If you have the time and get lucky with parking, then stop by for a carefree stroll along the…read morecoastline. The stairway heading down from the neighborhood to the beach gives you the chance to carefully soak in the beauty of the landscape. As others have mentioned, no there aren't a thousand steps. Whoever named this place as such sure liked rounding up, like way up. We came by around low tide which washed up a lot of unique shellfish as well as the world's debris. This meant on a sunny day you may very be greeted with the pleasant aroma of the sea's breeze and the very next moment a waft of sundried plastic. That's the reality of the ocean's health. Still, it's a peaceful slice of nature worth visiting.

About two miles from Stearns Wharf, we headed over in hopes that it would be low tide. We were…read morelucky to find a parking spot on a tiny dead end residential street where the steps start. Not quite one thousand steps, but still a good workout with 157 steps. We headed down the steps, some were covered in water and mud. It was pretty much low tide when we arrived at 1pm, which made for a beautiful walk. I thought this beach was secluded. However, a half mile into our walk, we came across another set of stairs, Shoreline Steps. These steps will take you from Shoreline park to the beach. There was a good amount of people walking and we saw a few dogs as well. If you're looking for a walk along the shore, this is a great spot. Just remember parking near One Thousand Steps can be very limited.

Awesome beach with great views, a great way to escape from all the tourists in Santa Barbara and…read moreenjoy a more intimate and private beach. The houses on that street are stunning , great shallow beach to hang on if you don't want restaurants and shops and people everywhere. Got a tip from a local to check out butterfly beach and it was great !!

My girlfriends and I came to relax here on a Tuesday afternoon. There is not too much beach area…read morebut it also wasn't too busy so we found a good spot to lay out blankets and put up our umbrellas. The water was cold but nice. Unfortunately we all stepped into tar that was very hard to get off our feet and sandals.

East Beach is a lovely palm tree lined beach for tourists, and locals to hangout…read more This beach is located at 34.4142°N 119.682°W. Moreover, this beach is world-famous for volleyball, as it hosts several volleyball tournaments each year. Plenty of free street parking and affordable parking fee on lots can be found at this beach. Lifeguard towers are present as well as garbage bins. Overall, this is a great beach. I highly recommend it.

We had heard that this was the beach to go to in Santa Barbara and the reviews seemed to agree, so…read morewe came here for our beach day. They have a pay lot but we were able to find street parking for free since we got there a bit after 10 on a Tuesday summer morning. The nice things people say about the beach are generally true- good sand, relatively clean overall, bathrooms at the pavilion, volleyball courts. However, the negative points for us was the construction work in the parking lot really close to the beach (a loader moving a giant mound of dirt to another tractor which ended up being a huge pile on fertilizer/manure for the baseball field across the street... super gross!) and the infamous "tar balls" that I heard about years ago in Jack Johnson's song "Bubble Toes". We had them on our feet within minutes of hitting the beach and had to buy a bottle of "Oil Slick" from a surf shop to get rid of the oil (BTW, the Oil Slick worked really well). Not a huge fan of Santa Barbara beaches but if you visit, buying Oil Slick before you come and avoiding giant mounds of "dirt" that the public works people are messing with would be some great tips for you.

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.

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.

Honestly one of the coolest ways to get down to the beach. Especially after a run, this spot has…read morebeen such a great place to decompress or enjoy watching the waves during high tide! Just be careful when others are coming down the steps, it's been raining, or if there's a lot of mist in the air. I've definitely slipped a couple of times and it is not pretty if you fall all the way down.

Geat place but the steps are alot of work so be ready to put your legs to work…read more. Its so nice its a very Clean and great to go for a walk..my kids had a good time until we had to walk back up to the top..

Had the best time ever! So relaxing and the long trek to get her is worth it when you see the…read morebeauty of this beach! First time being at a nude/clothing optional beach and I loved it!

Great place to unwind and begin to reconnect with nature, its a short 15-20 minutes walk from where…read moreyou park, its a clothing optional

Easy trail, 1.6miles loop, dog friendly, beautiful views with ocean breeze. It's a great place to…read morewatch the sunset. You can park at the bottom of the cliffs at Arroyo Burro Beach Parking Lot (near The Boathouse) or at the top of cliffs in Mesa residential neighborhood on Borton Drive, Medcliff Road or Mesa School Lane/Linda Rd.

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.

One of the most important things for me when deciding on a beach, is how close parking is to the…read moreshoreline. With kids, there's a fair amount of beach gear to carry and the closer the car, the better. Not only was the parking close, there were plenty for both compact and large vehicles. As for the beach itself, the waves are pretty low and kid friendly. I did see a harbor seal swim parallel with someone, popping his head up every now and then. My kids found a loveliness of ladybugs on the beach. Unfortunately most didn't make it. We were however, able to save one. The restrooms were well maintained with showers outside. There is also a restaurant nearby if any snacks you packed weren't enough. I highly recommend this beach for the convenience of parking and kid approved sand quality.

This is a very nice beach with plenty of parking spaces in the paid parking lot. I walked along the…read moreedges and sand of the beach with my friend. Then, we walked to the harbor to the restaurants to get some dinner. It was very convenient rather than looking for parking elsewhere.