Beaches in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is surrounded by miles of pristine beaches. The most popular and crowded beach is East Beach, with its white sand fringed with swaying palm trees and a nearby harbour.

Leadbetter Beach, just west of the Santa Barbara Marina, offers less crowded stretches of sand. Or head to Arroyo Burro, also called Hendry's Beach, for off-leash sands and a nudist beach.

Beneath the Biltmore Hotel in Montecito is Butterfly Beach, an isolated stretch of sands that faces west, making it one of the best places to watch the sunset.