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When visiting Carpinteria beaches, there are a few important things to remember.

• Bring your own supplies. The city and state beaches have complete facilities, but the others do not. In particular, bring water along since none of the beaches really have general stores nearby.
• Wear beach sandals. The gel kind are perfect. Carpinteria is well endowed with tar that seeps up from the rocks along the coast. It is a natural phenomenon that can leave black sticky tar spots on the bottom of your feet and all over the inside of your car.
• Bring and use sunscreen. It's very deceptive along the coast. The breezes are cool and the coast is often hazy. However, you are still dealing with Southern California sunshine. Most locals have an umbrella that they bring to extend the amount of time they can play in the sand.
• Pick up after yourself. Although that's always a good idea, Padero and Rincon are fairly rural and any litter you leave is less likely to be picked up than on a more urban beach.
• Keep an eye out for beach closures. The stretch of beach between the Bluffs and Tar Pits Park is closed from December through May because of seal pups. Some stretches are also closed at various times for bird hatching. You can and will be chased out of these areas so avoid the stress and respect those areas.
• Dogs. Dogs are only allowed on the beach north of Ash Avenue.
• Baby oil works well to remove the tar you pick up on your bare feet or shoes. To more easily remove the tar, rub a a bit of sand in with the oil. You'll find foot baths at each entrace to Solimar Sands.

• Located directly across the street from Solimar Sands. All our our units in Building A enjoy spectacular views of the salt marsh.
• Docent-led tours every Saturday at 10 am from May to November.
• Entrances are along Ash Avenue bring you to nature paths and platforms for safely viewing the estuary.

The estuary totals 230 acres, 120 of which is owned by USCB as the Salt Marsh Reserve. The remainder is the Salt Marsh Nature Park, which is owned and operated by the City of Carpinteria.

• Every Thursday from 4 to 7 pm (3-6pm during in the winter).
• This certified Farmer's Market spans the entire block in front of Vons in downtown Carpinteria.

Carpinteria residents have fought to keep this space open and undeveloped for over 30 years. In 1996 residents decided to tackle the the problem a different way. Within a few years the dedicated conservation group managed to raise $3.95 million to purchase the Bluffs from landowners and another $500,000 to hold in trust for the preservation of the property. The land was deeded to the city in 2000 and is now safe from development and available for all of us to enjoy.

Directions: Take the 101 to Bailard Avenue. At the top of the ramp turn towards the ocean. Drive straight ahead into the parking lot.

Early explorers observed Chumash Indians building their large ocean-going canoes, called tomols, along these banks. You can still see the natural asphaltum oozing from the rocks (and all over your feet if you're not careful).

The thing we love the most about this park is you can start here (on middle to low tide), walk along the beach all the way to the Salt Marsh Estuary and back. It's about a two mile walk on clean white sand (except for the occasional spot of tar, but you get used to that pretty quickly) and probably one of the most beautiful walks anywhere.

This park doesn't have any facilities to speak of, unless you count the benches placed strategically along the way for gazing at the Channel Islands and abundant wild life. However, the State Park borders it.

Directions: From Carpinteria Avenue, take Concha Loma Avenue to Calle Ocho; park at the end of Calle Ocho and walk across the railroad tracks to the lookout point.

Isolated from the rest of Carpinteria by the estuary, Santa Clause Lane is a world of its own. The thing many like most about visiting Santa Claus Lane is its eclectic nature. You'll find a variety of shops ... from a surf shop to a sophisticated market with an excellent selection of Santa Barbara county wines. The restaurant selection is great too: The Grill at Pardaro and Smokin' Joes.

Directions: Take the 101 to Santa Claus Lane exit. Northbound: Turn left at the bottom of the exit and go back under the freeway. Turn left on Santa Claus Lane. Southbound: At the bottom of the exit there will be a stop sign. Go straight and you will be able to park along Santa Claus Lane.

It's possible to walk to Santa Claus Lane from Solimar Sands along the beach. But only at low tide! So be careful.

There is a long standing debate about whether to publicize them and risk having the privacy and quality of life for these amazing animals be deteriorated or to keep mum about them and risk humans and dogs wandering into their home and possibly doing a great deal of damage. We think visitors will respect the seals - especially if they know that they know that there is a perfectly safe and wonderful way to watch the seals in their natural habitat.

You can visit the Preserve via the bluffs above the rookery rather than via the beach. The seals are fascinating to watch as they move in and out of the water, bask in the sun, argue amongst themselves and dive for fish. There will usually be a member of Seal Watch, a volunteer organization whose members monitor both seal and human activity.

Directions: The easiest thing to do is take the 101 to the Bailard Avenue exit. Turn towards the ocean and go into the Bluffs parking lot. From here you can follow the footpath that leads to down to the bluff, over the railroad tracks then along the bluff top to the seal rookery overlook. It is about a half a mile walk.

You can also walk all the way to the seal rookery from Solimar Sands. This beautiful walk is less than two miles (one-way). Start out along the beach and then cut in at the State Park so that you're walking along the tops of the bluffs (be sure to stay on the trail, the cliff edge is dangerous). Cross the Venoco parking lot and follow the short footpath to the seal rookery overlook.

956 Maple Avenue
805-684-3112
Open: Tues - Sat, 1 to 4 pm
Admission is free but donations are appreciated

Directions: From the 101 take the Casitas Pass exit. Turn away from the mountains. At the light turn right. In about four blocks you will turn left onto Maple Avenue. There is parking on the street.

• Polo games are held each Sunday through the Spring, Summer and Fall.
• Tickets can be purchased at the gate
• Box lunches, picnic baskets and beverages are available
• Polo Game Times: 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm
• Admission: $10.00 per person

Late each summer, the Pacific Coast Open really brings the field to life. The PCO Game Times: 1pm and 3pm. Cost is $10 - $15

3375 Foothill Road
Carpinteria, CA 93013
805-684-6683

Directions:

• Northbound: Take the 101N to the Santa Claus Lane exit. At the stop sign, turn right and take an immediate left onto Via Real. Continue North 1/2 mile to the entrance of SBPRC, which is on your right.
• Southbound: Take the 101S from Santa Barbara, through Montecito and Summerland. South of Summerland, take the Padaro Lane exit. At the stop sign, turn left and go back over the 101 to the stop sign. Turn right on Via Real and drive approximately 1 mile to the entrance for SBPRC, which is on your left.