Santa Barbara Parks & Gardens
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide to Parks & Gardens in Santa Barbara, California.
Tours of Lotusland are available at 10am and 1:30pm, Wednesday through Saturday from mid-February to mid-November. Located in the foothills of Montecito on Santa Barbara's east side, this 37-acre (15-ha) estate and botanic garden features a butterfly garden, a Japanese garden, a cactus garden and more.
Running 220 mi (350 km) from Big Sur, the western edge of Los Angeles County, Los Padres National Forest boasts a wealth of recreational activities for visitors to enjoy. Comprised of streams, beaches, rivers and plenty of wooded area, this two million-acre (809,000-ha) area contains campgrounds, day-use sections, trails for biking, hiking and horse riding, off-road trails and much more.
El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park features the second oldest building in California, and was used as government headquarters until 1846. The park is located on East Canon Perdido in downtown Santa Barbara, California.
Carpinteria State Beach is located 12 mi (19 km) from Santa Barbara, and features seals, sea lions and gray whales. The beach has picnic areas, restrooms and a visitor center.
Rocky Nook County Park is a 19-acre (8-ha) park overlooking Mission Creek. The park features shaded picnic areas, barbeque grills, hiking trails, horseshoes and restrooms.
Come and explore 65 acres (26 ha) of redwood forests, oak and canyon woodland, meadows and the desert, each representing eight different regions of California. The garden is open weekdays from 9am to 4pm and weekends from 9am to 5pm. Group rates are available.
The Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park features cave paintings by the Chumash Native Americans that date back to the 1600s.
Elings Park provides a number of programs for children, adults and seniors, as well as family and cultural events. The park features soccer fields, baseball fields, a hang gliding training hill, hiking trails and a BMX bike track.
Located across from Santa Barbara's Old Mission, this rose garden was established in 1955 and features a part-time gardener that maintains the grounds.
Chase Palm Park Santa Barbara
This park runs from Stearns Wahrf to East beach along both sides of Cabrillo Boulevard. The park features a carousel, a children's playground and an outdoor pavilion.
Shoreline Park Santa Barbara
Amenities featured at Shoreline Park include a playground, grassy areas, walking paths and a stairway to the beach. The park is located on the bluffs overlooking the beach and harbor.
Plaza del Mar Santa Barbara
Plaza del Mar is one of Santa Barbara's oldest parks. The park is situated across from the harbor and Los Banos Pool.
Franceschi Park Santa Barbara
Covering 18 acres (7 ha), Franceschi Park features a number of exotic plants as well as picnic areas. Parking is available on site.
Ortega Park Santa Barbara
A family-oriented park, Ortega Park features a youth softball field, outdoor basketball courts, a playground and a wading pool. Barbeque and picnic sites can be reserved in advance.
Skofield Park Santa Barbara
Skofield Park features reservable camping areas for non-profit youth groups. Other amenities include walking and hiking trails, grassy meadows and picnic sites.
Mission Park Santa Barbara
Mission Park is home to Mission Santa Barbara, a two-tower mission established in 1786. Parking is available.
