This is such a fun place to take your kids! So many things for them to do. Play on the dolphins, go…read moredown one of the four slides, hide under the huts, go over the bridge, or sit in the boat. Lots of imagination was used to build this fun playground. I wish there were bathrooms that were closer.

It is a very cool place for children. There is a trail alongside the play area that leads to the…read moreCarpinteria State Park. The area trail alone is less than a mile but it is nice . There are so many things to see like birds and also wildlife. There are plaques all over the place that tell you about the origins of the place. The path has also solar panels that will light up at night for night walkers. It is also very close to so many restaurants, shops, and the big fields if you just want to run around even more freely.

I set out to view the Carpinteria Seal Rookery. Basically this is a restricted beach area for…read morehumans but where seals gather to hang out and live their best life. Before I go further I want to tell ya all that "messing" (includes physically approaching and intruding in restricted areas) with the seals is a federal violation resulting in $10,000 fine. Plus remember the state& local crime punishable by more fines and probable time. We all know how much the government is hurting for some extra moolah. So don't be a doofus. The viewing area is free, no charge. All right with that said, you can view the website for ways to get to the overlook. All paths lead to using the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail. Plus for the love of all that you love, beware of the train tracks. Those are active tracks with real live trains. There are no bells n whistles to alert you that they are a coming. The tracks are not set there for a photo selfie opp. Don't linger on them and don't use them as a walking path. The summer weekday afternoon I visited, the extended bluff trail viewing area was closed. It was roped off. However the hedge, along the viewing trail, was overgrown so the beach below was not visible from that vantage point. So I went back to the area before the trail viewing area. And there was a small area where the hedge was not overgrown to view a portion of the beach below. That portion was closest to the private Casitas pier. But on this particular summer weekday afternoon, I was unable to view any seals on the beach from my vantage point. I'm pretty sure some were down there though. I saw a few swimming in the distance. Then unfortunately I saw a great white shark do what they do. It made a meal of a seal or two. Not a bad place for the sharks to hang out. Highly unfortunate for the seals when they do.

It was very windy when I visited, and so there were no seals or any other animals. I walked down on…read morethe beach and realized why. It was so windy that anything on the beach ended up getting a sand blasted exfoliation! The birds were having issues keeping up in the wind too. Nonetheless, this is a cute place to visit and walk around. The views are amazing and I love the cliffs. There are also small sea shells that have washed up on shore that you can look at. I guess I'll have to pick another day when the weather is better and then I can go seal-spotting.

A really quiet park with an ocean view. It's a small but there were few people there. It has a…read morebench so you can throw a picnic. It also has a small grassy field. Parking lot has 5+ spaces but plenty of street parking as well.

The SIMPLICITY and BEAUTY of it all!!! Why doesn't anyone ever review this park!?…read more The best things in life are free....The rest is too expensive. Quality over quantity. Big things come in small packages. Everything I think of when I come to this park. It may be small in size, but this park has everything. Elevated views of the ocean. A little walking path. Benches. BBQ grills. Good shade from some of the trees. It has open space to play frisbee and lots green grass to make your pups go crazy with the adventure sniffs. Parking along the road below. And not too far away from a VERY good cafe and DELIGHTFUL gift shop if you ever get hungry or bored. I just love it. Hanging out here for free is better than most things you spend your money on. Trust.

We stopped by for my bday last year and it was such a charming experience. It's one I recommend…read moreduring these gorgeous spring months for plant lovers and nature seekers. Despite growing up around here, I somehow never stumbled through these grand entrance gates until recently. This gem of a garden isn't just my butt's savior now on long drives up from LA, but it's a sliver of paradise found--and sanity regained. Just walking around here for 15-20 mins. and you'll feel your blood pressure drop a few notches to a pleasant state of calm. You can explore the themed areas, take in the vegetation around you, and get landscaping tips just from strolling around their property. The plant things are grouped in various climate/hemispheres and it's nice to see them taking root and being incorporated in a seamless design (and it's nice shopping experience too). I was impressed with the selection and bought a few small air plants and succulents that are still thriving with offshoots. Prices are reasonable. For pros looking for inspo, I think this place that can offer Interior Designers & Landscapers creativity with plants. Or even the DIY Weekend Warrior looking to revamp their current landscaping or add a little something new to it. They have a wide variety of exotics, California natives to indigenous to Australia, and every other tree, shrub, and greenery in between. Since it's the year of the (hobby) horse, I'll be sure to get my butt up here more often in 2026.

As a store there's all sorts of different plants and gardening items that you'd need. I like to…read morestop by solely for the botanical gardens in back. It's a nice small excursion if traveling to LA. What a wonderful concept to put a botanical garden on the property, it could show what you could do with the plants that they sold. It's tranquil to walk around and explore yet it is right next to the 101 so the freeway was loud. They really packed a lot of diversity into this small area. There were plaques for each different garden. Plaques I noticed (though there might be more) were South African Garden, Mediterranean Garden, Grassland, Cottage Garden, Native Garden, Succulent Garden, Central/South American garden, Australian garden, and Asian garden. My favorite was the Asian garden because it had a pond with koi fish.

Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is nestled in the coastal town of Carpinteria, California. While…read moreit doesn't look like much from the outside, things are surprisingly beautiful within. It's got a great beach area and little bluffs to sit on overlooking the ocean. It's a place where you can unwind, take a leisurely stroll, and simply breathe in the fresh coastal air. Last time we were there, the beach had tons of driftwood from all the recent storms. There were some really interesting pieces of wood out there and maybe a hidden treasure or two. It was fun to search through everything and build a wooden fort. The salt marsh ecosystem also draws in various bird species, some uncommon, making it interesting for birdwatching. Whether you're an experienced birder or simply appreciate a cool looking bird, the park offers ample opportunities to spot and observe them in their natural habitat. The park has actually been closed since April 2023 but is scheduled to reopen in June 2023, for emergency dredging and other issues related to all the weather and flooding. The park's amenities are relatively limited, including a small visitor center and a picnic area, they also have some campus spots I believe. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is a worth a stop if you are local or looking for a nice spot to spend some time by the beach. Five stars.

The trail runs along the edge of the rehabed salt marsh. It is an interesting walk, well kept and…read morewith good educational signs. The neighborhood surrounding the marsh on 2 sides is upscale and there is plenty of street parking. Lots of room and benches to relax and enjoy the views.

Does not have a designated dog park. It is a bit disheartening to see oil on the beach. It is a…read morebeautiful park to take pups on a leash, bathrooms available, and a large playground.

5 Star Rating Lookout Park in Summerland, near Santa…read moreBarbara, is an absolute gem! This clean, beautiful park, perfectly situated on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, was the ideal spot for our family reunion this past June. We'll definitely be back! Value - 5 The value here is incredible. We reserved Area A for just $65 for the whole day for our family reunion! It came with a large, double-width bbq, two picnic tables and a long, high-top serving table. That's a steal, especially considering places in Oxnard (which aren't nearly as bougie or clean) were charging well over $200. Quality / Cleanliness - 5 This park is impeccably maintained. There are two large picnic areas (require reservation) and several smaller picnic areas with bbq (first come, first served), and the large, well-maintained play area for kids is fantastic, including a jungle gym and even musical instruments. The path down to the beach is somewhat steep but totally worth it. The beach itself is super clean, with sand at low tide and lots of cute nooks and crannies to explore. At high tide, it becomes a rocky beach as the water comes right up to the path landing. Plus, it's pet-friendly! Service - N/A As a public park, there isn't a traditional "service" component to review, but the booking process for the picnic area was smooth. Physical Location - 5 The location is simply stunning. Being on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. The park is clean, the amenities are well-kept, and there's a cute little town/shopping area just past the Amtrak overpass that's easily walkable from the park. Everything about this location is perfect.

Carpinteria Valley Memorial Park is wide open and well maintained park. It's perfect for a picnic…read moreor summer barbecue. This park has tables and complete jungle gym as well as shade from the trees located in the center of the field. It's a perfect spot to spend the afternoon and relax.

We were looking for a place to take our dog and was told this is the spot! Free parking too -- so…read morewe walked to the right (North of The Point) and a long beach awaited us with happy doggies running and playing. Sign says they must be on a leash but I guess the dogs couldn't read! Not too crowded even on a warm summer weekend. No lifeguards but people were swimming as the waves were very mild. Saw a bunch of surfers way to the left (South of The Point). I can see this getting a bit cold in the winter but perfect for summer.

Great beach especially to take my dog. Nice walk down to the ocean and the beach was kept clean.read more

Ohhhh my gosh! This is a hidden gem! Seriously HIDDEN! Went for a drive thru the hills of…read moreCarpenteria and Montecito and stumbled upon this park... saw the sign for the turn off and decided to take it! Drove for a while on this gorgeous lush road with so much foliage and trees that you could barely see the sky, that led us to a beautiful park with a ton of trees, and a creek running through it! A wooden bridge crossing over...There was a huge dog park area; A nice bathroom; Playground for kids; There are several picnic areas available to reserve for events... Just lovely!

Only four stars for lack of puppy water…read more.. GPS is a little misleading. Once you see the Toro Canyon Park sign on the road you must keep going. It's definitely worth the extra drive. The fenced in off-leash dog park is big, but all dirt. The entire park itself is Amazing!!, Huge!!!, Clean And nicely done. We lucked out & were the 1st ones in. When we were leaving this nice park ranger type woman asked us if we'd be interested in attending a Rattlesnake Avoidance Training Class ?!?!? Lucky, Blessed, Confirmed! (9/14/22)

Such a magical tree…read more The fact its almost 300 years old is mind blowing. It has grown so big that it has rested its branches on the ground, which have grown upward from there. It looks like a grove of trees but its really just one! A perfect spot for a picnic or date to connect with an amazing tree!

What an amazing tree. I come here every trip to Carpinteria because it reminds me of the journey…read moreof life and what is truly meaningful and lasting about it. This tree has been there a long time and I believe it has the embedded knowledge of all these years it has lived in that same spot, unmoving, ever-growing and undaunted by all that has passed since it began as a little sprout. I go to commune. I go to touch this ancient being. I go to be awe-struck. I go because my friend goes and loves this tree too. Its special and being in its presence is special.