East Beach

Note: The City has abandoned this beach park in recent years and it has a terrible drug problem. Update 2024: Now that the Boise law has been overturned, people are being arrested finally.

To us, East Beach is called Tiki and Toko Warriors Beach! There are these strange woven fence-type things that run parallel to each other near the second (easternmost) parking lot. My son balances driftwood against them to make teepees. Then he designs a game of war between the Tiki warriors and the Toko tribe! It's great fun.
There's a colorful playground with baby swings, both literally in the sand. It's mostly empty though because homeless people hang out in the shade area near the playground.
It's fun to watch the volleyball players at East Beach. Or to go for a long stroll around the gorgeous red cliffs on the eastern end all the way to beautiful Butterfly Beach. Summer weekends are packed at East Beach and people sit under the umbrellas at East Beach Grill enjoying yummy (but heavy) blueberry wheatgerm pancakes and watching the passersby on the East Beach boardwalk. It's a fun scene!
I wouldn't recommend swimming at East Beach if the storm drain area is open to the ocean- check the water quality before you go. East Beach is a popular spot for diehard lap swimmers. It is always very cold in the ocean in Santa Barbara so don't expect a relaxing swim!
There are restrooms at the Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse, the white Spanish building.
There's some great bikeriding around here: Cabrillo Bike Path leads from East Beach to the pier, West Beach, and the harbor. You can bike all the way to beautiful Shoreline Park. Across the street from East Beach is the beginning of the Andree Clark Bird Refuge Bike Path, where you will have stunning views of the lush green Montecito hills.
Other places to visit near East Beach are: Santa Barbara Zoo, with its gorgeous views and great exhibits; Cabrillo Boulevard Walk, a walk along Cabrillo Blvd under palms and past tropical flowers; and Chase Palm Park, an amazing park with a playground that is a tiny Spanish town and shipwreck, a carousel, and a stream surrounded by long wispy grass.

Directions

From Highway 101, exit at Milpas Street. Turn towards the ocean. Turn left on Cabrillo Blvd and then turn right into a parking lot. There are two parking lots for this beach: one before the historical white Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse building and the other after it. The second parking lot has the playground and tiki warrior fences.
The parking fee of $2 an hour is paid in the parking machines.
There are restrooms inside Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse, the fancy white Spanish building.
East Beach Grill, 1118 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara CA 93103, call (805) 965-8805. Serves breakfast and lunch.

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