Goleta Beach County Park


Good beach for sunbathing, swimming and picnicking (nab a prized shaded spot if you can), or strolling the 1500ft-long pier for views out to the Channel Islands.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Arroyo Burro Beach County Park

5.19 MILES

Swim (lifeguards on duty), stroll or just picnic on this gem of a stretch of sand, also known as Hendry's Beach, 5 miles southwest of Santa Barbara. It's…

3. Thousand Steps Beach

6.93 MILES

Descend the cliffs on a historic staircase (don’t worry, there aren’t actually a thousand steps) for some windy beachcombing and tide-pooling (only at low…

4. Old Mission Santa Barbara

6.96 MILES

California's ‘Queen of the Missions’ reigns above the city on a hilltop perch more than a mile north of downtown. Its imposing Ionic facade, an…

6. Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

7.29 MILES

Stuffed with a hodgepodge of historical written artifacts, this detour is for history nerds and book and literature lovers. One of a dozen Karpeles…

7. Shoreline Park

7.33 MILES

For great views across the city, mountains and ocean (with the chance to spot whales in season and dolphins year-round), come to Shoreline Park, southwest…

8. Santa Barbara Museum of Art

7.35 MILES

This thoughtfully curated, bite-sized art museum displays European and American masters – including Monet, Van Gogh and Degas – along with photography,…