East Beach - Santa Barbara, California

Address:Santa Barbara, California

Head over to one of the city's most popular beaches! With plenty of clean sand and shady palm trees, East Beach draws visitors from all over to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach. In addition to a beautiful local setting, the beach's volleyball nets also play their part in attracting huge crowds throughout the year. You'll also find runners, in-line skaters, college kids, and families populating the beach. East Beach is situated right in front of some of the largest hotels in Santa Barbara, which also adds to its popularity. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the picnic pavilions, skateboard, and playground areas by day, while at night the Beach becomes a great destination for a romantic stroll for love-bird beach-goers. If you happen to drop by on a Saturday, you'll notice afternoon drumming and the occasional soccer game, while Sundays are a real treat, featuring a free arts-and-crafts show, where you can pick up a treat to take back home with you. For those who need to nosh while soaking in the sun, there's a snack bar right onsite with all of your favorite beach snacks.

Please note that while there is plenty of parking available, it's scattered and does go fast. Also important to keep in mind is that this beach is in the harbor, and next to a busy street, so it's important to keep a close eye on the kids, especially the younger ones. Finally, remember that Santa Barbara temperatures can be a few degrees cooler than those at LA and Orange County beaches, so you may want to pack a cover-up for after your snuggle in the sand and R&R.