Arroyo Burro Beach, often called Hendry's Beach, is one of Santa Barbara's most useful all-purpose beaches. It has the cliffs, surf, and broad sand you want from this coast, but with a more local, easygoing feel than the city's central waterfront.
At low tide you can poke around tidepools or walk longer stretches below the bluffs. It is also one of the area's best-known dog beaches, so expect wet paws, surfers, families, and sunset watchers sharing the same strip of sand.