Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park

Just north of L.A. County you can find an undeveloped estuary measuring 230 acres set aside as a sanctuary for shorebirds. A nice, 1.2-mile hike will take you through several observation areas with benches. Located off the famous 101 it's a great stop to make while driving between L.A. and Santa Barbara. (Submitted by Katja Engstrom)