Such a magical tree…read more The fact its almost 300 years old is mind blowing. It has grown so big that it has rested its branches on the ground, which have grown upward from there. It looks like a grove of trees but its really just one! A perfect spot for a picnic or date to connect with an amazing tree!

What an amazing tree. I come here every trip to Carpinteria because it reminds me of the journey…read moreof life and what is truly meaningful and lasting about it. This tree has been there a long time and I believe it has the embedded knowledge of all these years it has lived in that same spot, unmoving, ever-growing and undaunted by all that has passed since it began as a little sprout. I go to commune. I go to touch this ancient being. I go to be awe-struck. I go because my friend goes and loves this tree too. Its special and being in its presence is special.

I came here for an event today so really my review is tailored more towards the events that Casa is…read moreholding but also to acknowledge the fabulous grounds and building though I admit I don't have full context for the history or background. I would definitely come back here to learn about the house and to take the guided tour. This wasn't the purpose for me coming today but the gentleman who works here noted that it's a great tour and I know friends who have enjoyed learning about the family and the history of the house, getting a deeper dive of information. I came here with some friends for their first hosted event Sound Bath. A wellness day if you will. From start to finish everything was very organized and thoughtful. The staff hosting the event and the spiritual wellness guide and sound healer was wonderful. Everyone was nice and you felt welcomed. Not pretentious and just very positive and good vibes. We had a nice group and everyone was respectful and on time for the sound bath so it went off without issue. It was a relaxing experience and the grounds were very nice to hold this outdoor event. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, we found an area with shade, very nice. Very faint sounds of cars in the distance here and there which wasn't ideal but out of their control and once things settled in you really couldn't hear much external noise. After the relaxing sound bath we were offered tea and light pastry snacks. I opted for a water and began exploring the grounds instead of partaking in the refreshments. The grounds are lush and lovely, very zen. Loved the beautiful trees and walkways with small fountains and running water. It was green and pretty all around from the recent rains. Definitely a great location for events and to learn a little SB history. I will definitely do my research and come back again soon.

Yikes, this is an expensive tour but it is a rarity to see a period house with most of the original…read moreoccupants furnishings etc. The tours are docent led and very informative. If you like these types of tours, this one is quite worth it.

The leading institution for all things California islands!…read more On the "Museum" side, they have an incredible collection of artifacts from all 8 of the Channel Islands, LIVE webcams monitoring all the islands, and an incredible garden/courtyard of native plants. On the "Archives" side they have the foremost collection of maps, documents, and more related to all the islands, including Baja islands and the Farallones. They are also very friendly to school groups, and other groups, and have curriculums available for all age levels. This place is a gem in Carpinteria's crown and I highly recommend a visit--whether you've been to any California islands or not.

At Linden and Carpentaria Steers you will find in the old Bank of America Building a unbelievable…read moregreat collection of of histories from the Eight Channel Islands. We had the rare opportunity to glimpse inside before it has opened to the public. I expect it will be one of the most popular spots in the City. They expect a formal opening as early as April 2024. So what h for it to happen soon. The history in these walls is unbelievable and prior to this has been held on private collection. I took a Quick Look but upon open I look forward to spending some time seeing the exhibit. This will be a place for small groups as the inside will allow no more then 49 people per fire code. What a great use of this building.

Quaint little museum. Small place and the people working there were very friendly. Had little…read moreartifacts gathered in the area. Some history about Chumash Indians who were estimated to have been around for 10,000+ years. An interesting film about Japanese Americans & internment camps - I didnt get to watch the whole film as it was kind of long but had me wonder about what they must have gone through & how awful things must have been for them. People are resilient though. They lose everything but rise above all the hardships & persevere. In the film, one man was talking about his grandfather who was in the internment camp & tried to fight for their rights, was sent to jail for speaking up, etc. He said, with a smile, " My grandfather was a bada**". He sounded very proud. To pass that legacy down, that grandfather did much more than just fight for his rights. History provides us an opportunity to reflect & appreciate all those who came before us & what they've accomplished. Surviving was a great feat!!

Great little museum, bigger than I expected, and some interesting artifacts. I'd say better than…read morethe Ventura museums. Recommend if you like local history!

Carpinteria is a great California beach town. -A happy escape from my nearby metropolis. Messy, low…read morefidelity, reckless and wild, she is a sweet alternative to posh beach cities. Campfires leave the beaches in mesquite clouds at dusk. Waves carry surfboards into the sunset, and families find holiday here where an ocean-view room can be had for modest means. A Thursday night Farmer's market brings live music, fruit and art to the quaint streets of Carpinteria's downtown. Grab some guacamole and don't forget to tip the man playing the blues. The secret scoop: Carpinteria is a great place to throw a bachelorette party. It is a wardrobe change venue for many a surfer to and from wetsuit. A towel clad man at the side of the road is a common sighting. Enter the solution for all my fellow bachelorette-party-throwing lasses Borrow, rent or buy a convertible, bring the bride to be with you and be here in the morning just before high tide or at sunset, just after. When you see the surfers at the side of the road in wetsuits. Park. Dress in conservative layers (you'll need them) over your bikini that you wear because it doesn't show any tan lines. Wear your black rimmed glasses and your hair pulled back. Put the top down. Play Joe Cocker's "You can leave your hat on" or Di Angelo's "How does it feel" (my favorite) Ladies, make eye contact with your new found friends. Undo your ponytail, take your glasses off, pull your turtleneck sweater off. Pause. Stretch your arms out in front of you, palms side up, palms flat. Touch your fingers to your palms several times as an invitation. Invitation to what? To get a boy to dance for the girls! (PG 13 rating!) Sheesh! What did you think I was talking about! Fair is fair right? Trade a dance for a dance. Drive off into the sunset and spend your savings on pints for your soon to be married girlfriend. Good luck;-) *Cheers girls*

We've always passed through Carpinteria, but we never stopped and we always wanted to visit it…read more It's a small beach town, along the coast, past Ventura (15 minutes), before you reach Santa Barbara. We wanted to check out its main street, Linden Ave and parked on 8th street. There's a lot of street parking in the area, free, so that was nice. We enjoyed strolling around these nice, cute streets, full of Jacaranda trees in bloom. Linden Ave is the main street that takes you down to the beach and the campgrounds. There are cute stores along, restaurants, too bad some were closed at the time we got there, around 4 pm. A nice Mexican bakery was opened and a few restaurants that look good: Mexican, seafood, Italian, a wine bar. We'd like to check some of them out in the future. It doesn't take more than 30 minutes to check everything out. The locals are friendly and helpful, stop to chat with you and help with directions and recommendations. That was nice. We had dinner at The Spot, near the beach, at that was fun and sample some beers at the Island Brewing Company, a very cool experience. Carpinteria has a nice vibe, it's a place where you can relax and take a break from it all. If you're in the area and you'd like to take a side trip and want to spend some time on the beach, this could be a nice spot.

Cute, quaint and feet from the beach. We took a day trip up to San Luis Obispo climbing on board…read morebrought back good memories of rail travel in Europe. This station is unmanned with a reader board for arrival information. Rely on your Amtrak app for up-to-date info. Community bathrooms are located on the street corner of the parking lot. If you have a little time or train is delayed, check out the sweet community garden on the West side of the tracks. This is a great station to get off and spend a fun day at the beach

There is not a better place to wait for Amtrak trains than in Carpenteria. You will enjoy the…read more ocean view while you wait for the train, and a nearby play areas will keep the kiddos happy too. This is really just a train stop with a seat and a ticket dispenser, but it is really convenient and has a huge parking lot. If you have a little bit of time to spare, take a walk around and enjoy the home grown art installations, or grab a beer at the nearby Island Brewery.

Since I don't imbibe anymore, this review is for Summerland Winery's non-alcoholic offerings…read more Which, the fact that they even offer them is fantastic and very rare in the wine world. I'm so tired of falling into the trap of a hyped-up non-alc beverage only to find it tastes like overly sweetened grape juice or some weird tea concoction. Thankfully, I have found a wine that actually tastes (ok, pretty darn close to) and goes down just like wine at Summerland Winery. Their Rosé, or Faux-sé as I have coined it, is dry, not too sweet, and beautiful. If you're more of a Chardonnay fan, they have that too. Red? Yep! Now, don't get me wrong, when you remove the alcohol from wine you're going to notice a difference in taste. But that said, I've found Summerland's Faux-sé to be the best I've tasted and now I can feel like I'm still a part of the party!

Their dog-friendly front porch makes for a delightful and relaxing late-afternoon hang. The service…read morewas warm and friendly, and after being offered tastes from 4-5 bottles, we enjoyed glasses of chilled pinot grigio and chardonnay under the waning sun with some delicious goat cheese and artisan apricot and pistachio crackers. Bottles don't come cheap ($45-$55), but the wine club seems an incredibly tempting deal since it also offers free monthly tasting flights for up to 4 people. After such a chill and memorable afternoon, one might consider making the trek from LA a monthly stop!

This is one of my favorite beach towns that is oh so close to Santa Barbara but just far enough…read moreaway to have its own personality. This is a small beach town that just has everything: a nice clean beach, a street full of solid restaurants, bars, coffee shops and breweries. Enough cultural entertainment and festival happening all year around--Including the infamous avocado festival in the fall that is not to be missed. This town also has super cute houses surrounding downtown. Plus there is a campground right at the ocean! How perfect is that!!! If camping is not your style you can grab a hotel room or an AIRBNB. As for transportation- you can take the train from LA or Santa Barbara. The train drops off in downtown, right by a brewery. Also, the train station is near the beach! Score! If driving is more your thing, there is plenty of parking areas in town- and a lot of them are free! Free parking at the beach too! So enjoy one of my favorite beach towns....

What a cute yet sophisticated town. It's a little gem away from the busy Santa Barbara and the…read moresnooty Montecito. Young and old seem to populate this quaint city. A nice place to escape the hustle and bustle.