Guidebook to Carpinteria and Surrounding Areas
Hikes
Best local hike in Carpinteria. It's steep, but the views are steller. Very close to our place.
9 locals recommend
Franklin Trail Trailhead
4769 Foothill RoadBest local hike in Carpinteria. It's steep, but the views are steller. Very close to our place.
One of the best hikes in Santa Barbara. It is a pretty tough hike so bring water. The top is called inspiration point and serves its name well.
10 locals recommend
Jesusita Trailhead
San Roque RoadOne of the best hikes in Santa Barbara. It is a pretty tough hike so bring water. The top is called inspiration point and serves its name well.
Big Mountain hike can go up to the top of the front range mountains with multiple creek crossings. The views are stellar. Lower section is pretty fun for kids and has lots of shade.
Romero Canyon Trailhead
1101 Romero Canyon RdBig Mountain hike can go up to the top of the front range mountains with multiple creek crossings. The views are stellar. Lower section is pretty fun for kids and has lots of shade.
Tar Pits Park
5669 Carpinteria AveNice local walk along the bluffs and near the campgrounds
One of the best hikes on the front range. If you can make it all the way to Montecito Peak it's a pretty stellar view. Difficult
14 locals recommend
Cold Spring Trailhead
811 Cold Spring TrailOne of the best hikes on the front range. If you can make it all the way to Montecito Peak it's a pretty stellar view. Difficult
Local hot springs. Can get very busy, make sure to bring water.
26 locals recommend
Hot Springs Canyon Trailhead, The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County
1202-1298 E Mountain DrLocal hot springs. Can get very busy, make sure to bring water.
Beautiful spot for sunset and to explore. Also one of the known bouldering rock climbing spots. It's a drive, so plan ahead.
27 locals recommend
Lizards Mouth Rock
Beautiful spot for sunset and to explore. Also one of the known bouldering rock climbing spots. It's a drive, so plan ahead.
Great hike, gets very crowded on the weekends and can get hot so make sure to bring water.
7 locals recommend
San Ysidro Trail Head
San Ysidro TrailGreat hike, gets very crowded on the weekends and can get hot so make sure to bring water.
Parks and Beaches
Butterfly Beach
Beautiful calm beach in Montecito.
Awesome beach for long walks. Great hike along the beach up Mesa steps and then back along the Douglas preserve. Finish at Boathouse for a great drink
155 locals recommend
Hendrys Beach
Awesome beach for long walks. Great hike along the beach up Mesa steps and then back along the Douglas preserve. Finish at Boathouse for a great drink
One of the best view vantage points in Santa Barbara. Great for families and super dog friendly
81 locals recommend
Douglas Family Preserve
One of the best view vantage points in Santa Barbara. Great for families and super dog friendly
World-Class surf spot. Also gets very busy, especially if there are waves. Rincon Park is on the right and is a great beach for families and dogs. Rincon Beach is on the left and is the walkway down to the surf spot.
15 locals recommend
Rincon Beach
World-Class surf spot. Also gets very busy, especially if there are waves. Rincon Park is on the right and is a great beach for families and dogs. Rincon Beach is on the left and is the walkway down to the surf spot.
Mondo's Beach
Pacific Coast HighwayBest beginner surf spot.
Good beginner surf spot in downtown Santa Barbara. If there are waves, this place can get very crowded.
59 locals recommend
Leadbetter Beach
Good beginner surf spot in downtown Santa Barbara. If there are waves, this place can get very crowded.
Amazing place for a picnic and also a historic landmark of Santa Barbara.
72 locals recommend
Mission Rose Garden
420 Plaza RubioAmazing place for a picnic and also a historic landmark of Santa Barbara.
A cool local beach that has good, but more advanced surfing conditions.
10 locals recommend
Hammond’s meadow
A cool local beach that has good, but more advanced surfing conditions.
Best sandy beach in Carpinteria. If you go to this beach for sure hit up Padaro beach grill for lunch
Santa Claus Lane
Santa Claus LaneBest sandy beach in Carpinteria. If you go to this beach for sure hit up Padaro beach grill for lunch
Most consistent surf in the area, About a 20-minute drive south of our place. Gets crowded but lots of surfing real estate.
C Street
C StreetMost consistent surf in the area, About a 20-minute drive south of our place. Gets crowded but lots of surfing real estate.
Breakfast Spots
A local bakery that makes custom order breakfast burritos.
9 locals recommend
Reynaldo's Mexican Bakery
895 Linden AveA local bakery that makes custom order breakfast burritos.
Classic breakfast spot, great food, and a great bakery.
117 locals recommend
Jeannine's Restaurant & Bakery
1253 Coast Village RdClassic breakfast spot, great food, and a great bakery.
Bree'osh Cafe Montecito
1150 Coast Village RdVery good French Bakery.
The best croissant in town. Also, try the morning bun it's pretty incredible.
13 locals recommend
Renauds Bakery
1187 Coast Village RdThe best croissant in town. Also, try the morning bun it's pretty incredible.
The best local coffee shop in town. It gets very busy. They also make some incredible acai bowls. Make sure to look at the historic tree and the super cool Heron's living up in the tree branches.
30 locals recommend
Lucky Llama Coffee House
5100 Carpinteria AveThe best local coffee shop in town. It gets very busy. They also make some incredible acai bowls. Make sure to look at the historic tree and the super cool Heron's living up in the tree branches.
If you are downtown Santa Barbara for coffee this is the spot. There is also one up on the mesa. Try there Avacado Toast the best in town.
22 locals recommend
Lighthouse Coffee
1819 Cliff DrIf you are downtown Santa Barbara for coffee this is the spot. There is also one up on the mesa. Try there Avacado Toast the best in town.
One of the best breakfast and dinner spots in Santa Barbara. Also right at the best dog beach in the area. Breakfast fills up fast, so get there early. Also one of the best bloody marys in town.
223 locals recommend
Boathouse at Hendry's Beach
2981 Cliff DrOne of the best breakfast and dinner spots in Santa Barbara. Also right at the best dog beach in the area. Breakfast fills up fast, so get there early. Also one of the best bloody marys in town.
Super hole-in-the-wall Local favorite for Tacos and breakfast burritos.
6 locals recommend
Beach Liquor
794 Linden AveSuper hole-in-the-wall Local favorite for Tacos and breakfast burritos.
Lunch Spots
East Beach Tacos
226 S Milpas StHole in a wall place with the best tacos in town. (Lunch Only)
Pickles & Swiss
811 State StreetGreat Lunch spot when in downtown Santa Barbara
Best spot in town for outdoor dining right at the beach. Great for families, and food is all-around good. (No Dogs allowed, though)
36 locals recommend
Padaro Beach Grill
3765 Santa Claus LnBest spot in town for outdoor dining right at the beach. Great for families, and food is all-around good. (No Dogs allowed, though)
Great lunch spot when visiting downtown Santa Barbara. Underground parking which helps as not a ton of parking options
15 locals recommend
Corazon Cocina SB
38 W Victoria StGreat lunch spot when visiting downtown Santa Barbara. Underground parking which helps as not a ton of parking options
If you are here on the weekend, this is a special place to visit, and they have the best Tri-tip Sandwich in the county. It's a far drive, so plan and do some hikes or other activities in the area.
101 locals recommend
Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach RdIf you are here on the weekend, this is a special place to visit, and they have the best Tri-tip Sandwich in the county. It's a far drive, so plan and do some hikes or other activities in the area.
Tasty food in the Public marketing (in-door dining market) in downtown Santa Barbara.
21 locals recommend
Empty Bowl Gourmet Noodle Bar
38 W Victoria StTasty food in the Public marketing (in-door dining market) in downtown Santa Barbara.
Rincón Alteño
Local Mexican food joint, great breakfast burritos and regular burritos. (Cash Only)
The best location for dining is right on the sand. Awesome place for kids and adults. Love their salmon salad. Right by Ledbetter beach, so worth making a day trip out of it.
62 locals recommend
Shoreline Beach Cafe
801 Shoreline DrThe best location for dining is right on the sand. Awesome place for kids and adults. Love their salmon salad. Right by Ledbetter beach, so worth making a day trip out of it.
Dinner Spots
World-renowned spot with the best fish in downtown Santa Barbara. Awesome views of the harbor.
203 locals recommend
Brophy Bros.
119 Harbor WayWorld-renowned spot with the best fish in downtown Santa Barbara. Awesome views of the harbor.
Great Ramen Spot in Downtown Santa Barbara right on lower state street.
38 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Gym and Fitness
436 State StGreat Ramen Spot in Downtown Santa Barbara right on lower state street.
Awesome spot for Dinner and Drinks right in Montecito. Cool outdoor fireplace. Place gets busy on the weekends in the evening.
77 locals recommend
Honor Bar
1255 Coast Village RdAwesome spot for Dinner and Drinks right in Montecito. Cool outdoor fireplace. Place gets busy on the weekends in the evening.
Very nice dining restaurant in Downtown Santa Barbara. Make sure to book a reservation as it books out fast.
45 locals recommend
Toma Restaurant & Bar
324 W Cabrillo BlvdVery nice dining restaurant in Downtown Santa Barbara. Make sure to book a reservation as it books out fast.
Very popular dinner spot in downtown Santa barbara. Make sure to book a reservation, especially in the evening as it books out.
171 locals recommend
The Lark Santa Barbara
131 Anacapa StVery popular dinner spot in downtown Santa barbara. Make sure to book a reservation, especially in the evening as it books out.
Super good authentic Mexican food. Best for dinner and great for families.
86 locals recommend
Los Agaves Restaurant
600 N Milpas StSuper good authentic Mexican food. Best for dinner and great for families.
Rincon Brewery
5065 Carpinteria AveOne of the best spots in Carp for dinner and local craft beer.
Sushi spot in Montecito. Very small, pricey, and very busy, so plan accordingly.
23 locals recommend
Sakana Sushi Bar & Japanese
1046 Coast Village RdSushi spot in Montecito. Very small, pricey, and very busy, so plan accordingly.
Arigato Sushi
1225 State StStaple sushi spot on state street. Gets busy, so plan ahead.
Lama Dog Tap Room + Bottle Shop
116 Santa Barbara StGreat brewery in downtown Santa barbara.
Excellent local Thai food and our kid's favorite place to eat in town.
23 locals recommend
Siam Elephant Thai Restaurant
509 Linden AveExcellent local Thai food and our kid's favorite place to eat in town.
Farm-to-table food right in town. Kombucha on tap and also gourmet icecream. Great outdoor dining.
The Good Plow
5205 Carpinteria AvenueFarm-to-table food right in town. Kombucha on tap and also gourmet icecream. Great outdoor dining.
Swanky resort with one of the best bar locations; very pricey, but the views are amazing. They are welcome to non-hotel guests. Park along the road, or you can valet.
20 locals recommend
Rosewood Miramar Beach
1759 S Jameson LnSwanky resort with one of the best bar locations; very pricey, but the views are amazing. They are welcome to non-hotel guests. Park along the road, or you can valet.
Breweries
Local brewery right in downtown Carpinteria and super close to the beach.
38 locals recommend
Island Brewing Company
5049 6th StLocal brewery right in downtown Carpinteria and super close to the beach.
M Special Brewing Company
6860 Cortona DrGreat brewery if you are in downtown Santa Barbara.
If you venture up north to Goleta, this brewery is a local favorite, and you would probably never find it in a warehouse location. Also probably the best gourmet wood-fired pizza in the county
15 locals recommend
Captain Fatty's Brewery
6489 Calle RealIf you venture up north to Goleta, this brewery is a local favorite, and you would probably never find it in a warehouse location. Also probably the best gourmet wood-fired pizza in the county
Wine Tasting
Sunburst Wine Bar
5080 Carpinteria AvenueLocal wine bar in town.