bluff park known for its panoramic ocean views…read moreand family-friendly atmosphere. Perched above the Pacific, it offers a long, narrow stretch of green space with paved paths ideal for walking, jogging, and soaking in vistas that include the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Channel Islands, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Shoreline Park is a gem for anyone seeking peaceful surroundings . The park offers stunning views…read moreof the ocean, with plenty of grassy areas perfect for picnics or lounging. I love coming here for walks and soaking up the panoramic views of the coastline. Benches are stationed throughout the park to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, some areas have been gated off for safety reasons due to the foundation of the hillside. If you want to venture down to the beach, just look for the wooden archway. The stairway will lead you down to the shoreline. Occasionally high tides won't allow you to venture down, so just be aware of that. The beach itself is rocky, and sometimes full of debris so bring comfy shoes! This spot is ideal for families, walkers, and even solo relaxation. I recommend bringing a small bag for special sea treasures that you may find during your visit. I always enjoy looking for sea shells, sea glass and heart shaped rocks. The rock formations here are always breathtaking during low tides so be sure to bring a camera or have your phone fully charged. Overall, Shoreline Park is my top favorite in town and a must-visit for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. It's also a dog friendly park, so bring your fur baby as well.

An excellent playground for smaller kids. The ship themed playground equipment is well designed and…read morefree of the high drop off points some playgrounds have. There are interesting ocean themed decor such as large concrete whales and fish to climb on. The park overall is well maintained with nice plants and a comfortable squishy floor under the playground equipment. Great for 2-5 year olds.

If you need a playground for some free fun, come to shipwreck! The playground is a good size with…read moretwo structures, one for the littles and then another for the bigger kids. Plenty of street parking, and right across from the beach. The bathrooms are clean!

A great small park! It's split by the road. Nice place to take a stroll. One side is paved and the…read moreother side is just grass. The paved part has the larger cracks / tripping hazards outlined in neon spray paint - that is so helpful for older folks and kids!

Did you come across this review and think, "Well, I doubt there is much to say about a park. A park…read moreis a park." Well, you would be mighty wrong, my dear friend! This park, Orpet Park, you've come across is in Santa Barbara; the city that is literally a walking history book with every nook, cranny, and parcel rich in narratives and archives. Orpet Park is no exception to this rule so allow me to give you a quick background... Pretty much every visitor and tourist to the lovely city of Santa Barbara has been to the Mission or to the SB Botanical Gardens. This means that you have been minutes and even mere feet away from Orpet Park located at the corner of Moreno and Alameda Padre Serra. So, here is the history: Edward Owen Orpet was a park superintendent in SB with a lengthy list of horticultural and agricultural degrees, awards, pedigrees, experiences, and professional accomplishments. In fact, people called him the "Plant Missionary". Orpet made it his life mission to spruce up (no pun intended) that agricultural landscape of California and is the man behind many of the olive trees growing in the state. Perhaps we can call him Johnny Oliveseed? Eddy Oliveseed? Anyway, Orpet is obviously the founder of Orpet Park in 1921, the 4-acre park with two parts (dissected from each other by the street). Edward created Orpet Park has his own personal horticultural showplace in order to highlight rare trees and plants with the backdrop of scenic ocean views. And THAT, ladies and gents, is what you can find in Orpet Park today. The 'main' section of Orpet Park is located on the elevated hillside and is ripe with lush green foliage, trees casting shadows perfect for sitting, open space for pups to run around (pets MUST be leashed!) and picnic tables for your lunches or games of chess. Signs aggressively maintain that litter is a big no-no and this seems to be respected in Orpet Park as there wasn't any trash or pet feces that I could see. Plus, Orpet Park is so peaceful, serene, quiet and all the other collective synonyms! Even on a Saturday afternoon, there were only two other people in the park. Orpet Park is the PERFECT spot to getaway and enjoy nature and your own thoughts or that of a romantic partner. Orpet Park's 'second' portion is on the lower half and is the more landscaped side with hints of a botanical garden in design. Walkways are surrounded by beautiful trees, flowering plants, stone boulders, and of course the picnic tables to bask in it all. This side is equally gorgeous, litter-free, and silent except for the sounds of hummingbirds zipping by and is ideal for lovely walks or beautiful photos. Just a note: Orpet Park is NOT the kind of park you find a basketball court, playground, baseball field and the like in. This is more of a garden-esque, green space. Yet, Orpet Park is definitely 'better' and more inviting (plus, nice on the eyes) than most neighborhood parks. Parking is street-side and honestly doesn't seem to be an issue in this residential area. I found several spots directly adjacent to the park entry signs. Orpet Park is certainly worth a visit whether you live in SB or are a visitor and want to relax, grab lunch, gather your thoughts, etc. It is also ideal for a romantic walk or those Instagram-worthy snapshots. Let's thank Edward Orpet for leaving such a lovely legacy in the form of agricultural/horticultural wonders.

We had no idea that this nice easy trail existed when he headed out to Santa Barbara with our 9year…read moreold lab mix for a 4 night vacay. What a great find this place was. Parking is Free and Plentiful -- In early August 2025 we showed up at 6:30pm on a Monday (to hike the preserve). There was tons of parking in the lots that abut The Boathouse, and the lots are always free for the public. There is also free street parking on the street just past the traffic circle. The hike/trail (The Douglas Family Preserve): A nice easy trail, and really fun for the doggos as it is an off-leash area. I'd say that half the people we saw on the trail had a pup, while the other half had no pets. The loop from the ground to the top and back is 1.5miles. There is 150 feet of elevation gain over a distance of about 1/3 of a mile; the rest of the hike is flat (w/ a large mesa at the top with lots of interconnected trails if you want to make the hike more extensive than a 1.5mile loop). Our dog not only enjoyed the walk, but had lots of fun trying to start some small play sessions with other dogs that she saw on the trail. Bonus: this trail uses the same parking lot as Hendry's Beach (Arroyo Burro Beach), which is leash free along the coastline east of the lifeguard tower (to the left of the lifeguard tower if you are facing the ocean).

It's nice to see how different the ocean views and the vegetation on this trail changes in…read moredifference seasons. I had previously visited in September and this visit it is May. Still a nice day to walk and enjoy the cool ocean breeze, friendly people and dogs on the trail.

This park is a place you must stop by if you are ever in the area and looking to relax or take a…read morenice stroll. It is located right across from the historic mission and has a beautiful rose garden with a variety of flowers.

One of my fav places in town. If we have guests, we always suggest grabbing a blanket and packing…read moresome wine and snacks or food to go and enjoy at sunset at the Rose Garden. The kids love rolling down the hill, climbing on the trees, or wandering the little paths on the side. Plus, you learn all the fantastic rose names when you simply take a walk around the pattern of colors.

An absolute hidden gem in Santa Barbara! Alice Keck Park is beautifully designed, with delightfully…read morewinding paths that lead through an incredible rainbow of colorful flowers, trees, and unique garden spaces. Every turn reveals a new design element - from a charming wooden bridge and ducks frolicking in the babbling brook to the pond with sun-basking turtles - making the park a peaceful place to wander and rest. Developed according to the wishes of donor Alice Keck Park, this horticultural garden highlights local Santa Barbara flora, organized by cultural and watering needs that range from boggy to arid. The park offers a surprisingly tranquil escape in the middle of the city. The variety of 70+ tree and plant species is especially impressive! Depending on the season, roses, camellias, sweet violet, night-blooming cereus, azaleas, irises, calla lilies, flowering cherry, and countless other flowering shrubs, succulents, and native plants abound.

The good: This was a beautiful garden by the Kids World…read moreplayground. We enjoyed seeing the ducks swim, the nice flowers, the peaceful grassy areas, and the free parking. It's a great spot for picnics or to take photos as well. The pathway was easy to walk on. There are some stairs. There are several tucked away bench areas that are nice for private conversations. I love the mix of trees here and how mature they are. There is plenty of shade here but also windows with the warm glow from the sun. The bad: The creek area was dry. The interesting: According to my husband, Alice Keck was the donor to this park whose name was kept anonymous until after her passing.

This is a perfect park for families. I like that all the features are close to one another so it is…read moreeasier to keep eyes on multiple kids. Accessible courts for pickle ball including a multi-tiered basketball hoop which I've never seen. The playground looks new and is adjacent to a skatepark that's for kids 12 and under (for skating and skateboard only but there are plenty of littles who ride their bikes). Lots of shade with tables. A walking and bike path. What a cool find! We did come early on a Sunday morning - 945am - because I read that parking can be difficult. There were 2 spots left in the lot and street parking, because it is shared with apartments, was non existent.

This a small very clean park with brand new equipment. They are still building the other parts of…read morethe park. Looks like there are multiple basketball options, ping pong table, skate park, tennis court, handball court, and splash pad area. Restroom nearby