Tucked on the bluffs between Montecito and Carpinteria, Summerland is Santa Barbara County’s smallest and quietest beach town — founded in the 1880s as a spiritualist colony, and still defined today by its walkable, one-street center and unhurried pace.
Points of Interest
- Lookout Park — a blufftop park with a footpath straight down to Summerland Beach, plus bocce, ping pong, and a dog wash station.
- Summerland Beach — an uncrowded stretch favored by horseback riders and dog walkers.
- Lillie Avenue — the town’s compact main street, lined with antique shops, design boutiques, and cafés.
- Loon Point — a quieter beach just south, known for tidepools and sunset views.
- Santa Barbara Polo & Wine Club — a short drive away in Carpinteria, where Sunday matches draw a global crowd each summer.
With a population under 2,000 and limited inventory, Summerland turns over slowly — many residents describe it as the kind of place people move to once and stay.