Family things to do in Santa Barbara

Outdoors

Hot Springs Canyon Trailhead

Upper East

Kids World

Riviera

Franceschi Park

San Roque

Stevens Park

Hiking trails, picnicking areas & a playground situated on 25 acres around San Roque Canyon.

Upper East

Alameda Park

Tranquil 2-block park with a pond, vintage bandstand, sizable play structure & many rare trees.

East Mesa

Shoreline Park

Popular park overlooking the water offers a playground, grassy areas, walking paths & beach access.

Outdoors

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

Picturesque, pastoral lakeside park featuring campgrounds, fishing & other activities.

East Beach

Chase Palm Park

Waterfront park lined with tall palm trees, offering lounging lawns & a walking/biking path.

Upper East

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden

Lush garden with an array of tree & plant species, koi ponds, a picnic area & a butterfly garden.

West Mesa

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park

This oceanfront beach with seasonal lifeguards & a grassy area for picnicking allows off-leash dogs.

Outdoors

Inspiration Point Trailhead

Elings Park

Elings Park

Suburban spot with baseball fields, BMX raceway & hang gliding hills, plus picnic & event space.

Outdoors

Tuckers Grove Park

Tree-lined park offers hiking/biking trails alongside a creek, plus playgrounds & picnic amenities.

Santa Barbara Downtown

Santa Barbara County Courthouse Gardens

Outdoors

Rocky Nook Park

West Mesa

Douglas Family Preserve

Hiking paths & ocean views feature at this park with 70 acres of native trees & plants.

Outdoors

Santa Barbara Shores Park

Outdoors

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Enchanting garden featuring 5.5 miles of paths, authentic Japanese tea garden, redwood grove & more.

Sports & Recreation

Lizards Mouth Rock

Santa Barbara Downtown

El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park

Historical site housing remnants of a 1782 Spanish fortress, including 2 original adobe buildings.

East Beach

Santa Barbara Zoo

Small zoo with hundreds of animals in natural habitats, a miniature train ride & picnic spots.

Waterfront

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Museum preserving the maritime history of the local coast through exhibits, artifacts & events.

Upper East

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

Landmark with various exhibits including regional history, art, a planetarium & a butterfly garden.

Santa Barbara Downtown

Lobero Theatre

California's oldest, continuously-operating theater hosting live concerts, musicians & stage shows.