A quiz
Seven quick questions, ten beaches from Gaviota to Rincon. Your answers stay in your browser.
You're...
You like your beach with a lawn, a dog and dinner. Arroyo Burro has a free lot that fills early on weekends, picnic tables, outdoor showers and the Boathouse right on the sand. Walk east across the creek mouth and dogs can run off leash.
Dogs: Leash on the county section; off leash east of the creek
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You want calm water and a plan. Leadbetter sits between the harbor and Shoreline Park, where the breakwater keeps the water gentle for families, small sailboats and windsurfers. Restrooms, picnic sites and a restaurant are right there.
Dogs: No dogs on the sand
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You're social. East Beach is the big city beach east of Stearns Wharf: wide sand, dozens of volleyball courts, the Cabrillo Pavilion and the bike path. It gets busy in summer.
Dogs: No dogs on the sand
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You're here for the sunset. Butterfly faces west below the Biltmore in Montecito, one of the few spots on this coast where the sun goes down over the water. It's small, and high tide takes most of the sand.
Facts from the park's page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You like it easy. Carpinteria State Beach is about a mile of gently sloping sand with a campground, picnic areas, showers and tide pools at the reef. The seal rookery is just down the bluff.
Dogs: Not on the beach; allowed in the campground and day-use areas
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You're the one who brings the grill. Goleta Beach has the pier, a big lawn, picnic tables and parking that's easy to find.
Facts from the park's page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You want a road trip. Refugio is a palm-lined cove about 20 miles west of town with grass, grills, a camp store, and campsites.
Dogs: Not on the beach; allowed in the campground and day-use areas
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You poke around rocks. El Capitán has a bluff-top campground over a rocky point, with tide pools, snorkeling and surfing below.
Dogs: Not on the beach; allowed in the campground and day-use areas
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You go where the pavement ends. Gaviota is the westernmost South Coast park: a beach under the railroad trestle, camping, surfing and backcountry trails up to sulfur hot springs.
Dogs: Not on the beach; allowed in the campground and day-use areas
Facts from the official park page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
You're...
You surf, or you sit and watch people who do. Rincon is the famous point break on the county line.
Facts from the park's page. Fees, hours and rules change, so the signs at the beach win.
Just for fun. Each beach's facts come from its official park page, checked October 30, 2026; where the county's page wouldn't load for us, the dog rule is left out, so check the signs. The quiz runs in your browser and sends nothing anywhere.
Free, every Thursday
Every Thursday the email picks the best beach for Saturday and Sunday and says where to stay out of the water.