Manning Park, Montecito

Manning Park is a peaceful, beautiful place. It was a former estate, donated to Santa Barbara, and is located in wealthy Montecito. There are two levels to this park. The lower level is a green lawn dotted with huge, healthy pines that look like giant Christmas trees. There are some picnic tables and BBQs in a valley below the lawn. The upper level is a sunny small lawn adjacent to a toddler playground. There are some shaded picnic tables with beautiful hanging vines on the rim of the upper park.

Come here to get away from crowds on the weekend and enjoy some peace and quiet. The air smells so fresh and it's rejuvenating!
We always like to bring a huge picnic blanket to this park, and some paper. Then we sit and make paper planes and fly them. On summer days we sit in the lower area because of its thick shade. On winter days we sit in the gloriously sunny upper area and stay warm!
There are restrooms here.
Across the street from this park is East Manning Park, which has volleyball courts and a space age playground.
Stop and say a prayer in the little prayer room at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a delightful Southwestern-style church with an abundant cactus garden.
Just down from Manning Park, at the other end of San Ysidro Rd is Miramar Beach, a curved beach. A trail near the entrance to Miramar Beach leads past tropical plants and flowers to Hammonds Beach.
If you're hungry, head over to Upper Montecito Village for a gourmet soup, salad, or sandwich at Pierre Lafond Bakery.

Directions

Manning Park is located at 449 San Ysidro Rd, Santa Barbara CA 93108.
From Highway 101, exit at San Ysidro Rd. Head towards the mountains. You will pass a school, and then the park's sign and driveway will be on your left. Enter, and the driveway winds around through the estate until you come to the parking lot at the end.

Click on map for interactive view