Location: Carpinteria
Top Things to do in Carpinteria
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The 10 Best Free Things to do in Carpinteria, California (CA)
Just 12 miles southeast of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria (called “Carp” by locals) is a charming, coastal community with a pedestrian-friendly main street (Linden Avenue), mom-and-pop shops, gourmet cafés and antique stores. The pavement leads to Carpinteria’s sparkling beaches, including Carpinteria State Beach, dubbed “the world’s safest beach.” Beyond the shoreline, Carpinteria’s foothills and verdant mountains are peppered with flower nurseries, polo fields, avocado orchards and horse ranches.
Restaurants in Carpinteria
1. Seaside Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By patriciasB965SA - Sunnyvale, United States
Seaside Fardens is a nursery and botanical garden with a variety of sections landscaped to display various regional planting’s ie. grasses, desert, native CA, Asian influenced etc. it is fun to stroll along the paths and become inspired to improve your own garden. The knowledgeable staff is helpful and accommodating with suggestion for plants you can purchase. There is a plentiful selection of beautiful succulents and great ideas for trying your hand at creating your own arrangements. There are lots of planters and garden kitsch you can easily spend a couple of hours on your visit. I wish I had a place like this close to home.
2. Friends of the Library Used Bookstore
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
3. Carpinteria State Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 424 reviews
Reviewed By healthyme
Terrific family beach for kids, teens and elders... Make reservations ASAP for a pull in campsite. Lots of tent spaces for bike and car travelers. Very interesting next door playground around theme of Chumash indians. HUGE lawn area for local events, kite flying and letting kids run wild. Sandy beach with tide pools on rocks at low tide. Not many shells but some great stones for collector’s pockets. Easy walk to town. Burgers at 50 Year old The Spot location a must, A truly happy place.
4. Island Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Using the power of craft beer to create friends and community since 2001. Island Brewing Company is a family-run, award-winning microbrewery in Carpinteria, California serving beer enthusiasts, bars, and restaurants along the beautiful Santa Barbara coast. We feature an assortment of fresh, flavorful ales, along with seasonal releases and occasional barrel-aged offerings at our tasting room, complete with a view of the Pacific and Channel Islands National Park. Our beers are distinctive, handcrafted, and made from the finest ingredients to insure the highest quality and have received awards from top beer competitions. Come visit and taste for yourself.
5. Tomol Interpretive Play Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By HalesLife - Carpinteria, United States
My grandchildren have grown up playing at the Tomol Interpretive Play Area. It's directly across the street from The Spot burger shack and great for little kids. They have soft padding on the ground to protect from falls. The equipment consists of a roller slide, triple steeper slides, a Chumash canoe, and jungle gym "huts." There is a path to run around, which includes a "rainbow bridge" and climbing rocks. Seal and whale climbing structures are also there for the kids to enjoy. There's a little grassy area to sit on and several benches for parents to use. Trains come by often and it's fun to wave at the engineer. In my opinion, the area is not appropriate for children over eight or nine. It's definitely designed for the toddler to six-year-old set.
6. Carpinteria Harbor Seal Preserve and Rookery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By 520debbic - Anaheim, United States
Beautiful walk to look down spot on the rookery. Many seals, moms and pups and young ones playing in water. Easy walk to black and Tar Pits area with many bird.
7. Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
8. Rincon Bike Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By 473rayv
About 1 mi. south of the dedicated bike lane along Highway 101 where the bike lane joins Pacific Coast Highway (1) there is Ventura County Fire Station 25 where you'll find a clean restroom accessible from the outside; bike pump and tool station, and fresh drinking water fountain and several tables. This is an excellent stop between Carpinteria and Ventura and the smart way to avoid the porta-potty toilets. There are other restrooms open to cyclists at both Hobson and Faria Beach county campgrounds, and both have great snack bars where you can order hot meals, beverages and other nutrition drinks.
9. Carpenteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
10. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Dmfw
This is a small reserve which can be a bit muddy. Great for a short walk to see birds. We visited on a lovely day in December and saw many different birds including a snow goose and the yellow capped heron. There was plenty of water as the tide was in so the ducks and scooters were plentiful, as were herons and egrets.
