Beaches for Guests of Santa Barbara Vacation Rentals
The beaches in Santa Barbara are considered some of the best on the West Coast, perfect for a day of sunning or water sports. Most of the Santa Barbara beaches face south, which makes for great sun conditions all day long.One of the most popular Santa Barbara beaches is East Beach, centrally located near the Santa Barbara downtown area. This bustling stretch of sand, backed by a grassy park, offers plenty of activities for visitors staying in Santa Barbara lodging, including water sports, volleyball, rollerblading, and cycling.
West Beach, situated between the breakwater and the wharf, offers good views of the boats coming in and out of the harbor. This is also a great spot for kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, rollerblading, and playing volleyball.
Leadbetter Beach, located near the harbor between Shoreline Park and the breakwater, is a popular spot for guests of Santa Barbara rentals. The relatively calm surf is perfect for beginning windsurfers and surfers and also attracts sailboats. Facilities include restrooms, outdoor showers, a grassy picnic area, and a restaurant.
At the Carpinteria City and State beaches, guests of Santa Barbara cottages will find a great stretch of sandy beach and excellent swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and beach volleyball conditions. Restrooms, showers, and parking are available, and visitors can rent bicycles and skates at the State beach.
Another great Santa Barbara beach is Goleta Beach, offering a variety of activities such as fishing, volleyball, and water sports. Amenities include free parking, a fishing pier, picnic facilities, walking paths, restrooms, volleyball nets, a restaurant, and a snack bar.
The El Capitan Beach, near Goleta, is a great beach for sunning and swimming. The beach is located in a state park with plenty of parking and admission is $5 per carload. Amenities include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, and barbeque grills.
Past El Capitan Beach is Refugio Beach, which is situated in a state park that also offers hiking and biking trails. The long stretch of sandy beach is great for all sorts of water activities, while the picnic tables and grills are perfect for an afternoon in the great outdoors.
Hendry's Beach (also known as Arroyo Burro Beach) in Los Positas, is one of the less crowded Santa Barbara area beaches. Vacationers staying in Santa Barbara beach house rentals will find a grassy picnic area here, as well as restrooms, showers, a restaurant and snack bar, and limited free parking.
Vacationers who stay in a Santa Barbara rental can watch the sun set over the ocean at west-facing Butterfly Beach, located in an upscale area of Montecito.
