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    Elings Park

    4.3 (52 reviews)

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    Playground
    Zsanae K.

    I love this park. Great views the bathrooms are pretty clean. I watch my BF play softball here. There's a nice grilling area too

    Sheep and ocean covid blues
    Lindsay W.

    I don't usually review all the great parks in town, but this is one of my favorites. Whether it is a gloomy Monday morning or a Saturday afternoon there is something to enjoy at Elings. We walk from our house and often times I see new parts of the park I never knew existed, even after like the 100th time. Careful to pay attention to the signs for operation hours as they will lock you in if you attempt to leave after closing, yes this is the one draw back. I literally had to climb a fence with my toddler to get out one night. Highlights of the park include: -hiking trails -playgrounds -baseball and softball areas -bathrooms open when covid isn't a thing -benches to picnic lunch, and -HAPPY PEOPLE and DOGS (with dog membership).

    Anne G.

    Ocean views in all directions! Hike to the top or park off Flora Vista for an easier hike! Tons of open space and different trails. Plus plenty of Mountain Bike trails! Go around sunset and take in the breathtaking scenery! Earlier in the day you can see the paragliders practicing! For a special family treat, the open space is getting cleared by Goats, Sheep and Alpacas! So fun to watch them, but don't make the mistake of touching the electrified fence LOL! I was quite a shock! ;)

    Looking out on a cloudy September 1st 2023
    Michael J.

    Virgil Elings is a local philanthropist like no other. This park is really pretty great. BMX, baseball, soccer, learn to parasail, walk through nature, have a wedding, bbq, walk your dog! You can do all that and more but, at a cost that's fair or just come in when the gate is free to pass through.

    Paragliders heading out toward the ocean
    Christine B.

    We had a great time wandering around Elings one afternoon. We took the trail that headed toward the ocean and were treated to sweeping views of Santa Barbara on one side, and gorgeous views of the Pacific on the other. I enjoyed watching the paragliders fluffing their sails repeatedly and then floating down the hillside. It was an uphill trail but nice and flat at the top. The views of Santa Barbara are so incredible. You just feel like you're on top of the world. It was a great way to spend a couple of hours.

    Liana C.

    GO AT SUNSET currently the park closes at 7:30 sharp so keep that in mind when you're there in the evenings. Now that's it's getting darker a little earlier If you are thereafter they close the gate you will be locked in! I would definitely go in the evening and walk the veteran's memorial. It's a beautiful path and tribute with flowers. There are a lot of events and sports games that happen here, so they do charge during peak hours but I usually go on a Friday afternoon or during the week.

    Mother with lamb
    Rosie O.

    I can't believe this was my first visit to Elings Park but I finally made it. This park is right here in the city on the way to lots of restaurants, grocery stores etc. You just have to take the time to stop. What made me finally stop? The park board has brought in around 200 sheep to clear out some non native grass that the sheep will eat and help clear so the native plants can grow. What a great park for wide open spaces, views and hiking. Climb the trails up and you have a fabulous ocean view. We took our six year old granddaughter to see the sheep. She loved it and was happy to hike up to be able to see them and the two white Great Pyrenees dogs that guard the sheep. There are plenty of sheep and plenty of new lambs to see right now. I will definitely be back to hike and explore some more.

    Ceremony at The South Bluffs in Elings Park.
    Andrea B.

    We had our ceremony at The South Bluffs and we could not be happier with the location!! WOW, what a view!!! We knew that we wanted to be close to the ocean but not right on the beach. This spot was absolutely perfect. We used Jump on the School Bus to transport our guests to and from the ceremony site so there were no issues getting up / down the hill. We definitely impressed all of our guests with how beautiful the view was!

    Catering tables and bbq pits close by
    Amber H.

    One of the best outdoor wedding venues I've been to in Santa Barbara! The area is a so beautiful at the top of Elings park. There was plenty of parking for the wedding of 60+ most people ubered to the site. If you were to have more guests drive I recommend contracting shuttle service it's too long of a walk for most. The walk into the venue is short and overlooks a grassy area for the dance floor and bar. The bathrooms were very clean (2). There is a lot of stairs to get down to the amphitheater and bottom deck where the tables were set. Only things that could be better: the grass was wet and long! They didn't prep the grass for lots of dancing and people. By the end of the night it was muddy. Some of the steps and walkways have random steps uneven and hard to see in the dark highly recommend string lighting for the safety of guests. The venue closes at 10 early night for most. The sunset was unreal with a 360 view of Santa Barbara. Golden hour was one of the best I've seen in town!

    Tantamount P.

    This place is amazing... dogs and people. Weddings and concerts. Can't go wrong with this location!

    Our wedding in May 2009 at Godric Grove at Elings Park! We used the available picnic round tables and rented some more.

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    If you hike to the top, it is a perfect spot to watch sunrise/sunset. Very dog friendly. Lots of dogs off leash.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Elings Park

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    Review Highlights - Elings Park

    Godric Grove at the summit of the park is an absolutely beautiful place to have a wedding or special ceremony.

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    Shoreline Park - Beautiful rock formations

    Shoreline Park

    4.7(91 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Shoreline Park in Santa Barbara is a 15-acre coastal bluff park known for its panoramic ocean views…read moreand family-friendly atmosphere. Perched above the Pacific, it offers a long, narrow stretch of green space with paved paths ideal for walking, jogging, and soaking in vistas that include the Santa Barbara Harbor, the Channel Islands, and the Santa Ynez Mountains.

    Shoreline Park is a gem for anyone seeking peaceful surroundings . The park offers stunning views…read moreof the ocean, with plenty of grassy areas perfect for picnics or lounging. I love coming here for walks and soaking up the panoramic views of the coastline. Benches are stationed throughout the park to enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, some areas have been gated off for safety reasons due to the foundation of the hillside. If you want to venture down to the beach, just look for the wooden archway. The stairway will lead you down to the shoreline. Occasionally high tides won't allow you to venture down, so just be aware of that. The beach itself is rocky, and sometimes full of debris so bring comfy shoes! This spot is ideal for families, walkers, and even solo relaxation. I recommend bringing a small bag for special sea treasures that you may find during your visit. I always enjoy looking for sea shells, sea glass and heart shaped rocks. The rock formations here are always breathtaking during low tides so be sure to bring a camera or have your phone fully charged. Overall, Shoreline Park is my top favorite in town and a must-visit for beach lovers and nature enthusiasts alike. It's also a dog friendly park, so bring your fur baby as well.

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    Shoreline Park - Chilly cold walk in March!

    Chilly cold walk in March!

    Shoreline Park
    Shoreline Park

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    Orpet Park

    Orpet Park

    4.8(5 reviews)
    2.5 mi

    A great small park! It's split by the road. Nice place to take a stroll. One side is paved and the…read moreother side is just grass. The paved part has the larger cracks / tripping hazards outlined in neon spray paint - that is so helpful for older folks and kids!

    Did you come across this review and think, "Well, I doubt there is much to say about a park. A park…read moreis a park." Well, you would be mighty wrong, my dear friend! This park, Orpet Park, you've come across is in Santa Barbara; the city that is literally a walking history book with every nook, cranny, and parcel rich in narratives and archives. Orpet Park is no exception to this rule so allow me to give you a quick background... Pretty much every visitor and tourist to the lovely city of Santa Barbara has been to the Mission or to the SB Botanical Gardens. This means that you have been minutes and even mere feet away from Orpet Park located at the corner of Moreno and Alameda Padre Serra. So, here is the history: Edward Owen Orpet was a park superintendent in SB with a lengthy list of horticultural and agricultural degrees, awards, pedigrees, experiences, and professional accomplishments. In fact, people called him the "Plant Missionary". Orpet made it his life mission to spruce up (no pun intended) that agricultural landscape of California and is the man behind many of the olive trees growing in the state. Perhaps we can call him Johnny Oliveseed? Eddy Oliveseed? Anyway, Orpet is obviously the founder of Orpet Park in 1921, the 4-acre park with two parts (dissected from each other by the street). Edward created Orpet Park has his own personal horticultural showplace in order to highlight rare trees and plants with the backdrop of scenic ocean views. And THAT, ladies and gents, is what you can find in Orpet Park today. The 'main' section of Orpet Park is located on the elevated hillside and is ripe with lush green foliage, trees casting shadows perfect for sitting, open space for pups to run around (pets MUST be leashed!) and picnic tables for your lunches or games of chess. Signs aggressively maintain that litter is a big no-no and this seems to be respected in Orpet Park as there wasn't any trash or pet feces that I could see. Plus, Orpet Park is so peaceful, serene, quiet and all the other collective synonyms! Even on a Saturday afternoon, there were only two other people in the park. Orpet Park is the PERFECT spot to getaway and enjoy nature and your own thoughts or that of a romantic partner. Orpet Park's 'second' portion is on the lower half and is the more landscaped side with hints of a botanical garden in design. Walkways are surrounded by beautiful trees, flowering plants, stone boulders, and of course the picnic tables to bask in it all. This side is equally gorgeous, litter-free, and silent except for the sounds of hummingbirds zipping by and is ideal for lovely walks or beautiful photos. Just a note: Orpet Park is NOT the kind of park you find a basketball court, playground, baseball field and the like in. This is more of a garden-esque, green space. Yet, Orpet Park is definitely 'better' and more inviting (plus, nice on the eyes) than most neighborhood parks. Parking is street-side and honestly doesn't seem to be an issue in this residential area. I found several spots directly adjacent to the park entry signs. Orpet Park is certainly worth a visit whether you live in SB or are a visitor and want to relax, grab lunch, gather your thoughts, etc. It is also ideal for a romantic walk or those Instagram-worthy snapshots. Let's thank Edward Orpet for leaving such a lovely legacy in the form of agricultural/horticultural wonders.

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    Orpet Park
    Orpet Park
    Orpet Park - Our picnic spot

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    Our picnic spot

    Douglas Family Preserve - Pearl and a too-big stick.

    Douglas Family Preserve

    4.8(188 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    We had no idea that this nice easy trail existed when he headed out to Santa Barbara with our 9year…read moreold lab mix for a 4 night vacay. What a great find this place was. Parking is Free and Plentiful -- In early August 2025 we showed up at 6:30pm on a Monday (to hike the preserve). There was tons of parking in the lots that abut The Boathouse, and the lots are always free for the public. There is also free street parking on the street just past the traffic circle. The hike/trail (The Douglas Family Preserve): A nice easy trail, and really fun for the doggos as it is an off-leash area. I'd say that half the people we saw on the trail had a pup, while the other half had no pets. The loop from the ground to the top and back is 1.5miles. There is 150 feet of elevation gain over a distance of about 1/3 of a mile; the rest of the hike is flat (w/ a large mesa at the top with lots of interconnected trails if you want to make the hike more extensive than a 1.5mile loop). Our dog not only enjoyed the walk, but had lots of fun trying to start some small play sessions with other dogs that she saw on the trail. Bonus: this trail uses the same parking lot as Hendry's Beach (Arroyo Burro Beach), which is leash free along the coastline east of the lifeguard tower (to the left of the lifeguard tower if you are facing the ocean).

    It's nice to see how different the ocean views and the vegetation on this trail changes in…read moredifference seasons. I had previously visited in September and this visit it is May. Still a nice day to walk and enjoy the cool ocean breeze, friendly people and dogs on the trail.

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    Douglas Family Preserve - Me and Cooper

    Me and Cooper

    Douglas Family Preserve
    Douglas Family Preserve - ** Dogs Welcome ** ** on and off leash ** Starting the BarkDay celebration early!

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    ** Dogs Welcome ** ** on and off leash ** Starting the BarkDay celebration early!

    Mission Historical Park

    Mission Historical Park

    4.8(20 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    One of my fav places in town. If we have guests, we always suggest grabbing a blanket and packing…read moresome wine and snacks or food to go and enjoy at sunset at the Rose Garden. The kids love rolling down the hill, climbing on the trees, or wandering the little paths on the side. Plus, you learn all the fantastic rose names when you simply take a walk around the pattern of colors.

    I have overlooked this park for many years, but today when visiting the mission today I took the…read morechance to walk across the street to see this park and rose garden. Most of the park is a large lawn, and very popular with picnickers and sun bathers on the weekend. But I was lucky to be here on a weekday, and found the rose garden part to be much more than I expected! The roses are sequestered toward the neighborhood side, and doesn't look like much from a distance. However, walk into them and the world changes. There are many beds of roses, most of them 5 to 6 feet tall it seems! The blooms were plentiful on this visit, and the aroma of roses was amazing! Every where I went I smelled the roses, one of my favorite scents. The roses are grouped by variety, and there are labels with the common names, should you wish to track down a variety that caught your attention. And there are benches around here and there so you can just sit and admire the blooms - when in season of course! If you ARE in the area when they are blooming, take the chance for a leisurely stroll through the beds - you'll be amazed at the potential of a rose garden brought to reality.

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    Mission Historical Park - It's me :-) there

    It's me :-) there

    Mission Historical Park
    Mission Historical Park

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    Elings Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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