Hammonds Beach(Hammond's Beach)

Located in Santa Barbara in Southern California, Hammond’s Beach is popular with locals because of its great surf and lack of crowds. 

This beach doesn’t have basic amenities like restrooms, showers, and lifeguards, so be sure to plan ahead.

The clear waters here are great for swimming, surfing, and observing marine life. During high tide you'll find a surfing spot called Hammond’s Reef that creates powerful waves, making this section of the water very popular with surfers. The sand here is the perfect place for walking, building sandcastles, and playing with your dog. During low tide, you can walk to other beaches including Butterfly Beach and Miramar Beach.

To get to this beach, you can drive along Eucalyptus Lane where you will find the entrance to Hammond’s Meadow Trail tucked in between residential houses. Parking is very easy to find here, with both a small parking lot and plenty of street parking. 

The clear waters here are great for swimming, surfing, and observing marine life. During high tide you'll find a surfing spot called Hammond’s Reef that creates powerful waves, making this section of the water very popular with surfers. The sand here is the perfect place for walking, building sandcastles, and playing with your dog. During low tide, you can walk to other beaches including Butterfly Beach and Miramar Beach.

If you get hungry, you can take a short 5-minute walk from Hammond’s Beach to Tydes Restauraunt for a seafood-focused menu that changes seasonally to highlight the freshest local produce. You can enjoy one of their signature cocktails on their patio with floor to ceiling windows that provide panoramic ocean views. You’ll also find many other restaurants within a 10-minute walk from the beach. We recommend Lucky's, a luxurious old Hollywood-style steakhouse that specializes in classic American fare and is famous for its extensive wine list. If you’re looking for something more casual, we like Jeannine's Restaurant and Bakery for its hearty American fare. Their scones became a local sensation 30 years ago, and the baked goods still don’t disappoint. Make sure you swing by for brunch and try their lobster Benedict and Kahlua-soaked banana French toast.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, you'll find many options less than a 5-minute drive from the beach. We like the Coast Village Inn, a quaint bed and breakfast that is centrally located and affordable. This laid-back hotel offers complimentary loaner bikes, breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. You can also stay at Rosewood Miramar Beach, an estate-style resort popular with the locals. This ritzy property is the only 5-star resort on the beach in Southern California and offers amenities including a fitness studio, full-service spa, and Sally Hershberger salon. Another option is the Montecito Inn, a Spanish-style boutique hotel built by Charlie Chaplin in 1928. You can enjoy their 24-hour concierge, complimentary beach cruisers, and in-room spa services.