Alameda Park
1400 Santa Barbara St. between Sola and Micheltorena. Nine acres of towering shade trees. Home to Kids' World, a one-of-a-kind playground built by Santa Barbara families.

Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden
Peaceful city park bounded by Micheltorena, Santa Barbara, Garden and Arrellaga streets, 4.6 acres. Beautiful botanical gardens and a koi fish-filled lily pond.

Andree Clark Bird Refuge
1400 E. Cabrillo Blvd. across from East Beach. This 42-acre saltwater marsh is one of the largest wildlife refuges in the area. Interpretive and environmental self-guided tours.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
Highway 154, just 20 minutes up San Marcos Pass from Santa Barbara. Camping and day-use facilities with hot pay-showers, snack bar, general store and tackle shop. Boating, fishing, nature cruises, swimming pool (no lake swimming) and fishing boat, paddleboat and bike rentals. 686-5054.

Chase Palm Park
323 E. Cabrillo Blvd. 10 grassy, beachfront acres. Site of the Sunday Arts and Crafts show. Soccer field, historic carousel, fantastic shipwreck playground, creeklets with eclectic landscaping and walking paths, pavilion and plaza.

Elings Park
Las Positas Road between Hwy. 101 and Cliff Dr. 230-acre privately owned community park. Hiking trails, ocean views, playground, hang gliding and off-leash dog walking. Softball field reservations, 564-5422. Soccer field/picnic/wedding area reservations, 569-5611.

Franceschi Park
1510 Mission Ridge Road. 17.9 acres with a panoramic, bird's-eye view of the city. Extensive botanical collection. Picnic area.

Lake Los Carneros
Off Highway 101 at Los Carneros Road in Goleta. Nature preserve is home to two historic structures: Stow House and Goleta Depot. Do some bird watching while strolling around the lake. Barbecue grills, picnic areas.

Lookout Beach Park
Four acres on the edge of Summerland between Highway 101 and the ocean. Family picnic and barbecue facilities, playground equipment and restrooms.

Manning Park
Off Highway 101 on San Ysidro Road. Lush greenery in the heart of Montecito. Picnic facilities, playground.

Moreton Bay Fig Tree
The largest tree of its kind in the nation. First planted in Australia in 1874, it was transplanted to Santa Barbara in 1877. At Chapala and Montecito streets, it spans 160 feet and provides 21,000 square feet of shade.

Oak Park
300 W. Alamar Ave. 17 acres bordering Mission Creek. Tennis courts, horseshoe pits, dance area, wading pool and playground. Site of ethnic festivals, spring through fall.

Orpet Park
Alameda Padre Serra and Moreno Road. Four acres. Rare plants and trees. Walking paths.

Pershing Park
100 Castillo St. Softball and baseball fields, tennis courts.

Rattlesnake Canyon Park
Adjacent to Skofield Park. Forty-five acres of hiking and horseback riding trails.

Rocky Nook Park
On Mission Canyon Road, just a few steps up from the Mission. Family picnic areas set among shady trees, large-group barbecue area, hiking trails. Soak your toes in the cool creek, where you'll meet tiled alligator sculptures Harry and Ethel.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
1212 Mission Canyon Road. 65 acres of more than 1,000 species of California native plants, wildflowers and trees. 5.5 miles of trails through a meadow, canyon, redwood forest, Mission Creek, across a historic dam and along ridge tops that offer sweeping views of the Channel Islands. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Daily guided tours at 2 p.m., also at 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. $5 general. 682-4726.

Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens
1100 Anacapa St. Beautiful gardens and spacious lawns are a nice place to stop after touring the historic 1929 Spanish-Moorish structure. The Sunken Gardens is the site of many summer concerts. 681-5650.

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way. Highly interactive exhibits designed to educate the public on maritime history of the Central Coast and human interaction with the marine environment. Phase I of the museum opening summer 2000. 962-8404. www.sbmm.org

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
2559 Puesta del Sol Road, just past the Mission off Mission Canyon Road. Home to the skeleton of a 72-foot blue whale, the area's only planetarium and observatory and a variety of exhibits and activities that focus on the rich area environment. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday -Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. $6 general. 682-4711.

Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens
500 Niņos Drive, off Cabrillo Blvd. at East Beach. More than 600 animals including gibbons, elephants, giraffes and big cats. Lush botanic gardens, picnic areas, carousel, miniature train rides. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. $7 general. 962-5339.

Sea Center on Stearns Wharf
211 Stearns Wharf, at the south end of State St. Explore life-size models of dolphins and whales, undersea diorama, aquariums, touch tanks and the remains of shipwrecks. Open 12-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri., 10-5 p.m.-Sat. & Sun. $3 general. 962-0885.

Shoreline Park
La Marina and Shoreline Drive. 14.6 acres overlooking the Pacific. Fly a kite or just enjoy the sounds of the sea. Wooden steps lead to Leadbetter Beach below.

Skofield Park
1810 Las Canoas Road, off of Mission Canyon Road. 35 pristine acres of rugged hiking trails and picnic tables.

State Park and Beach Campgrounds
Call 800/444-7275 for information and reservations.