Possibly one of the best sights in Carpinteria – the Harbor Seal Rookery! Every winter the harbor seals take shelter on the Carpinteria beach to give birth to their cubs and warm up on the beach. Since the cubs aren’t born with a protective layer of fat, they collect heat by laying out in the sun during the winter months. The harbor seals consider the beach their home from December until May, so the beach is closed during that time, but you can still see them from a bench positioned directly above the rookery.
To get there: 101 South to Bailard Avenue. Turn right and the road dead ends into a parking lot. There are trails going down toward the ocean, over the railroad tracks and a little farther East toward the rookery. Once you see the sign with some information about the seals, you’ll see benches and ropes that guide the way.
Did you like this post? Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send more just like it straight to your inbox!
Our laid-back beach town is designed for serendipitous occasions - trying out a new restaurant, spontaneous wine tasting or catching the perfect sunset... whatever it is, the less planning the better. But if you're visiting California and only have a day to spend in Santa Barbara, it's best to know where to go and why. This list will give you a taste of Santa Barbara and hopefully encourage you to come again and stay longer!