Parks and gardens in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s landscapes transition from coastal bluffs to the foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains. This collection includes the Ganna Walska Lotusland estate and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, which focuses exclusively on California native flora. Historic sites like El Presidio and Mission Historical Park preserve Spanish colonial remnants, while Shoreline Park and the Douglas Family Preserve provide elevated views of the Pacific Ocean for whale watching. The Andree Clark Bird Refuge offers a 42-acre habitat for local and migratory species.

Parks and Gardens — Map

Arminnius / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Shoreline Park

Shoreline Park, a long, narrow ocean-side strip of land on top of a mesa, is located in Santa Barbara, California, United States.

Summerrrz / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden is a park located in Santa Barbara, California.

Channel City Camera Club / CC BY 2.0

C

Andree Clark Bird Refuge

Andrée Clark Bird Refuge, a 42-acre saltwater marsh, is one of the largest wildlife refuges in Santa Barbara County, California, United…

Antandrus / Public domain

D

Goleta Beach County Park

Goleta Beach is a region of coastline located near Goleta, California, just east of the University of California, Santa Barbara campus.

Eugene Zelenko / GFDL

E

El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park

El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, is a former military installation in Santa Barbara,…

F

Lotusland

A 37-acre botanical garden on the former estate of Madame Ganna Walska. It features specialized collections of cycads, cacti, and succulents, alongside a Japanese garden and dramatic water features. Advanced reservations are required for tours.

G

Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens

This 78-acre garden focuses on plants native to California. It includes five miles of trails, a redwood grove, a meadow, and a historic 1807 dam built by Chumash laborers.

Alden Freeman / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Franceschi Park

Franceschi Park is a 15.78-acre public park located at the intersection of Mission Ridge Road and Franceschi Road within the Riviera…

Niranjan Arminius / CC BY-SA 2.0

I

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park

Locally known as Hendry's Beach, this park offers sandy shores flanked by tall cliffs. It features a bird-watching area, a restaurant, and a designated off-leash area for dogs.

Niranjan Arminius / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Skofield Park

A 35-acre natural area featuring oak woodlands, open meadows, and boulder-strewn landscapes. It serves as a trailhead for Rattlesnake Canyon and includes areas for group camping and picnicking.

K

Chase Palm Park

A waterfront park featuring an antique carousel, a shipwreck-themed playground, a skate park, and an outdoor stage used for community summer concerts.

L

Douglas Family Preserve

A 70-acre open space on the site of the former Wilcox Nursery. Located on the bluffs above the Pacific, it offers trails for hiking and cycling, an off-leash dog area, and a paragliding launch site.

M

Mission Historical Park

Situated across from the Old Mission Santa Barbara, this park contains a large rose garden with over 1,500 plants and preserves historic ruins of the mission's 19th-century water system.

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