The Perfect Seaside Vacation Spot
Located just a few miles south of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria is one of the last Southern California beach towns that retains it's original charm. With a population of about 15,000, it is large enough to have all the amenities that visitors could want, but small enough to avoid feeling overdeveloped and overcrowded. Known for its wide sandy beaches sloping gently to the sea, as well as its unique shops and many parks, it is a popular summer vacation spot.
Carpinteria is home to one of the gems of the California State Park system - Carpinteria State Beach Park. The well maintained park has many camping sites (RV Accessible), all within a few hundred feet of the beach. The park is within easy walking distance to the center of town and other attractions.
In addition to the State Park, Carpinteria is home to a number of other parks and nature preserves that are close to town. To the North visitors can visit the trails that wind through the restored Carpinteria Salt Marsh and see many examples of local birds and plants. Tar Pit Park lies just south of the State Park campground and contrary to its name, it is a beautiful walk along the top of the bluffs (the Tar Pits themselves are fairly modest). A bit farther south, visitors will find the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. If visitors have a couple hours to spare, they can walk from the Salt Marsh to the Bluffs and back again. The walk is an easy one on trails and the beach and has no hills or climbs.
Downtown Carpinteria is also well worth visiting. Many unique shops and restaurants line Linden Avenue. Every Thursday Carpinteria has a large Farmers' Market where a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers grown on local farms are sold. Each year an Avocado Festival is held in the fall and visitors who are lucky enough to visit during this time are treated with live music, craft shows, and a huge variety of avocado products (including avocado ice cream!).
If you're looking for something different and relaxing for your next vacation, Carpinteria's the place!
Carpinteria is home to one of the gems of the California State Park system - Carpinteria State Beach Park. The well maintained park has many camping sites (RV Accessible), all within a few hundred feet of the beach. The park is within easy walking distance to the center of town and other attractions.
In addition to the State Park, Carpinteria is home to a number of other parks and nature preserves that are close to town. To the North visitors can visit the trails that wind through the restored Carpinteria Salt Marsh and see many examples of local birds and plants. Tar Pit Park lies just south of the State Park campground and contrary to its name, it is a beautiful walk along the top of the bluffs (the Tar Pits themselves are fairly modest). A bit farther south, visitors will find the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. If visitors have a couple hours to spare, they can walk from the Salt Marsh to the Bluffs and back again. The walk is an easy one on trails and the beach and has no hills or climbs.
Downtown Carpinteria is also well worth visiting. Many unique shops and restaurants line Linden Avenue. Every Thursday Carpinteria has a large Farmers' Market where a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits and flowers grown on local farms are sold. Each year an Avocado Festival is held in the fall and visitors who are lucky enough to visit during this time are treated with live music, craft shows, and a huge variety of avocado products (including avocado ice cream!).
If you're looking for something different and relaxing for your next vacation, Carpinteria's the place!
Photographs of Carpinteria
Carpinteria tide pools below Tar Pit park
Tar Pit Park
Hidden Gem of Carpinteria
Tar Pit Park is located just south of Carpinteria State Park. Despite its rather unappealing name, it is a beautiful park at the top of the ocean cliffs with amazing views of the coast, and on clear days, the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. The active tar pits that give the park its name are quite modest, and the hardened asphalt is a much more obvious reminder of their presence. Most of the plants and wildlife are native to the area and visitors can spot many types of birds as well as a variety of small animals such as squirrels, lizards and snakes. In the spring it is common to see seals basking in the sun and if one is lucky, dolphins swimming off shore. The main trail is about a mile and an easy walk over flat terrain. If you've got an hour or so, Tar Pit Park is a great place to visit! Books
To make your visit more interesting!
The Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
A view of Carpinteria's Past
The Carpinteria Valley Museum of History is sponsored by the Carpinteria Valley Historical society and offers visitors the chance to see a wide variety of artifacts and displays from the town's history. These range from the early Chumash days, through Spanish colonization of the area and to the current day.The museum is a hidden gem that features displays that demonstrate the richness of the area's history, including the early Chumash times, the period when Carpinteria was under Spanish and Mexican control, and extending through the early part of the 20th century when Carpintera began developing into the town it is today.
Visitors will find artifacts of the Chumash times including arrowheads and grinding bowls, as well as displays of their large wooden canoes that were sturdy enough to sail to the islands. Dioramas show a Californio adobe rancho from the Spanish-Mexican period and a variety of homes and workplaces from the 19th and early 20th century. These include many interesting and authentic items showing the town's early oil industry, asphalt mining and agricultural past. A restored Ford Model A is also at the museum for visitors to see as well as model aircraft and photos from the town's early airport. In addition, the museum has an archive of rare photos and documents of the town's early days.
If you're visiting Carpinteria, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History is well worth your time. It is located at 956 Maple Avenue and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The museum also offers group tours for schools and other groups by request.
Carpinteria Slideshow
A short slide show featuring the Carpinteria beach, Tar Pit Park and the Bluffs featuring the music of Beethoven!
powered by Youtube
Classic Carinteria Crate Labels
Own a piece of Carpinteria History
Carpinteria Links
- City of Carpinteria
- Official site of the City of Carpinteria
- Carpinteria State Beach Information
- Official State Parks site for Carpinteria State Beach
- Carpinteria Chamber of Commerce
- Find all the fun things to do in the city of Carpinteria
- Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
- Unique exhibits highlighting the history of Carpinteria from the earliest days of the Chumash tribes through the 20th century.
Carpinteria Comments
-
-
4U2C Mar 21, 2010 @ 3:57 pm | delete
- P.S. I just love your avatar - one of my all-time favorites!
-
-
-
- Love this lens - really informative, about a place I never heard of before! My husband would love the Nature Preserve - may be a nice surprise trip! Thanks..
-
-
-
Tracy_Smith
Mar 16, 2010 @ 11:03 pm | delete
- I am a newbie lens master here but OMG! I love that 1st picture! I so want to be there right now watching a sunrise!
-
-
-
California_Dreamin
Mar 1, 2010 @ 9:36 am | delete
- Nice lens on a nice place. I just recently finished a lens on a neighbor of Carpinteria: Santa Barbara, my hometown.
-
-
-
stefanruse
Feb 13, 2010 @ 12:38 pm | delete
- Nice lens.5 stars
-
by Californiadan
Welcome and thanks for visiting my lens!
- 3 featured lenses
- Winner of 4 trophies!
- Top lens » Fruit Crate Labels
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Santa Paula, California Santa Paula, California
- Fruit Crate Labels Fruit Crate Labels
- Sunny Summer Wallpaper Sunny Summer Wallpaper
- Sarasota For Free | Florida Fun Free Things To Do | Free Activities Sarasota For Free | Florida Fun Free Things To Do | Free Activities
- How to save money on your Barbados Vacation How to save money on your Barbados Vacation
- Top 5 Valentine destinations in Riverside County, CA Top 5 Valentine destinations in Riverside County, CA
