Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara

Shoreline Park spans 15 acres along the Santa Barbara coast, offering expansive views of the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, and Santa Ynez Mountains. Paved paths run through wide grassy lawns dotted with picnic tables, barbecue grills, and benches, creating a space suited for informal gatherings and outdoor meals. A playground designed for young children includes swings, slides, and a sandpit, while a reservable picnic area supports group use. Dogs are allowed on-leash throughout the park and can go off-leash on the beach west of the stair access.

At the park’s center, a wooden stairway descends to the beach below, connecting to a secluded tidal pool area and to Leadbetter Beach at low tide. Near the base of the stairs, a bronze whale statue marks a popular whale-watching spot during migration season from November to April, with fixed binoculars available for marine viewing. The park is also part of the California Coastal Trail, a growing network of multi-use paths intended to trace the entire state shoreline.