Carpenteria State Beach

PARK: Carpenteria State Beach
LOCATION: The park is off U.S. 101, 12 miles south of Santa Barbara.  Exit at Casitas Pass Road from either North or South Hwy 101, go down Casitas Pass Road to Carpinteria Avenue and make a right at the signal and a left on Palm, the first left. Go to the end of Palm Ave. at the beach.
SIZE: One mile of beach.
NATURAL SETTING: Almost precisely halfway between Santa Barbara and Ventura on California's southern coast, this quiet town boasts a protected beach renowned for being "the world's safest."
AMENITIES: Anything and everything you and the family need to make it a great fun outing. As one of the most busy State Beaches they even rent beach toys galore. If there is something you forgot or want to grab a bite at a restaurant instead of the campfire, you head three blocks up Linden and will have all the luxuries of town.
WHAT TO EXPECT:  Carpinteria State Beach offers a mile of beach for swimming, surf fishing, tidepool exploring and camping. In addition to the obvious and extraordinary beach, this park is blessed with fabulous views of the mountains.  Within walking distance you will find Tar Pits Park, which has fabulous history, and the Estuary, home to many rare and beautiful birds. At low tide the tidal pools are filled with sea life.  Part of the beach is closed during seal birthing time because there's a nearby rookery, but most of the year there's clear and open access.
WHAT MAKES IT GREAT: One mile? That’s it? Yes but it’s one mile of a beautiful place in an amazing location. What it lacks in size it makes up for in convenience and amenities. It truly is a great park to take the family to where everyone is going to have a great time.

This small list of California State Parks is only to provide you with the inspiration to think differently about what it means to go on a surf adventure. Planning a trip across the world takes so much in the way of costs, planning, and hassle when surf and outdoor magnificence is only a short drive away. This list shows that there is a park that will suit all the different needs and desires for almost any surfers.
From the wilderness hiking of the Lost Coast to the rollerblade rentals (I didn’t know people still did that) at Carpenteria, the California State Park system is a diamond in the rough for the surfing world. Protecting the high quality experience and ecological importance of all State Parks and beaches should be a central part of every Californian surfer’s heart.
Note: SurfShot would like to remind our readers to always do your homework. Conduct detailed research on the parks and surf pots you are going to visit. Many of the northern California areas have powerful swells and dangerous currents. In addition, please respect the locals when traveling to surf spots in State Parks. Give respect in order to get respect.