Santa Barbara just wouldn't be Santa Barbara without the beach and the ocean. The beaches, bluffs and the sparkling blue Channel waters are our recreational and spiritual staff of life; they embroider our quality of life. You can take long walks, sunbathe, frolic in the surf, watch the migrating whales, just relax or pursue your favorite water sports, which run the gamut from boating to windsurfing.
Arroyo Burro Beach
Still called 'Hendry's Beach' by the locals, after the family who used to own the ranch surrounding this wonderful beach (the original ranch house still exists just up the street). It's a favorite local hangout near the intersection of Las Positas Road and Cliff Drive in the City of Santa Barbara. Water rating score of 'C' for last summer. Southern facing, two parking lots, a few BBQ grills, picnic area, restrooms, beach shower and great tidal pools at low tide.
Butterfly Beach
In a prime Montecito location just off Channel Drive in front of the Biltmore Hotel (see 'Hotels & Inns'), this beach is the only beach on the list which is backed by a tall seawall, so be prepared to walk down a flight of stairs to reach the sand. This beach almost disappears at high tide. Butterfly Beach has street parking only (which can be scarce), no restrooms or facilities of any kind, but a great place to sit to watch the waves break and the sunsets. Water rating score of 'A' for last summer. Named one of the "10 great American beaches" by Travel & Leisure in 2007.
Carpinteria City & State Beaches
Long and deep stretches of sand and billed as the 'Safest Beach', this beach is located at the end of Linden Avenue in the City of Carpinteria. The smaller City Beach is to the right and has street parking while the larger State Beach is to the left and can require a fee for parking or camping. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking on street & lot, BBQ grills, camping, picnic areas, restrooms, showers, surfing and volleyball courts. Check Carpinteria Beach for more information.
East Beach
With a location off Cabrillo Blvd to the East of the Wharf in the City of Santa Barbara, this is beach has it all and may be the most popular and populated on the list. Bike path, shops & restaurants nearby, zoo nearby and the Arts & Craft walk on Summer weekends. Minimal street parking and three City Lots with parking fees. Southern facing, BBQ grills, bike path, skateboard park, picnic areas, playground, restrooms, showers and numerous volleyball courts. Check East Beach for more information. Water rating of 'A+' for was summer. Don't be surprised to see some championship volleyball games going on!
El Capitan State Beach
Located 15 minutes from Santa Barbara, North on Highway 101, this State Beach boasts some of the best beach campsites in California, as rated by Sunset Magazine. There is a day fee or camping fee to enter, which keeps some of the crowds away from this beach which is private and long with good parking. You had better like sunning, swimming, reading and watching the dolphins, since there is not much else to do here. It is great! Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, camping, camp store, picnic areas, playground, restrooms, surfing, showers and volleyball courts.
Gaviota State Beach
This may be the smallest beach on the list and is located about 22 minutes from Santa Barbara, north on Highway 101 (watch for the left-hand turn off the freeway). Day use and camping fees due at entrance kiosk. Great fishing pier, can be windy at times. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, camping, camp store, fishing, pier, picnic areas, restrooms, showers and volleyball courts.
Goleta Beach
Another local favorite, this beach is located off Sandspit Road near the end of Ward Memorial Blvd in Goleta, next to the University of California. With large grass areas, a great fishing pier and The Beachside Bar Cafe (see 'Restaurants' review), this beach is a real winner. Very popular with the locals and UCSB students, mostly unknown to visitors! Water rating of 'A' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lots, BBQ grills, bike path, fishing, pier, picnic areas, playground, showers and volleyball courts.
Leadbetter Beach
A very busy and beautiful beach located where Loma Alta Drive meets Shoreline Drive in the City of Santa Barbara, this is the widest beach on the list. Before 1927, Ledbetter Beach did not even exist; when the new breakwater for the adjoining harbor was built it stopped the natural flow of sand and an impressive beach was born. A great sunning beach due to its size with a lot of water sports going on; as in kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, etc. Also home to the Shoreline Grill (see 'Off the beaten-path Cafes'), which is right on the sand. Water rating of 'A' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, picnic areas, restrooms, surfing and showers.
Refugio State Beach
This small and normally rocky cove beach is located just past El Capitan State Beach and there is actually a bike path that connects the two. Day use and camping fees are due for entry. If you have a bike, be sure to take a ride on the bike path and find one of several ways down to some secluded, no-name beaches in between the two well known ones. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, camping, camp store, picnic areas, playground, restrooms and showers.
West Beach
This beach is located between Santa Barbara's Wharf and Harbor, along Cabrillo Blvd., so there is always a lot of action going on. Public swimming pool and kids pool for a fee. Boating, outrigger, kayaking and windsurfing lessons, plus just watching the boats come in and out of the harbor entrance make this a busy place. Host to many sporting events, the West Beach Fesitval and the 4th of July Fireworks show! Southern facing, timed street & harbor parking lot fee and bike path. Check West Beach for more information.
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Still called 'Hendry's Beach' by the locals, after the family who used to own the ranch surrounding this wonderful beach (the original ranch house still exists just up the street). It's a favorite local hangout near the intersection of Las Positas Road and Cliff Drive in the City of Santa Barbara. Water rating score of 'C' for last summer. Southern facing, two parking lots, a few BBQ grills, picnic area, restrooms, beach shower and great tidal pools at low tide.
In a prime Montecito location just off Channel Drive in front of the Biltmore Hotel (see 'Hotels & Inns'), this beach is the only beach on the list which is backed by a tall seawall, so be prepared to walk down a flight of stairs to reach the sand. This beach almost disappears at high tide. Butterfly Beach has street parking only (which can be scarce), no restrooms or facilities of any kind, but a great place to sit to watch the waves break and the sunsets. Water rating score of 'A' for last summer. Named one of the "10 great American beaches" by Travel & Leisure in 2007.
Long and deep stretches of sand and billed as the 'Safest Beach', this beach is located at the end of Linden Avenue in the City of Carpinteria. The smaller City Beach is to the right and has street parking while the larger State Beach is to the left and can require a fee for parking or camping. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking on street & lot, BBQ grills, camping, picnic areas, restrooms, showers, surfing and volleyball courts. Check 
With a location off Cabrillo Blvd to the East of the Wharf in the City of Santa Barbara, this is beach has it all and may be the most popular and populated on the list. Bike path, shops & restaurants nearby, zoo nearby and the Arts & Craft walk on Summer weekends. Minimal street parking and three City Lots with parking fees. Southern facing, BBQ grills, bike path, skateboard park, picnic areas, playground, restrooms, showers and numerous volleyball courts. Check 
Located 15 minutes from Santa Barbara, North on Highway 101, this State Beach boasts some of the best beach campsites in California, as rated by Sunset Magazine. There is a day fee or camping fee to enter, which keeps some of the crowds away from this beach which is private and long with good parking. You had better like sunning, swimming, reading and watching the dolphins, since there is not much else to do here. It is great! Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, camping, camp store, picnic areas, playground, restrooms, surfing, showers and volleyball courts.
This may be the smallest beach on the list and is located about 22 minutes from Santa Barbara, north on Highway 101 (watch for the left-hand turn off the freeway). Day use and camping fees due at entrance kiosk. Great fishing pier, can be windy at times. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, camping, camp store, fishing, pier, picnic areas, restrooms, showers and volleyball courts.
Another local favorite, this beach is located off Sandspit Road near the end of Ward Memorial Blvd in Goleta, next to the University of California. With large grass areas, a great fishing pier and The Beachside Bar Cafe (see 'Restaurants' review), this beach is a real winner. Very popular with the locals and UCSB students, mostly unknown to visitors! Water rating of 'A' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lots, BBQ grills, bike path, fishing, pier, picnic areas, playground, showers and volleyball courts.
A very busy and beautiful beach located where Loma Alta Drive meets Shoreline Drive in the City of Santa Barbara, this is the widest beach on the list. Before 1927, Ledbetter Beach did not even exist; when the new breakwater for the adjoining harbor was built it stopped the natural flow of sand and an impressive beach was born. A great sunning beach due to its size with a lot of water sports going on; as in kayaking, windsurfing, surfing, etc. Also home to the Shoreline Grill (see 'Off the beaten-path Cafes'), which is right on the sand. Water rating of 'A' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, picnic areas, restrooms, surfing and showers.
This small and normally rocky cove beach is located just past El Capitan State Beach and there is actually a bike path that connects the two. Day use and camping fees are due for entry. If you have a bike, be sure to take a ride on the bike path and find one of several ways down to some secluded, no-name beaches in between the two well known ones. Water rating of 'A+' for last summer. Southern facing, parking lot fee, BBQ grills, bike path, camping, camp store, picnic areas, playground, restrooms and showers.
This beach is located between Santa Barbara's Wharf and 