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.

Nice little park at the end of Camino Pescadero in Isla Vista. Gives a great vista of las islas, in…read morefact. Good for a morning visit, before the space starts to feel Covid-unsafe with maskless students strolling around. Check out the bench on the clifftop at the end of the park path for a neat place to contemplate the waves at high tide. Or head down the steps to the beach--unless waves are crashing over the sand, in which case stop on the landing and watch the water roll just below you. It's pretty cool.

It's a nice park in the middle of a master planning process. Room for volleyball, softball and…read moreswinging. In the 1970s, there were old wooden forts here. It's hard to compare.....

It was a beautiful, hot Santa Barbara afternoon and we wanted a place to sit in the shade under…read moretrees and eat our sandwiches. This was a GREAT spot. First, the trees are beautiful, I'm from Southern California, and there were trees that we don't often see in the beach area, so we were awe struck by the beauty. Second, there are plenty of picnic benches and lots of trash receptacles. This park is not super large but a good spot for kids to run around and play on the park equipment... most important, an idyllic spot for a picnic.

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!

I brought my mother and little siblings on this hike. They all enjoyed it, and even though we…read moredidn't make it all the way up to the top we loved crossing the creeks. My youngest sibling is 4 years old and he kept up! We brought my 13 year old little dog on the hike, she ran up the trail. I'd definitely recommend this hike during early morning or afternoon. There are many gorgeous sights, sounds and smells to savor. There were so many kind people and lovely flowers along the trail.

The hike starts off pretty mellow and shaded as it follows rattlesnake creek. It then climbs…read moresteeply into the mountains affording some stunning views of the area. Finally it drops back down into a shaded valley and if it's the right time of year (and we've had enough rain) there are some swimming holes to cool off in.

Another small and beautiful beach in Montecino. Not crowded, dog friendly and has a beautiful view…read moreof beach front homes. Perfect place to relax and visualize your future :)

Nice quiet place to hangout, take a stroll by the water front, run in the sand and or just sit out…read morein the sun for a tan. Close to a residential area thus place seems more private and less crowded compared to other public beaches nearby. Bring your dogs and run in the sand and water, sit and lay down for a tan, etc. Parking can be a bit tricky because the small narrow street, you just have to try to find parking along 2 sides of the road. But people are always coming and leaving so you should have no problem finding a spot. I came by to eat a quick lunch and for a short walk. Would love to come back and visit this location.

I went on a rock climbing trip there through the adventure program at UCSB. The view was incredible…read moreand the climb wasn't too difficult for a beginner! It was a very unique experience.

I discovered this place looking for a good outdoor climbing spot when i was attending UCSB…read more Parking - once you pass the south face of Gibraltar there is a small turn out you can park. Getting to the top is pretty simple, just climb up the rock behind the face. If you can find the way that leads up to the top just get back in your car and just go home you :P Get ready for a breath taking view, on a clear day you can see all of downtown Santa Barbara. Rock Climbing - Awesome outdoor rock climbing spot. *Climb with caution* Lat/Lon: 34.47694°N / 119.68005°W http://www.summitpost.org/gibraltar-rock/487232

Historic park with a lot of oak trees. It was full of people hanging out at the picnic tables and…read moreparking lots. Not many people there to hike. Some of the people hanging out were creepy. Not inspired to return despite the pretty grove of historic oak trees.

Came here when visiting the area on a road trip to stretch my legs a bit (it was close to Mission…read moreSanta Barbara, but they were packed with tourists so I just wanted a few minutes to myself . . . ) Easy access off main road leads to several small parking lots among coast Oaks, and parking was available although the park was busy! There are trails leading up the hill, including a horse trail, and there are picnic tables and BBQ stands scattered throughout the dappled shade of the oaks - reminds me so much of where I live north of San Francisco! There is also a horseshoe pits area, a gym structure in a kids play area, and clean restrooms which are ADA accessible. A large BBQ area (commercial grill!) and tables are also available for reservations. A great place to relax, take a short stroll through the oaks and along the trails, or just be a kid and scramble around on rocks or in the creek bed.