Santa Barbara family guide
Things to Do in Summerland with Kids
Curated by Simir Shah
Reviewed & updated August 2026 · we check listings regularly, but hours and prices change — confirm before you go.
Summerland on the map
📍 Where Summerland is
Summerland sits in Santa Barbara, Southern California. Nearest major airport: Hollywood Burbank (~72 mi / 116 km). It's roughly 82 mi (131 km) from Downtown LA and 183 mi (295 km) from San Diego — SoCal traffic can make a drive take far longer than the distance suggests, so plan around it.
Visiting? See SoCal at a glance, getting around and which airport.
Things to do in Summerland
Family attractions near Summerland
The closest kid-friendly attractions in neighboring towns — with driving distance from Summerland.
Manning Park
The one genuinely public, free family park in Montecito, with a rose garden, a picnic meadow, and a toddler playground — a rare no-cost option in a town otherwise known for private estates and ticketed gardens like Lotusland.
Free
Miramar Beach
A gentle-slope public beach below the Rosewood Miramar resort, reached via a short walk-in near the south end of Eucalyptus Lane. There are no facilities or a formal parking lot, but the easy sand access makes it a favorite quick stop.
Free; no formal lot
Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve
A bluff-top preserve and coastal trail directly above the harbor seal rookery, with a dedicated overlook for watching seals haul out below — a quieter, walkable counterpart to the main Carpinteria State Beach entry.
Free
Carpinteria Valley Museum of History
A small, free local-history museum covering the Carpinteria Valley's Chumash, rancho, and agricultural past — modest hours, but a genuine local-history stop for a rainy afternoon.
FreeTomol Interpretive Play Area
An award-winning, universally accessible playground at Carpinteria State Beach themed around a Chumash village, with a play cave, boulders to climb, and a plank canoe (tomol) structure kids can board — a genuinely distinctive design, not a standard play structure.
Free
Santa Barbara Historical Museum
A free downtown museum covering Santa Barbara's history from the Chumash era through the Old Spanish Days period — a quick, no-cost rainy-day complement to the paid Natural History Museum and MOXI.
FreeLocal restaurants in Summerland
Summerland Beach Cafe
A breakfast and lunch spot since 1981 inside an 1893 Victorian house, walking distance to Summerland Beach.
Tinker's Burgers
A 1950s-style burger joint since 1987 with burgers, shakes, and breakfast, plus Mexican and seafood items added over the years.
Local shops in Summerland
Summerland Antique Collective
About 30 individual antique and furnishings dealers under one roof, billed as the Santa Barbara area's finest antique destination.
Seasonal & outdoors near Summerland
The closest splash pads, patches, lights and more — distances from Summerland.
More Santa Barbara family guides
Browse all SoCal city guides →Summerland family FAQ
What are the best things to do in Summerland with kids?
Family favorites in and around Summerland include Summerland Beach at Lookout Park. Our guide lists 1 spot, each with a price note and practical tips where we have them.
Are there free things to do in Summerland?
Yes — free family spots near Summerland include Summerland Beach at Lookout Park. Our free things to do page lists more across Southern California.
Where can families eat in Summerland?
Local, family-friendly spots in Summerland include Summerland Beach Cafe and Tinker's Burgers — independent, SoCal-only eateries, never national chains.
What does the YourSoCal Summerland guide cover?
Our Summerland family guide includes 1 things to do, 2 local eats and 1 local shops — with independent, non-chain eats and shops.
Listings are curated and may change — confirm hours and details before you go.
Where to stay in Summerland
Hotels & rentals via Stay22 · we may earn a commissionCompare hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals near Summerland on one map — then book on your favorite site.