Tidepooling at Tarpits Beach

Tarpits Beach is an interesting spot with huge rocks of asphalt that seep naturally out of the ground. It isn't really the best place to set up for beach day since there is a lot of tar. But if you get there at the right time, the tidepools are great! Just check the linked chart for the best times to go.

Directions: (one possible free way) Take the 101S to the Casitas Pass exit (86A). Turn right onto Casitas Pass Rd and then left onto Carpinteria Ave. Turn right onto Arbol Verde St. Then immediately right onto Concha Loma Dr. Then a gentle left onto Calle Ocho. Follow Calle Ocho until it dead ends at the railroad tracks. You will have to cross the railroad tracks to get to the beach.

Cost: Free
Time: 45 minutes
Nearby attractions: Tomol Interpretive Playground, Carpinteria Bluff Nature Preserve. Carpinteria Beach and Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Preserve 
More information: https://www.californiabeaches.com/beach/tar-pits-beach/

Note: the day we went was so overcast, so the pictures aren't great. The kids still had fun!

Globs of asphalt at the top of the beach

Muscles

Field of sea anemones

Knapp's Castle

** 2020 Update: There is visible construction at the site and the gate was closed when we tried to visit in 2020. Friends say it was open on the recent Sunday when they went, but we couldn't get close. Comments on a recent Edhat article indicate the owner is friendly to visitors as long as they don't interfere with construction. **

Knapp's Castle is a short hike and easy for kids. The remains of a large house built in 1916 by George Knapp (founder of Union Carbide) are surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest. It burned down during a forest fire in 1940, so only the chimneys, ovens and a few walls remain. It is privately owned, but currently open to the public. Construction started and was halted in 2011. There was some kind of construction going on when we went 6/2018 as well.

The views are great in any direction. Lake Cachuma, the Santa Ynez Valley and the Los Padres National Forest are all beautiful. Warnings: There is a rope swing there, which may cause you anxiety. This hike feels rather remote. The hardest part of the hike is on the way back, the last section. A car was broken into when we were up there in broad daylight. Keep anything valuable or even that looks like it could be valuable, hidden. You may need a National Forest Adventure Pass to park here.

Directions: Take the 154N from Foothill Rd. Continue 10 miles, then turn right at East Camino Cielo. Drive 3 windy miles to a wider shoulder on the right (one mile past Painted Cave Road). The entrance is to the left at a gate with a dirt road. The gate may be open during the day with construction going on.

Trail Rating: Easy
Distance: 0.8 miles round trip, downhill or fairly level until the very end each way
Time: 20 minutes walking, more for exploring
Nearby attractions: Lake Cachuma is visible from here
More information: Trail and History

The entrance to the dirt road hike.

Knapp's Castle from a Distance

Some walls remain. 

Chimneys remain too. 

Entrance gate when closed

It can be misty up here!

Most of the hike is fairly level or downhill (until the way back).

Wildflowers 

Construction 2020

Construction 2020

Gate 2020

Splash Pad at the Collection

We have heard rumors that the wading pool at Los Banos may become a splash pad, but in the meantime, the Collection in Oxnard has a splash pad!

Cost: Free (or more if you stop by Target)
Hours: 9am-12pm, 1pm-5pm
Time: 45 minutes
Drive Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
More Information: http://thecollectionrp.com/connect/news/detail/162/splash-park-hours-and-information
Nearby: Target and other Collection stores
Directions: To find the splash pad in Google Maps, put in the Lazy Dog Restaurant. Take the 101S to Oxnard Blvd (62B). Turn left onto Oxnard Blvd, then turn right on Town Center Dr. Immediately turn right onto Portico Way and left to the restaurant. If you park here, it is free. Other areas have metered parking.

Patriotic Events 2018

Santa Barbara and Goleta Events

* 4th of July Parade on State Street between Micheltorena Street and Cota Street Free 1pm 

* Elks Lodge of Santa Barbara  Family Fun Fair 11-5 Free Admission 

(Crafts, dime toss, bounce house, rollerball game, and more)

* Girsh Park Fireworks Festival 5pm-9pm $10 entry (kids under 13 free) 

(Concerts, fireworks, and games including water balloon toss, hula hoop contest and sack races)

* Goleta Valley Historical Society at Stow House 11am-4pm $7 entry (kid under 13 free)

(Concerts and tours, $5 Kids Fun Pass includes hay rides, face painting, and games)

* Sunken Gardens Concert 5pm Free

* West Beach and the Santa Barbara Waterfront 12-9pm Free admission, activities may cost

(live music, face painting,  water taxi ride, Sea Center, crafts and food for sale) 

Fireworks

Fireworks take place at the festivals but can viewed in the surrounding neighborhoods

9pm Santa Barbara at West Beach 

9pm Goleta at Girsh Park 

9pm Solvang at Mission Santa Ynez

Other Events Nearby
* Carpinteria Independence Parade Saturday 6/30 5-6

* Carpinteria Lions Club hosts and Independence Day BBQ 1-4pm.

* Montecito Association hosts events including a pancake breakfast at Firehouse #1 (7:30), parade (11:30 Manning Park) and festival (12:30-2 Manning Park) 

* Solvang Events include a concert (10am Solvang Park), parade (11am), BBQ ($5-7, Solvang Park 12-2) and festival (2pm-9:30pm, Mission Santa Ynez, $10 Entry, kids under 8 free)

Church in the Park

Santa Barbara City College

My church (Santa Barbara Community Church) loves to do church outdoors at Easter and once in the summer. Since we will be at Santa Barbara City College lawn this Sunday, I thought I would put together a list of things to take to outdoor event/church services. If you haven't guessed, I tend to be an overpacker, so I am sure you don't need all these items! (I packed more of these when my kids were little and bring less now.) 

wagon (ours is from Costco) 

outdoor blanket (ours is from Bed, Bath and Beyond)
camping chairs (ours are from REI)

books (depends on your kids age and interest, but this was a winner for us)

small animal/people/doll sets
cars

magnet set (like this Curious George)
sticker books (younger or older)

coloring books with colored pencils/pens

nail polish 
snacks (goldfish, raisins, pretzels and crackers)

What about you? What do you take for outdoor events like this?

Santa Barbara Blueberries at Restoration Ranch

Just passed 150 posts, y'all! I had no idea when we started our park quest it would continue on!

Santa Barbara Blueberries at Restoration Oaks Ranch lets you pick your own blueberries and of course some get consumed along the way. Picking is free and the cost for some picked blueberries is reasonable. They are not open year round so check the website or Facebook for the opening each summer.

Cost: $20 for a pail of blueberries and less if you pick less (picking/eating is free)
Hours: 10am-5:30pm
Time: 1-1 1/2 hours
Drive Time: 35 minutes from Goleta
More Information: https://www.santabarbarablueberries.com/
Nearby: Nojoqui Falls, the Farmstead, Riverview Park and Ostrichland
Directions: Take the 101N. The farm is 5 miles after the Gaviota tunnel, just past Old Coast Highway/Alisal Rd. You will see a sign that say "Santa Barbara Blueberries" off to the right. 

Stop in at the stand to get pails and directions.

Follow directions to that day's flag.

Pick away!

Enjoy!

Related Posts:

Tarantula Walk

Toad Walk

The Farmstead

Circus Vargas

The circus is in town! I haven't been to the circus since I was a kid and that was a long time ago. This new and improved circus does not include animals, but all the classic human acts you remember. We won free tickets through a contest by Macaroni Kid! There are three shows Saturday (1, 4, and 7:30), three Sunday (12:30, 3:30 and 6:30) and one on Monday (6:30), so you still have time to go!

The show was 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. The preshow started 30 minutes before the circus start time with activities for the kids to learn juggling, balancing and magic. There were all the foods you remember from the circus: popcorn, cotton candy, hotdogs and more.

The main event had a "Dreaming of Pirates" theme and started with music and dancing telling the story of a young man who wants to become a pirate. The storyline continues between acts (for time to set up). Acts included tight rope walkers, acrobats, a choreographed trampoline routine, contortionists, magic acts, juggling, trapeze artists, and motorcycles in a round cage (!). My kids were in awe and I thought it was pretty cool too. 

Prices are Adults: Bleacher $25, Arena $37, Ringside $57 and VIP $72; Kids Bleacher $15, Arena $27, Ringside $47 and VIP $62. I have two free kids passes (with a paid adult) to the first person who asks. 

I am including some of my photos, but there are better ones on the Circus Vargas website. 

Acrobats

Trampoline

Contortionists

Contortionists

Tightrope Walker

Flying Trapeze

Juggler

Contortionist/Gymnist

Motorcycles

Grand Finale