This place is easily one of the best university gyms I've been to! It's got everything you need -…read moregreat equipment, plenty of space, and a really motivating atmosphere. Plus, the recent renovations have made it 10x better. Props to whoever designed the setup - they really thought it through! There are actually two gym buildings, so you've got options depending on what you're looking to do. There's also a pool if you're into swimming, and if you need a run, there's a track nearby. They covered all the bases when putting this place together. One thing I really appreciate is that they let the students run the music - and they crank it. It definitely adds to the vibe, and it's nice to hear that the younger generation appreciates some good old '90s and 2000s music. I just hope no one complains one day and gets it shut down because that would totally kill the atmosphere. Most of the gym-goers here are polite and respectful, which makes working out a lot more enjoyable. It's also kind of fun to see all the gym rats checking themselves out in the mirror - definitely adds some character to the place! Like any gym, it definitely has its peak times when it gets pretty packed. But if you go during the quieter hours, it's an absolute oasis for gym rats. The students using this gym are seriously going to miss it when they move on to chain gyms - they don't know how good they have it! Whether you're lifting, doing cardio, swimming, or just trying to stay active, this gym has you covered. Just plan your visit right, and you'll love it!

I spent many nights with my roomie at the Rec Cen. At UCSB we abbreviate like every program,…read morebuilding, person, lol. My roommate would always workout in the hall adjacent to the massive windows. I'd chill more because I had Ballet daily. The pool is fun bc there are fitness classes in the water, joined in on a handful with my former boss. Guys, the gym membership is a mandatory portion of your tuition, so it's totes worth it to participate. Park off-campus, ride yr bike in orrrrr rollerblade. Makes life simple.

Just Winging It We…read morethought we had a pretty good handle on all the major Monarch butterfly stopovers from Pacific Grove to Pismo, but somehow this place eluded us until we saw a display on it at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The Coronado Butterfly Preserve is ±9.3 acres of protected open space and--more importantly--a Monarch butterfly overwintering site. It is located in the City of Goleta and sits adjacent to Santa Barbara Shores Park. The Good: * Free to visit * Trails are flat and in great shape. They can get a bit muddy after a rain, but it wasn't terrible. * Trails lead into Santa Barbara Shores Park. * Beach access. The Meh: * Butterfly viewing can be very hit-or-miss here, as we only saw a small handful floating about. The Ugly: * Street parking in neighborhoods, which isn't my favorite, but it is what it is. Conclusion: Nice place to visit regardless of the butterfly count.

They have a parking lot at Santa Barbara Shores park, which is located across from Ellwood School…read moreon Hollister Ave. This parking lot has an entrance to the preserve with a general map for viewing. We followed directions through Yelp however; and it brought us to a neighborhood street where we could park and enter the preserve via a trail. This worked great until we realized the trails are not marked and it was hard to know where you were headed and if and when we would loop back to our car. I highly suggest parking in the lot and using a different map than the one through Yelp. That being said the preserve was a different habitat for us to walk through with so many tall trees to shade you and create wonderful places for the many birds we could hear and see. We did see a couple of butterflies, so that was nice. This preserve seems to be a work in progress and donations are being accepted to aid in their goal. I think it is going to be a fabulous asset to the community when it is completed.

Parking can be a challenge so be mindful that you are parking where families live. Good baseball…read morefield with no outfield fence. Cool obstacle course.....couldn't bring myself to try it (just another obstacle I have to get over). Dog friendly on leash and tennis court available as first come first serve.

We highly recommend "Gone Adventuring Pilates" with Kristine Chaussard. We have had some excellent…read morePilates instructors over the last 20 years (we're 70). Kristi is one of the best. Kristi's experience is deep and her repertoire is vast. Each class is thoughtfully choreographed so that it is constantly moving, always challenging and targeted to our ability.  No matter your age, Kristi will provide you a challenging and "adventurous" experience. For many years after a pilates class we would say 'I'm am so glad we did that!'; but, after 20 years we had sort of stopped saying this. After everyone of our classes with Kristi we have again started to say 'I am so glad we did that!'.

I highly recommend Kristi at Gone Adventure Pilates! I am a beginner with a foot injury. Kristi…read moremakes me feel comfortable being new and is skilled at making modifications to work with my limitations. Each session I leave feeling like a had an amazing workout and looking forward to the next session.

Have visited multiple times with varying levels of other players. The course is well maintained and…read moreI love that it's dog friendly. Great local course in the area.

Perhaps the greatest concentration of Bros and frisbees you'll find anywhere in the United States…read more This was a really nice setup, and despite the concentration of Bros, our group with both males and females/adults and kids, felt welcome. A lot of fun, even for beginners. There is a website with etiquette tips and a map of the course that you should check out before heading out. Some of tees aren't that well marked for first timers, but we found that others playing the course were very happy to help us out. Bro-tastic!

Sirens is my favorite workout class! 30 minutes of intense circuits and cardio at the end with a…read moregreat community of fun women! I saw changes in my body within a few weeks of starting and that is why this is the only workout I've managed to stick with for well over a year! Small class sizes guarantee a lot of personal attention, so form will always be correct and safe and weight will be appropriate. Highly, highly recommend!

Titan Sports Performance has terrific programs designed for to keep seniors in good physical shape…read more The Golden Gears program incorporates low impact exercises to help maintain the health and fitness of this exclusive group of guys and gals. Sara Box, our instructor makes the class fun and enjoyable with a variety of aerobic routines to keep "us on our toes" while we huff and puff. So get your gear on, jump into action and join the Golden Gears program at TSP!