Hilda McIntyre Ray City Park — Attraction in Santa Barbara

So for the most part this is a nice quiet park with a beautiful view of the city. There's a nice playground for younger kids. Most of the people who bring their dogs their clean up after them unlike so many parks in Santa Barbara. There are some groups of westsiders who hang out there but for the most part they are courteous and friendly. I don't know if I would encourage my teenage son and his friends to go hang out there though because those guys from the Westside who localized at Park can and have in the past engaged in physical conflict with their rivals or people who just happen to cross them. I'm sure that a lot of people think that this is a paranoid reaction to these guys but for those locals who remember the lethal throat-slashing dished out by a West Sider to Bobby at hendry's beach just down the hill from there for no reason have a good reasons to treat these guys...

Hilda Ray Park is a jewel in the Santa Barbara city park system. A tiny slice of beauty hanging on a hill on the back side of the Mesa. The park overlooks parts of the city below. Generous oak trees give shade to well placed picnic tables and sloping grass lead to a fun kids play area. I love to have lunch there and look out across Santa Barbara to the mountains opposite. Since it is the tiniest park and up at the dead end of a residential street, there isn't much parking, so I would not plan a party there. When I feel the urge to be quiet and contemplative, a beautiful place to be is...

Hilda McIntyre Ray Park is tucked away on the westside of Santa Barbara (seriously, I grew up less than half a mile from here and did not know it existed until recently!). It has a small 2-5 year old play structure. It is located off Carrillo St near the top of the hill at Kenwood Rd.

Pros This is a truly toddler friendly play structure. There are simple bathrooms (with no doors however).

Cons It is small with nothing for older kids. There are no swings. It is easy to get lost finding it. Don't trust Google maps--it will steer you wrong. Use the directions found at...