The City of Carpinteria is a picturesque coastal community with a rich history.
It’s home to several wineries, antique shops, and restaurants, as well as being just minutes away from Santa Barbara Airport. This great City has several activities.
Indulge as we consider some of the best things to do in Carpinteria (CA).
Things To Do In Carpinteria (CA)
Carpinteria is a small town in southern California with plenty of things to do. Here are some popular things to do in Carpinteria:
1. Go Whale Watching From An Island Off The Coast In Oxnard
If you’re in the mood for some whale watching, head over to Isla Vista and make your way over to the dock. There’s plenty of room for everyone, so don’t worry about being cramped on board.
Once you’re there, relax and enjoy views of Santa Barbara and Ventura County while watching whales swim by.
You can also go exploring around town once your tour ends. Check out this beautiful beach area or take a hike up Mt Pinos with some friends or family members who live nearby; you won’t regret it.
2. See Some Movies At The Depot Plaza Cinema Or At The Brickyard
If you’re looking for a place to see some movies, this is it. The Depot Plaza Cinema is a local theater that offers a large selection of movies and hosts many events throughout the year.
If you’re looking for something more fun, head down to The Brickyard, which has become one of Carpinteria’s most popular bars since it opened in 2015.
The Depot Plaza Cinema has been around since 1940 when it was called “The Movie Theater” before changing its name in 2007 due to legal reasons (the owner couldn’t trademark “The Movie Theater”).
It’s now home to independent films from all over California, along with national award winners as well.
3. Go To The Beach And Surf
If you’re in the mood to surf, Carpinteria is a great place to go. The beach is an excellent spot for surfing, and so are the waves.
They’re generally big enough that you’ll feel like you have room to maneuver but not so large as not to be fun. It’s also easy enough for anyone wanting to join the action.
Just look around until someone waves at you or calls out their name from nearby. Surfers are friendly people who love being around others and gladly share their enthusiasm with anyone who asks.
Surfers themselves are some of the nicest people around: kinder than most people would expect them to be and certainly nicer than those outside of California because they know how much fun it is when everyone gets involved together as friends doing something fun together, like surfing.
4. Visit Cannery Row, The Longest Stretch Of Public Beach In The Western United States
Cannery Row, the longest stretch of public beach in the Western United States and a popular tourist destination is also known for its historic fishing village.
The area has many seafood restaurants and art galleries celebrating its rich history.
It’s also home to museums, including the following:
- The Maritime Museum of San Diego offers exhibits on local marine life and maritime history.
- El Portal Visitors Center has an aquarium.
- Inland Seaport Museum.
- Historical Society of San Diego County.
- Old Town Hall Museum & Visitor Information Center.
- City National Bank Building.
- San Diego Maritime Museum at Harbor Island Marina Park.
5. See Dolphins At Laguna Canyon
Dolphin watching is a great family activity. The dolphins are off the coast, and you can see them from shore or boat.
Or, if you want to get closer, there’s an excursion where you can swim with dolphins.
The best part of dolphin watching is seeing wildlife in their natural habitat: whales, sea lions, and starfish all come together for this amazing show. You also get to enjoy the beautiful scenery while enjoying this amazing experience.
6. Carpinteria Tar Pits
The Carpinteria Tar Pits are in Santa Barbara County, just outside downtown Carpinteria. The site was once used as an oil field and is now home to ponds filled with rainwater over time.
If you need something different to do while visiting this area, consider visiting the tar pits.
How do you get there? It’s easy enough to get there; just follow Highway 101 south until you hit Highway 192 (which leads right up to them).
From there, it’s about 15 minutes away via car or bike along narrow roads through lush woods and fields full of flowers and birdsong.
What else can one see? You’ll have access to a large viewing platform where you can take in all aspects of what makes up this unique ecosystem: pools filled with gooey black stuff.
And if that’s not enough excitement for one day, then maybe try getting lost inside some sort of maze-like structure filled with scary tunnels instead.
7. Visit The Farmers Market
The Carpinteria Farmers Market is open Saturday mornings from 7:30 am-12:30 pm. It’s located in downtown Carpinteria, so you can enjoy abundant local produce and flowers while you’re there.
The best part about the market is that it offers various fresh items, including fruit, vegetables, meat, and seafood, all at great prices.
If you’re looking for something more locally sourced than what you can find at your local grocery store or Whole Foods, this is where it’s at.
8. Take In Some Live Music At The Station.
If you’re looking to see live music, The Station is a great place to go. They also have TVs throughout the bar so that you can watch your favorite team play while enjoying yourself at The Station.
If theater is more your thing than sports, then The Station has plenty of seats available for shows like Wicked or Hamilton on their stage, and if it’s comedy night or any night, head down there now before it gets too crowded.
9. Shop For Some Souvenirs And Other Local Products
Once you’ve explored the main street of Carpinteria, take a break and head over to the downtown area. You can shop for some souvenirs and other local products made right in town.
Souvenirs are things that remind you of your trip, a postcard from Santa Barbara, a t-shirt with an image of one of the area’s surf spots on it, or even just a piece of jewelry from your favorite beach town.
Local products are made by people who live near where they sell their goods.
This means that they use ingredients found around where they live, like apples grown in nearby orchards, making them more eco-friendly than products made elsewhere.
This is because they don’t have to transport their ingredients all over the world just so they can make something new again later down the line.
To find these shops when traveling through Carpinteria:
- Look for signs pointing toward Main Street.
- Follow those signs until there’s no more left.
- Turn around.
10. Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary
The Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary is a great place to visit if you’re interested in seals. It’s one of California’s most popular animal sanctuaries, with more than 100,000 visitors every year.
The sanctuary has many different kinds of animals on display, including harbor seals and sea lions.
You can learn about these animals by looking through their exhibits or watching videos on their website, which also features great photography.
If you want to participate in activities like feeding or snorkeling with them, it’s best to book ahead, as spots tend to fill up quickly during peak season, and even then, plenty is still available for walk-ins.
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11. Take A Tour Of A Lighthouse.
Lighthouses are great places to learn about history, nature, and the ocean. They also make for great photo opportunities.
You can even see if you can spot any whales or other marine life while you’re there.
If you have time or money to spare after your tour is done, visit one of our favorite lighthouses—the historic Cape Cod National Seashore Lighthouse in Wellfleet and take some photos there too.
If you are searching for something a bit more active, try kayaking or paddleboarding.
You can rent a kayak from Wellfleet Harbor Light Adventures and head out on the water or stop by Hyannis Outdoor Center to check out their selection of paddleboards.
12. Visit Island Brewing Company & Explore Local Wineries By Bike Or On Foot.
You’ll love Island Brewing Company for its great selection of beers, friendly staff and fun atmosphere.
This locally owned brewery is located in Carpinteria, California which makes it a great stop for those who want to sample their delicious brews before deciding on one to order at home.
The menu features traditional American pub classics such as burgers and fries with different toppings like blue cheese or bacon; sandwiches made with fresh grilled meats (try the turkey breast); salads with homemade dressings; soups made from scratch daily (goat cheese potato soup); chili con carne on Wednesdays only.
For dessert you can choose from our selection of cakes or gelato served up fresh daily during peak hours on Tuesday through Saturday.
There are several wineries in Carpinteria; you can visit them on foot, by bike, or by car. The best part about visiting the wineries by bike is seeing more of the area.
You can also go kayaking along the coastline or ride down to the docks at Santa Barbara Harbor for some seafood chowdah.
To make your experience even more fun, try visiting one of these five different wineries:
- Franciscan Burial Ground Vineyards
- Fetzer Wine Cellars.
- Kosta Browne Winery.
13. Take A Hike At The Henry Cogswell Redwoods State Park & Take A Boat Ride On Lake Cachuma Recreation Area
The Henry Cogswell Redwoods State Park is one of the best places to hike in Santa Barbara County.
In fact, it’s one of my favorite places to visit because it has so many beautiful hikes that are perfect for all seasons, including wintertime.
The park is known for its unique redwood forests and wildlife, including deer, elk and coyotes. If you want to see more than just trees at this park then there are plenty of flowers and plants as well.
Cogswell Redwoods State Park is located near the small town of Lompoc.
This park is perfect for those who want to escape from the city but still be close enough to come back when they need internet or a meal.
Lake Cachuma is located about 25 minutes from Santa Barbara, but it’s worth the drive.
The Cachuma Recreation Area is one of the most popular tourist destinations in California and hosts many events throughout the year including music festivals and fireworks displays.
To get there, head east on Highway 101 until you reach Carpinteria (about an hour away).
From here, follow signs for CA-1 towards Ventura County until you see a sign that says Lake Cachuma Recreation Area on your left hand side as you approach it.
14. See Whales.
The whales are a big part of the ocean, and they’re important. They’re also a sign of how resilient the ocean is, how beautiful it can be, and how important it is for us to protect it.
If you’ve ever wanted to see whales up close—and if so, who hasn’t?—Carpinteria is a good place to go.
There are many sights along Highway 1 where you’ll have an opportunity just like this: watching or even interacting with these amazing animals as they swim along for miles on end in front of your car window.
15. Angels Antiques
Angels Antiques is a family-owned and operated business that has been in Carpinteria since 1972. The store has an extensive selection of antiques, antique furniture, art glass, and much more.
Angels Antiques is located at 209 East Main Street in Carpinteria. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 am – 5:00 pm (closed Sundays).
Angels Antiques has something for every taste, whether you’re a collector or just looking for that special gift. The store also carries antique furniture, clocks, and watches.
16. Take A Stroll Downtown & Cycle Across The El Porto Del Cielo Bridge.
Downtown Carpinteria is a great place to visit. The downtown area has many restaurants, shops, and other things to do.
There are also lots of things to see in the downtown area. You can walk around and enjoy yourself there or go inside one of the stores and buy something from them.
This is also part of Malibu Creek State Park, so it can be accessed by those who enjoy biking or horseback riding.
This bridge connects the city to Topanga Canyon State Park, and many trails lead you through beautiful canyons where you can marvel at the beauty of nature.
17. Explore the Archive Room at the Figueroa Mansion.
The Archive Room at the Figueroa Mansion is a great place to learn about the history of Carpinteria, CA.
It’s also a great place to learn about the history of your town, as it contains artifacts from all three periods in which it has existed: Spanish Mission and Indian occupation, ranching, and today.
This archive room contains documents dating back to 1786 when Don Jose Antonio de Figueroa founded this area as a Mission village. It’s one of only two remaining buildings from that era still standing on its original site (the other being La Casa Grande).
You can see photos of original furnishings here, as well as other artifacts, such as clothing worn by Spanish colonists who came here over 200 years ago.
18. Visit The Santa Barbara Harbor
The Santa Barbara Harbor is a wonderful place to spend time. There are many places to go fishing, swimming and boating in the harbor. It’s also a great place to take pictures of the city skyline or landscape of Carpinteria.
If you want to see whales, dolphins and sea lions up close and personal then this would be your best bet. You can even get up close with some seals if that’s what floats your boat (pun intended).
If you are looking for something a little more laid back, then check out the Beaded Lizard. It’s only about a 10-minute walk from the harbor and is a really nice place to get some work done or just relax with friends.
They have delicious food and drinks as well. We would highly recommend trying their Chicken Caesar Wrap; it’s so good.
19. Linden Avenue
Linden Avenue is a historic street in Carpinteria, California.
It’s one of the best places to walk, bike and shop in town. You can also enjoy the local culture here by exploring different shops, restaurants and art galleries.
If you love nature then Linden Avenue is where you need to be! This area features beautiful gardens with plenty of shade trees so it will feel like summer all year round.
The street was named after the Linden tree, which is also referred to as a lime tree. It’s known for its aromatic flowers and green leaves that turn yellow in the fall.
20. Grapevine Art Colony.
The Grapevine Art Colony offers classes on different forms of painting or drawing, such as oil painting or watercolor.
It also has workshops where you can learn how to make your own piece of art using recycled materials from around town or local artists who are willing to teach you their techniques (for free). You can even bring in some photographs from your travels abroad so others can see how awesome that trip was.
21. Los Padres Outfitters
Los Padres Outfitters is a family-owned fishing and boating store that offers an extensive selection of fishing and boating supplies.
They have a wide selection of rods, reels, tackle boxes, boat covers and accessories for every type of watercraft. If you need something specific to take with you on your next adventure but don’t know what it is, this is the place to go.
They also offer lessons in several different types of boats including kayaks (for beginners), canoes (for those who want more control over their movement), stand-up paddleboards (which are similar to surfboards) or even powerboats if that’s what floats your boat.
22. Go To The Beach & Check Out The Historic Mission Inn
The beach is a great place to relax and unwind. You can go swimming, surf or just lay in the sun with your friends and family.
The sand is soft enough not to hurt your feet or back when you walk on the beach, even if you have flip-flopped on.
You can visit any time of day, and it could be morning or evening or both.
The weather here is warm during much of the summertime but also cool during the winter months, so you don’t have to worry about rain ruining your fun time at the beach.
The Mission Inn is a historic hotel that was built in 1887. It’s also a National Historic Landmark, California Historic Landmark, and California Cultural Landmark.
The Mission Inn is one of the oldest buildings in California and one of only two remaining examples of Spanish Colonial architecture that were built before 1900 (the other being Pueblo de Los Angeles).
23. Enjoy An Evening At The Beach & Tar Pits Park.
The beach is great for relaxing and spending time with friends, family, and pets. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Carpinteria (CA), the beach is a great choice!
The best part about going fishing at sunset? You can bring along your dog.
It’s easy for them to get in on all the action when carrying their own rod and reel. Ensure you remember everything else, like treats, because they’ll want them too.
Tar Pits Park is a natural history museum located in Carpinteria, California. The park is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and has many exhibits. It’s one of the best places to visit in Calabasas or Carpinteria because it’s free.
The park has over 1,000 acres of land with coastal sage scrub, riparian, and oak woodland habitats.
These habitats provide an ideal habitat for native plants and animals not commonly found in other parts of California.
FAQs
1 What Is Carpinteria Famous For?
Carpinteria is a popular surf destination.
2. Is Carpinteria Worth Visiting?
Carpinteria has beautiful beaches, cute shops, cafes, restaurants, and many fun outdoor activities, including great surfing.
3. What Is The Main Street In Carpinteria?
Linden Avenue.
4. Do Any Celebrities Live In Carpinteria?
DeGeneres and de Rossi’s side-by-side properties sit atop an oceanside bluff in Carpinteria and total about 10 acres.
5. How Safe Is Carpinteria?
The crime rate in Carpinteria is relatively higher than the national statistics across all communities in America.
6. Is Carpinteria A Town Or City?
Carpinteria is located on the south coast of Santa Barbara County, approximately 12 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. The City covers a land area of 2.6 square miles and an ocean area of 4.7 square miles, for 7.3 square miles.
7. Where Do The Rich And Famous Live In Santa Barbara?
Montecito.
8. What Actor Lives In Santa Barbara?
Among those who maintain, or have maintained, homes here are Oprah Winfrey, Kirk Douglas, George Lucas, Carol Burnett, John Cleese, Drew Barrymore, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kenny Loggins, Kevin Costner, Rob Lowe, Ellen DeGeneres, and Portia de Rossi, to name just a few.
9. Can You Smoke At Carpinteria State Beach?
The City’s first law restricting smoking was adopted in 1985. The prohibition on smoking in our public parks and beaches was enacted in 2004.
10. Does Carpinteria Have Showers?
Amenities such as hot showers, full hook-ups, an on-site store, a visitor center, and summer interpretive programs make Carpinteria’s campsites among the most sought-after on the Santa Barbara coast.
Conclusion
So, there you have it—the top 23 things to do in Carpinteria (CA). We hope you enjoyed reading this list and found something new that you want to explore. No trip to Carpinteria is complete without experiencing the art and culture it has to offer.
From the amazing wineries in this part of California to the farmers market on Saturdays that sells fresh produce from local farms, there’s always something new for you to explore.
The town has so many recreational activities that it can be hard to know which ones will appeal most, but we hope this list gives you some ideas about where else you might want to go next time.
We’re always looking for cool places to visit and activities we can share with our readers, so if there’s anything else we should know about or recommend in this area, please let us know.
