Hammond’s Beach 

After some rain, the meadow at Hammond’s Beach has changed from brown weeds, an optimist would call it “gold”, into a lush green landscape. I was surprised that a small amount of rain can make the greenery come alive again after such a long drought in Santa Barbara. People think the drought it over, but hate to break it, but it is not. It will take the amount of time that got us into this drought, which was a few years, to get back to the normal water levels with sufficient rain.

Enough with the drought, Hammond’s is still a beautiful place whether the meadow is dead or not. It is a popular place for people, mostly locals, to be because it’s more secluded than close by areas like Butterfly Beach. Butterfly is great to and it is a place where you run into a lot of people. Comparing Butterfly and Hammond’s, I would consider Butterfly Beach to be the “scene” and Hammond’s as the more “low-key” area. This is because in order to get to Hammond’s especially in high-tide days, you have to climb over some rocks dividing Butterfly and Hammond’s. Or, you can walk the train tracks and there is a path that veers off to the right. That way is hard to find, but basically if you are walk from Coast Village Road toward the beach, you will see the train tracks. Turn left onto the train tracks and follow it for a few hundred feet until you see an uphill dirt trail on the right side. You will walk past so walls with graffiti that says in pink and black “SB Locals,” then the path will release you into the meadow of Hammond’s Beach. Bring a towel, water, and snacks because Hammond’s is a great place to hang out all day.

I think I love this place so much because I have many memories of being at Hammond’s. I have lived in Santa Barbara my whole life, so I have been going to this beach for awhile now. I feel like when you grow up, the places you go to change like in elementary school it consisted of Girsh Park, then in middle school it was Paseo Nuevo, and now it is probably Lizard’s mouth or my house because school makes me tired. But through all these times I would and still frequently go to Hammond’s with my family or my friends. A good memory I have of this place is when it was in middles school. It was a full moon, so my friends and I thought it was a good idea to sneak out to the beach in the middle of the night and jump in the ocean. I still remember how cold it was. So, so, so cold. We didn’t think it through that we had to walk a mile back to the house in wet clothes. We survived, but it was maybe the funniest, and possibly stupidest things I have done.

I love Hammond’s beach because 1) it is more private than other beaches in SB, meaning less people 2) the green meadow edges up to the sand and ocean, making it a unique place 3) a killer view of the sunset.

I recommend going if you want a good beach to go to:)

Much Love and Peace,

Charlotte Wall