Last month, on a weekday in the middle of summer, is when I dropped in to this beach known by…read moreseveral names... Santa Claus Beach (unofficial name) and Padaro Beach (offical name). It was so hectic to get to this beach due to all the road construction. And the beach was packed due to the various local children's summer camps and tourists. First, thing to note is the road construction. Possibly it's over by now. But when I visited, the road had no parking for the stretch right along the public access to the beach. It's free access and parking. The normal spots were taken by the construction crew and their equipment and materials. They were digging up the road. I saw a lot of folks parking in the road construction zone. The crew were calling tow trucks depending on where those cars were parked. Anyway, we parked really far away and hoofed it in while dodging dozers, street traffic, and construction crew. The access to the beach is limited to the open stretch where so happened the construction was occurring. Other access points are private property. Don't be tempted to cut through, it's illegal. Once you get to the public access area, you'll need to hike a wee bit of sandy elevation to cross the train tracks. Have your wits about while trekking near and on the tracks. Look both ways from afar and be ready to move to a safe distance if there is an incoming train. We ventured further to the far edges of the beach. The beach was clean. Sand was soft. Good vibes. Watch out at high tides if you venture to the far sides, the beach shrinks at high tide. And a rocky outcropping is beyond the sand. Plus there are no plumbed public restrooms, but I did see porta toilets.

Such a hidden gem of a beach. We stumbled upon it after randomly getting off the freeway. Passing…read morethe beautiful beach houses , there's an open area to park by the railroad. Walking across the railroad, the beautiful beach is kept hidden and beautiful. It was nice to come relax in the sun and hit the waters for a bit. It is NOT hard to find, don't be mislead by these reviews. There's also a surf store, a restaurant, and other stores going more down the road! Nice area.

Spent 5 nights near this beach. It was a great location, easy access to restaurants and bars in the…read moretown of Carpinteria.

My new favorite beach. The state beach is nice and convenient for parking and lifeguards but if you…read morewant to save yourself the $10 parking fee, then come here. There is no lifeguard here. Parking can get a little rough and I was lucky enough to snag a spot on Memorial Day when a guy walking the train was leaving. So plan on bringing a wagon in case you end up parking blocks away. This was such a great beach. Hardly any wind this day. It was sunny and there were lots of people on the beach but still plenty of room for more people. Dogs allowed on the leash if going to the right and no dogs on the left towards the state beach. I still saw all sorts of dogs off leash so it's obviously not enforced. They have public restrooms. No way to dry your hands though.

If you're looking for a quiet beach with excellent views, this is it. Plenty of parking, restrooms,…read moreand picnic benches to enjoy the oceanfront views. For those inclined for a beachside run or walk, head down the paved ramp to the beach! Perfect for large groups, families, and dogs, especially with the summer coming up.

We were looking for a place to take our dog and was told this is the spot! Free parking too -- so…read morewe walked to the right (North of The Point) and a long beach awaited us with happy doggies running and playing. Sign says they must be on a leash but I guess the dogs couldn't read! Not too crowded even on a warm summer weekend. No lifeguards but people were swimming as the waves were very mild. Saw a bunch of surfers way to the left (South of The Point). I can see this getting a bit cold in the winter but perfect for summer.

I didn't even know this place excised til last weekend. While on a daytrip to Carpinteria my family…read moreand I came across this place while on a walk. It's a protected habitat for harbor seals. December through May is when you will see the most seals. It's on the trail of the carpenters bluffs nature preserve. It's really nice to walk here. Next time you are in Carpinteria check it out.

I haven't been back to the seal sanctuary since 1992 when I became a volunteer. It was a much…read moresimpler operation then but still very effective. We didn't have official signs up then, of course. But we were always there to warn people not to bring their bicycles up to the viewing area (because the reflections from the metal would scare the moms and babies down on the beach.) Sometimes we would even keep watch all night when coyotes we come down from the hills to snatch themselves a meal. It was wonderful to be able to protect these little families.

Does not have a designated dog park. It is a bit disheartening to see oil on the beach. It is a…read morebeautiful park to take pups on a leash, bathrooms available, and a large playground.

5 Star Rating Lookout Park in Summerland, near Santa…read moreBarbara, is an absolute gem! This clean, beautiful park, perfectly situated on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, was the ideal spot for our family reunion this past June. We'll definitely be back! Value - 5 The value here is incredible. We reserved Area A for just $65 for the whole day for our family reunion! It came with a large, double-width bbq, two picnic tables and a long, high-top serving table. That's a steal, especially considering places in Oxnard (which aren't nearly as bougie or clean) were charging well over $200. Quality / Cleanliness - 5 This park is impeccably maintained. There are two large picnic areas (require reservation) and several smaller picnic areas with bbq (first come, first served), and the large, well-maintained play area for kids is fantastic, including a jungle gym and even musical instruments. The path down to the beach is somewhat steep but totally worth it. The beach itself is super clean, with sand at low tide and lots of cute nooks and crannies to explore. At high tide, it becomes a rocky beach as the water comes right up to the path landing. Plus, it's pet-friendly! Service - N/A As a public park, there isn't a traditional "service" component to review, but the booking process for the picnic area was smooth. Physical Location - 5 The location is simply stunning. Being on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean is breathtaking. The park is clean, the amenities are well-kept, and there's a cute little town/shopping area just past the Amtrak overpass that's easily walkable from the park. Everything about this location is perfect.

Why have I never been here ? Living in LA for over thirty years and often driving to Santa…read moreBarabara with many stops I never knew this beautiful pathway is here. It's a nature preserve with so many plants and flowers all around. Along the beach and train tracks you can walk over a mile, it's family friendly and safe. You can see trains passing by and also stop by the seal sanctuary overlook. It's was beautiful during this time of the year. So many flowers and cool weather. My family and I really enjoyed our time here. So lovely. Will be one of usual stops now.

52 acres of open space. It's between freeway 101 and the Pacific Ocean. It has fields of…read morewildflowers and native plants, eucalyptus grove of trees, walking paths that connect to the Carpinteria Bluffs Trail, and access to a low tide beach and seal rookery. Since the preserve is on a cliff, the sunsets are gorgeous. Catch the sun as it dips slowly into the ocean horizon. The colors melting into the ocean. Perfection. The access and parking to the preserve is free. FREE! You gotta luv that. Since the preserve is on a bluff, the beach is elevated below. So accessing the beach requires some trekking skills. Plus there are active live train tracks between the beach and preserve. Trains often run through. Always have your wits about you when you're near train tracks. And keep a considerable distance from the moving train. Next to the bluffs are ball fields with actual real turf. There are public restrooms there. I can't offer any additional info on those, I didn't use them. Both the preserve and ball fields have their own parking lots. Also I want to acknowledge the citizens of Carpentaria for fighting off land developers to keep this land undeveloped and forming a land trust to permanently safeguard it.

It's a beautiful spot with parking and a small walk passed some train tracks. You just gotta dodge…read morethe horse poop. But the beach is covered with oil. You can't get in the water without it staining your skin. Just a short walk and my sandals had to be thrown in the trash. The oil is hard to get off. I spent 20 mins trying to scrub it off with dish soap. Pretty bad and what a waste of what could've been a beautiful hidden escape

This place was a gem! Quiet and easy to access. Free parking as well. Went on a Monday morning and…read morebarely came across anyone. When you enter the parking lot, the train is at the very end of the lot. You'll see a sign that says to access. Then it looks like you're walking to the train tracks, but only about 50ft. You'll need to turn left to go up the small hill. Watch out for some horse or dog poop on the ground!

Seacliff Beach is one of the beaches in the city of Ventura. I was driving on US 101 heading south…read moreto go home. The scenery was so beautiful. The drive was very nice, too. Heading north on US 101 is great as you still may get some beach views, but you're on the other side of the highway. Heading south on US 101 is better because you're closer to the waters and you have the opportunity to stop at various outlooks and viewpoints. I really enjoyed my drive and the views of this wonderful beach as I was passing by. Thank you!

I came here to say this place is very nice and intimate place to come and enjoy the scenery,the…read more"path" down isn't that bad just wear good running shoes.