Travel with Preschoolers in Southern California

Shipwreck Playground at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara

Chase Palm Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the city. This 8 million dollar park straddles Cabrillo Blvd. near Stearn’s Wharf. Named for its shape, this playground is very exciting due to the dynamic play structure and the surrounding aesthetic elements. The climbing structure, which is shaped like a ship, has a unique plank-like slide that 3 or 4 children can use at a time. There are stairs, which are helpful to little kids as well as ladders for more agile children, to access the structure. Very tall look-out points, and bridges create the perfect atmosphere for pirate play and other seagoing adventures.

The sand area that surrounds the structure has a variety of cement sea creatures and beautiful sculptures that help give shape to the playground and add to the ocean theme. There are even replicas of coral reefs, tide-pools and whales. It would be easy for children to imagine themselves out to sea, looking down from the high tower onto this remarkable ocean scene.

No sailor’s adventure is complete without reaching land. This park has that too. A cityscape with stucco buildings, painted with a beautiful pastel background and a lighthouse that children can actually enter is a great landing site. You could even add to the fun by bringing props with you. A bandana for a pirate’s hat, an eye patch, a sailor’s hat, be creative.

Whatever you do, this is a place that you absolutely must visit when you go to Santa Barbara with young children. It is a perfect place for a picnic, to take photographs and let the kids play. Here, children can really exercise their imaginations. They may also bug you to visit this park over and over again.

The beach is just across the street and each weekend there are vendors and artists that line the street to showcase their talents. Chase Palm Park is located at 233 E. Cabrillo Blvd. in Santa Barbara. Parking is available on the street and in the nearby lots. Fees for parking vary, some free parking is available.