Chase Palm Park

Santa Barbara, California Print   Leave a comment

Description

Chase Palm Park, informally called Shipwreck Park, is so beautiful that you won't want to leave. From the moment you enter it on the corner of Cabrillo Blvd and Garden Street, you are treated to luxury. A classic Spanish fountain in a terraced courtyard greets you and up ahead you see the antique carousel. Take your little one for a ride! This is nicer than most carousels because the huge windows looking out on trees make you feel like you're outdoors.
Next you walk through lush landscaping over bridges and a stream, past plants and flowers, to the playground! It's a fantastic playground with an outline of a ship to climb, whales that spurt water out, monkey bars, a little cave filled with gems to hide in, and a beautiful adobe village where kids can play hide and seek. There's a slide that is made of an interesting material- kids can stand on it with their socks on and have a blast surfing down! Make sure you bring socks for your kids so they can slip all over- they will be laughing and playing for hours! There's an area with an octopus and starfish carved into the rock where water runs and kids can play. The designer of this park really went to town and you're the one who gets to benefit!
Past the playground are rolling hills and a stage. Here in summer the city hosts free concerts on five Thursday nights. They can be a little too crowded, especially if you have kids who want to play on the playground- it's a madhouse! But if you come without kids it's fun to dance on the grass by the stage on a warm summer night and let it all hang out!
From Chase Palm Park, you can see the ocean, rows of tall palms, and the Cabrillo Bike Path. It's a wonderful happy atmosphere!
In months other than summer, this park can be a little chilly since it's right by the ocean. Bring a sweater. Also, bring a blanket so you can sit on the little hills by the playground and watch your little tike have the time of his life!
A nice place to eat around here is El Torito Mexican Grill. It has a fantastic view of the pier and the ocean! Rusty's Pizza, in the white lighthouse, also has a marvelous view.
There are restrooms by the playground.
There's some great bikeriding around here: Cabrillo Bike Path leads east to East Beach and the gorgeous Andree Clark Bird Refuge Bike Path, or west to the pier, West Beach, the harbor, and all the way to beautiful Shoreline Park.
Other places to visit near Chase Palm Park are: Santa Barbara Zoo, with its gorgeous views and great exhibits; Doubletree Walk, a walk along Cabrillo Blvd under palms and past tropical flowers; and East Beach, which is great for long walks, watching volleyball, and playing in the sand or on the playground and baby swings.

Photo Gallery

As you enter from the corner of Garden and Cabrillo...	The Spanish adobe village behind the cave and playground.	Whales that spurt!
A slide, a tunnel- lots of fun!	The Spanish adobe village where you can play hide and seek! In front, lots of sand to play and run in!	The octopus and seashell area- "look at the water, Mom!"
The beautiful carousel with its huge windows looking out on the trees.	Ducks in the pond.	Kids having fun on the slippery slide.
The starfish to stand on and shell to play in, plus a ton of trees!	You can see the ocean and the tree-lined boardwalk from the top of the playground!	Ship's wheel at the top of the playground. Ahoy Captain!
Rusty's Pizza, a cool place to eat nearby.

Directions

From Highway 101, exit at Garden Street and turn towards the ocean. Turn left at the end on Cabrillo Blvd. Park along the road for free. If it's the weekend, you won't be able to find a space along the road and since this is a busy area, it'll be awful to drive round and around. So, instead, pull into one of two parking lots. There is a lot on your right at the end of Garden Street before you turn onto Cabrillo Blvd. Or instead of turning onto Cabrillo Blvd, go straight and you will be in a parking lot. Both lots cost $1.50 an hour. Bring cash.
The carousel costs $2 a ride and is open daily from 10-5pm weekdays and from 10-9pm weekends in the summer, and daily 12-6 on weekdays and 10-7 on weekends the rest of the year. Kids love it!
There are restrooms and a drinking fountain by the playground. Also, you can buy drinks at the carousel.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Mark 05/21/2010 21:57	I love this place
Pat 12/22/2009 13:08	Saw this when it first opened...simply wonderful.
Courtnie 09/09/2009 14:27	This park is truly one of a kind. My daughter explored it for hours.