The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Hidden
Carpinteria

Discover 3 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Carpinteria, California

Unusual
Attractions
in Carpinteria

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Happy harbor seals lounge within the rookery.

Carpinteria, California

Carpinteria Harbor Seal Preserve

Happy harbor seals frolic and snooze on this warm, sandy stretch of coast.

34.3926, -119.5176

Added by jondi letnap

Carpinteria Tar Pits.

Carpinteria, California

Carpinteria Tar Pits

Inky sludge oozes to the surface of this beach thanks to a rare natural tar seep.

34.3864, -119.5082

Added by jondi letnap

Carpinteria, California

Wardholme Torrey Pine

At 130 years old and 126 feet tall, it is the largest known example of the rare Torrey pine tree.

34.3981, -119.5169

Added by jondi letnap

Are we missing something unusual in Carpinteria?

Inside the Australian Garden at Lotusland.

Santa Barbara, California

Lotusland

Acres of natural wonders left behind by a socialite-turned-gardener.

34.4430, -119.6574

Added by Facebook_1513682660

8 MILEs FROM Carpinteria

The estate lies in disrepair.

Santa Barbara, California

Franceschi Park

The home of one of California's most important horticulturalists wilts amidst a lovely park.

34.4405, -119.6941

Added by KirstenCunningham

10 MILEs FROM Carpinteria

Ventura Oil Refinery. (tunnelbug/Flickr)

Ventura, California

Ventura Oil Refinery

Rusty industrial city full of oxidized distillation towers.

34.3322, -119.2947

Added by btracy

13 MILEs FROM Carpinteria

Isla Vista, California

AlloSphere

360-degree virtual reality chamber physically immerses scientists into their data.

34.4171, -119.8481

18 MILEs FROM Carpinteria

Atlas Obscura Trips

Death Valley After Dark: Astronomy and Photography in the Backcountry

Dec 5—Dec 9, 2018

In the otherworldly landscapes of Death Valley, practice your night photography skills under some of the world's clearest, starriest skies.

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