Stearns Wharf

A big YES!!! Beautiful and peaceful place with many views of Santa Barbara beaches and nice restaurants over the pier, I definitely think is worth the visit, the parking is 90 minutes free, if I am not wrong, and looks like that aways or almost aways have parking spots available. A definitely yes!!!

Amazing place!!! You can stay for fishing, eat, take amazing pictures, or just stay there and chill. The parking is free for the first 90 minutes, then you have to pay $4 each hour.

A particularly nice pier, with lots of shops to explore and great views of Santa Barbara from every side. I appreciated the option for free car access (up to a certain time limit, then must be paid) Especially recommend going later in the evening after dark!

This pier may not be as flashy as the Santa Monica Pier or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, but it holds what I consider the right amount of charm and immersion of an old fashion historic pier/wharf with and active community of businesses, fishermen and visitors alike. Definitely an iconic part of Santa Barbara

The popular Stearns Wharf is a must visit in Santa Barbara beach. You will see the famous tall palm trees, beautiful sunset, seafood restaurants plus lots of more to offer. There is 90 minutes free parking at the end of the wharf.

It's a pier. There are a few shops, really not a lot compared to other piers I have been to along the coast. You mainly just walk along the pier to see the sites, get a water taxi, eat some fish n chips...

This place has a great view, good food and sevice. However this place wreaks of Raw sewage. It's a shame the customers have to smell that while we eat outside or inside this establishment.

Sta Barbara public iconic tourist spot that is often crowded but still provides a number of food choices, activities, and sights for everyone.

A big YES!!! Beautiful and peaceful place with many views of Santa Barbara beaches and nice restaurants over the pier, I definitely think is worth the visit, the parking is 90 minutes free, if I am not wrong, and looks like that aways or almost aways have parking spots available. A definitely yes!!!

Amazing place!!! You can stay for fishing, eat, take amazing pictures, or just stay there and chill. The parking is free for the first 90 minutes, then you have to pay $4 each hour.

A particularly nice pier, with lots of shops to explore and great views of Santa Barbara from every side. I appreciated the option for free car access (up to a certain time limit, then must be paid) Especially recommend going later in the evening after dark!

This pier may not be as flashy as the Santa Monica Pier or the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, but it holds what I consider the right amount of charm and immersion of an old fashion historic pier/wharf with and active community of businesses, fishermen and visitors alike. Definitely an iconic part of Santa Barbara

The popular Stearns Wharf is a must visit in Santa Barbara beach. You will see the famous tall palm trees, beautiful sunset, seafood restaurants plus lots of more to offer. There is 90 minutes free parking at the end of the wharf.

It's a pier. There are a few shops, really not a lot compared to other piers I have been to along the coast. You mainly just walk along the pier to see the sites, get a water taxi, eat some fish n chips...

This place has a great view, good food and sevice. However this place wreaks of Raw sewage. It's a shame the customers have to smell that while we eat outside or inside this establishment.

Sta Barbara public iconic tourist spot that is often crowded but still provides a number of food choices, activities, and sights for everyone.

A photo from the pier and a to go order from Santa Barbara Shellfish Company. You can order to go from a side window to the left of the building. They will give you a tray for your food and you can eat at the pier while the food is hot. The tray of clam chowder, lobster bisque in bread bowl, and sample platter (Shrimp, calamari, scallops, oysters and onion rings) were very good! $45 for seafood is quite economical!! The famous State Street leads you just South of the wharf and right into a paid parking lot. Current cost is $3.50 for the 1st hour. BUT, you can park AT the wooden pier for FREE for the 1st 90 mins!! How great is that?? Go around sunset, catch a free sunset and some scenery and the whole experience is free for the 1st 90 minutes! Just make sure you leave before the 90 minutes is up. There are restaurants and shops to peruse. And even a museum. I rate the clam chowder 7/10 for the taste. Could be a bit creamier. For $9 a cup, it's comparable to most places in the area. The lobster bisque gets a 9/10. I've had better in Boston. But it's BOSTON!! Lobster haven!! How can they compete?? The taste of the bisque is phenomenal. Read the reviews on the restaurant's Yelp page. Cost: $14 The platter gets a 8/10 for its crispness and taste. The tarter sauce is on the better side. Not too "vinegary". The cocktail sauce was good as well. The platter was $22. The wharf is a great place to hang out. Highly recommend!!

Went walking here after eating at Bluewater Grill. The moment we got out, stuning moon view ahead. We need to explore the wharf during this great summer night.

A nice, serene location. I stayed the ITH Beach Hostel as many lodging prices were not affordable. The restaurants on the Wharf or in town near State St. were not bad; however, i wish they had more breakfast places. Excellent for serenity trotting down the boardwalk/beach. I took surf lessons at SurfHappens in Carpinteria (8-miles away). The President Reagan Ranch is close. The Wharf is oldest & longest deep-walking pierin Califonia at 2,300-ft long,. https://www.santabarbara.com/attractions/stearns-wharf/

We went here for Thanksgiving 2023; Seafood buffet for $95 and bottomless champagne. Amazing views, delicious food, well worth it

Nice attraction when visiting SB. Lots of souvenir shops. Lots of eateries. The beach is clean.

Definitely an iconic wharf being the oldest wharf in cali. It has many seafood restaurants and even the aquarium. Parking is free for like the first hour and what's cool is you park directly on the pier. Worth walking through forsure.

It's my first time at the Santa Barbara Pier. It's a lot bigger than the piers in LA. Filled with restaurants and souvenirs stores inside. Parkings are also available and you're able to drive into the pier. The views are beautiful. It is definitely a tourist spot!

Stearns Wharf is supposedly the oldest wooden wharf in California. Strolled along the Wharf's boardwalk. Cars can drive along it (Parking: First 90-min is Free, then $3/hr). Plenty of places to eat with indoor and/or outdoor seating. Candy and ice-cream shops. Wine tasting room. Few shops to check out. Souvenir stores. Fortune teller Madame Rosinka. Marine center to see touchpools and tanks full of sea animals. Public and private cruises. 15-min water-taxi ride. Restrooms are next to the Santa Barbara Sea Center or Char West Restaurant. Fishing is free (no fishing license needed). Dogs must be on a leash. Wear comfortable shoes!

A must-see to visit while in Santa Barbara. Parking is free for a few hours and then $3 after (not sure if that's per hour or a flat rate). Felt a little risky parking a vehicle on the wharf itself... but it seems sturdy enough lol. I parked here once and then decided the second time to find street parking nearby instead. I enjoyed seeing the ocean and also checking out the shops. My favorite was the crystal jewelry shop that was also selling Christmas ornaments. There are also a few places to eat where you can also enjoy the gorgeous ocean view.

It's a smaller version of Fisherman's Wharf in SF. It's beautiful, and there's pier parking -- free for 1 hour, I believe. It's a must tourist destination if you visit here! PS: s/o to the custodian who cleaned up the 9/11 diarrhea explosion in the women's bathroom. My god, wtf is wrong with people. I can never unsee it.

Travel Back and Wharf Built in 1872, Stearns Wharf is the oldest working Wharf in California. It Chevron serves as more of a tourist destination than an actual working shipping port, but this is probably for the best for everyone. The Good: *Free parking for the first 90 minutes, and after that, they charge a reasonable $3/hr. *Lots of restaurants and gifty stores *Amazing views of the coastline and ocean *Great place to people watch *One can catch a "Water Taxi" for a nice little cruise around the ocean. They even have sunset cruises, which I would've liked to have done, but one of the members of our party isn't a fan of sea travel. #NextTimeGadget *You can fish from the pier without a fishing license The Meh: *Can be a little overcrowded, so if you're still a little 'Rona© hesitant, then maybe it's best to skip. The Ugly: *Signage overkill, if you ask me. Don't do this, don't do that, clean your room, feed the cat, clean the litterbox... Ok, mom. TLDR: Great views, lots of dining options, and swag for days. We'll be back.

There is something magical about being on top of the ocean, breathing the salt air and immersing yourself in the stunning views before you. Stearns Wharf, in Santa Barbara, is just one of those places that rewards you with just that, and more. Recently, I have been traveling to Santa Barbara regularly (mainly to eat) and the Wharf should be a "must see and visit" item on your itinerary. Apart from the relaxing vistas, there are several places to dine, and the restaurants come with superb oceanfront views. Stearns Wharf is a pleasant walking distance from the Amtrak train station. So you have no excuse to not pay a visit to this charming destination in Santa Barbara.

COOL LANDMARK ! My wife and I were up in Santa Barbara for a few days to celebrate her birthday. On Saturday we rented a couple of eBikes from E-Bikery and rode along the beach bike path. We checked out the iconic Stearns Wharf which has been in operation since 1872. AMAZING ! There are a number of restaurants and other businesses on the wharf which attract 1000's of visitors every day. Many yachts and small sail boats are moored beside the wharf. VERY POPULAR ! NOTE - Of course with over 22 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics in 2022 I can tell you what is great !

Stearns Wharf is a popular wharf in Santa Barbara. It was touristy and crowded, but it does have some pretty views. It's probably a must see for its location in Santa Barbara, but I didn't find it to be one of the highlights of exploring Santa Barbara!

An absolute must visit while during your time in Santa Barbara. Parking is pretty easy, and you'll enjoy walking the platform. If you're tempted to eat ice cream, don't do it--it's quite bad and an overcharge for such poor quality. The seafood spots are legit, and you'll find something you like. They have lobster rolls! Last, take lots of photos. It's extremely scenic, born the ocean view and Santa Barbara from a distance.

We walk to Stearns Wharf often. It is a great place for tourists and locals. All wood wharf with great ocean views. Several restaurants, local seafood, ice cream shop and wine tasting available. There is also the Santa Barbara Sea Museum where you can learn more about sea life. There are areas to sit, relax and watch for boats and marine life while watching the great brown pelicans gracefully fly over. So of course we attended the 150 year anniversary celebration of the Wharf. Great history of how the building of the Wharf added to making Santa Barbara the great city it is today. There was great music, face painting, a scavenger hunt, cannon fires and food and drinks available. Our favorite experience on Stearns Wharf: on a chilly marine layer day in winter off the heavy tourist season stop sit and have a piping hot bowl of clam chowder. Sit outside of course and enjoy your surroundings.

The main wharf in Santa Barbara. We were in town on Fourth of July weekend and visited both in the late evening and in the early morning. The evening vibe was not to our taste as it gets a little isolated and we didn't feel super safe. When we visited in the morning, we enjoyed it much more. The wharf and the city nestling against the mist- and cloud-shrouded mountains was quite pleasing to the eye. We also took in the beach (with its pelicans and other sea birds) and the marina. There were families swimming, fishing, kayaking and paddle-boarding everywhere you looked. We will be back.

Was referred to this restaurant by my Hotel at The Rivera for their oysters and seafood. Although the location is great, since it's right on the pier and you have a beautiful view of the water. I was highly disappointed with the freshness of the food. I ordered a half dozen of oysters and a shrimp cocktail. Upon enjoying my first oyster I tasted a foal taste like rotten. I immediately grabbed my napkin and well I didn't eat it. I thought maybe it was just that one bad one and nope! Out of all 6 oysters I only ate 2 which were decently fresh (but was scared to even try them). All the others had like a greenish gooey texture and didn't want to risk getting sick so I didn't eat them. The Shrimp cocktail was decent, not the greatest. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant for food. The view is great which is why I gave 2 stars. And well the mimosa was also great since it covered the bad after taste of the oysters.

Santa Barbara's iconic tourist destination, a wharf you can drive and park on! Sometimes it's good not to yelp everything first, because while we were driving over the rickety wooden bridge part past the gate (90 min free parking, $2.50/hr after), I was wondering how old this wharf was. Answer: this wharf dates back to 1872. I'm sure it's been fortified since then because it held the weight of all the cars parked and driving while we were there. I thought we were going to have to walk to the end of the wharf to get to Santa Barbara seafood company to get our lobster rolls and crab cakes; we drove right in, all the way to the restaurant/take out window and snagged a lucky space in the parking lot on a busy Saturday. Since we had to wait for our food, my son rented a fishing pole ($10/hr) and tried his hand right there off the end of the pier! He was trying to fish but a crab took the bait! Never know what you'll find, although I'm sure the fish are smart and laugh at all the tourists trying to lure them in every day. You don't need a license to fish at the very end, and you can bring your own pole/bait. There are several other restaurants, ice cream shops, a marine museum, and other touristy trinket shops. Public restrooms also available. Total tourist trap, but we are tourists and the $32 lobster roll was excellent.

We're so grateful this is a pet friendly pier. We understand restrictions at other wharfs but this spot makes it so easy to road trip with pups and no worries of having to leave them in the car. The view is always dreamy. Bright water, warm sun and cold breeze, and kayakers out for people watching. It's fun to hear the cars come and go on the pier as you walk around. We still haven't eaten on the wharf but the restaurants are always popping! Another plus for travelers, the public restrooms are clean. Once again, thank you for allowing dogs!

Lovely day at the wharf in Santa Barbara eating at the shellfish company ... Small wharf but really cute and enjoyable views of the water.

Beautiful wharf with gorgeous views just perfect for a two hour stroll. You can park on the wharf however I would recommend parking on the main streets outside and do the walk there and back to get the whole experience. Lots of restaurants and folks fishing, plus an ice cream and candy shop for the kids. There's also a little cruise station which has a ramp down to the water and is stroller friendly.

Amazing food at the very end of the wharf!!! Free parking for 90 minutes. It was a beautiful view!

Santa Barbara's most visited destination. It's an old pier dating back to 1872 and its the oldest working wharf in California. It's much wider than other wharfs and the only one I've been to you can drive onto. From the street it looks like the entrance is just an area for turning around in but you can grab a ticket at the booth and drive right onto the wharf. First 90 minutes of parking are free. -If you do drive go slowly, it sounds and feels like riding a wooden rollercoaster in slow-motion and you are driving on old wood and metal bolts. -Fishing is allowed at the end of the wharf and you'll see crab traps and fishing happening which is fun for the kids. -There are free public bathrooms. -Not much to see and do unless you have dinner plans, hilariously we saw staff rounding up wayward outdoor-seating customers that ran off to take pictures. The concern was seagulls would eat their unguarded food. -There is a psychic/fortune teller on the pier, super nostalgic though they were closed when we went.

I have been to most of the beaches along the California coast, and Santa Barbara beaches are one of my favorites. This one is unique as this is probably the only wharf that allows you to drive in. There are plenty of parking spots, and the first 90 minutes are free. There are also many restaurants and other stores on the wharf. It is pet-friendly, which was nice. Most piers don't allow dogs, but this one does. Fishing is allowed at the far end. It's a great place to watch the sunset. This place can get pretty crowded. I came on during a popular holiday in the morning and the place was empty. A must-visit if you are in the Santa Barbara area.

My most recent visit here was this last summer with my daughter, and we had a wonderful time. I had visited this location when I was much younger, but this latest visit was the first time I had been here in several years. It was actually my daughter's decision to come here to celebrate her birthday, a location that would bring her great peace and tranquility. We spent a couple of days in the nearby area and enjoyed several "touristy things" while we were in Santa Barbara. We strolled along the beach both days, and we casually walked along the pier both days as well. We visited almost all of the little tourist shops along the pier at least once and we bought several items to help us remember the wonderful time we had together. Stearns Wharf has an amazing history that originates back in 1872 when John P. Stearns first completed the commercial wharf here in Santa Barbara. During the initial years of completion, John Stearns had to experiment with different types of wood by trial and error before he was eventually satisfied with the structural integrity of the pier. Over the initial decades that followed, steam ships would carry passengers and cargo here to the wharf. Today, many still enjoy the wharf for fishing, the scenery, and for visiting the local businesses. The wharf has struggled through several large storms and other catastrophic events, such as a major earthquake (in 1925) and two major fires (in 1973 and in 1998), and has been structurally reinforced and rebuilt over the years. Stearns Wharf stands today as the most visited landmark of Santa Barbara. Stearns Wharf is a long pier where several folks can drive their cars or walk onto the pier for a visit. There are currently 17 businesses that operate along the pier, including restaurants, gift shops, a museum, candy stores and an ice cream parlor. If anyone is planning to visit the Santa Barbara area, I would highly suggest that they make a visit to Stearns Wharf. It is certainly worth a few hours of time for a quick trip, and provides much more for those interested in the rich history and/or general beauty of a simple stroll along the pier with a loved one. It's also a great place to come to spend some quality time with your family, for a casual or a romantic date, or simply for individuals desiring a stroll along the pier to take in the scenery and collect their thoughts.

Stearns Wharf is a tourist trap and touristy but it's one of those places where I can understand why. Yes, it can seem crowded but once you're there it's not as packed as it looks-honestly it just seems that way because people are funneled in from the sidewalks coming from downtown or along the park, not to mention the cars coming in. Admittedly, it does get packed on a weekend. I usually elect not to park at the wharf but park somewhere else and walk but the fact that they don't charge for parking is great. I mean, they do eventually charge but the fact that it's free for any length of time at all is great. The shops are touristy for sure but it's just on the right side of groan inducing. Yes, you're going to get your random assortment of items that have nothing to do with Santa Barbara or the wharf but it's not too bad. I noticed the majority of the spots are restaurants and while I have my particular favorite the others seem pretty good as well. For a tourist trap though I think it closes pretty early especially on weekends.

A bustling Santa Barbara tourist attraction with plenty of restaurants and shops to explore. Stearns Wharf has got a lot goin' on. I initially came here just to have dinner at one of the restaurants on the pier, but ended up hanging out for a little while afterward to catch the start of the sunset. You can actually walk all the way to the end of the pier. It's a pretty long pier with lots of restaurants to choose from and a few cute shops to explore. I had dinner at the lovely Santa Barbara Shellfish Company and hung out at the pier afterward. Aside from the shops and restaurants, you may pass by a few street performers. They hold several local events here throughout the year too. Beach access is super easy from the pier, and it stretches on for what seems like miles. I believe that parking on the actually pier is free, but don't quote me on that. I actually walked to the pier from the Funk Zone, but didn't see any toll takers or pay machines on the pier near the parking lot. The beach views are wonderful and the sunset action is quite marvelous. Bring a coat if you plan to walk all the way to the end because it get can get super windy. A definite must stop when in Santa Barbara, especially if it's your first time visiting.

Super busy pier with lots of restaurants and shops Pros: - Really nice walk along a wooden pier. Perfect place to watch the sunrise or the sunset. - Shops and restaurants lines the pier, so plenty of things to see and eat - You can drive your car onto the pier if you didn't want to walk along it, I think for a fee - Plenty of people fishing along the pier, if that's your thing Cons: - Super crowded. I think it was because it was a holiday weekend, when I went the pier was crowded and full of people visiting Would I come again? Sure

It's a pier that can be walked or driven with parking. I've seen larger and heavier duty piers on the east coast though this one has many businesses. You can only fish toward the end where there is a cleaning station, large horizontally laid poles to sit on and fishing rods holders. The best part of the pier are the views you can see from the shore. The bathrooms are decently kept.

Having several hours to check-out Santa Barbara, one of our stops was Stearns Wharf. It was built in 1872 and Oct 8, 2022 marks its 150th Anniversary. It's the oldest working wooden wharf in California. Over the years, the wharf has been damaged from four fires, two storms and a boat hitting it, but the wharf has been repaired after each incident. You can drive onto this wharf and park on it with the first 90 minutes being free. There are eight retails shops and five restaurants and public restrooms are located on the wharf. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is located here and you can catch a water taxi too. There were people fishing from the end of the wharf. From the wharf you get good views of the City with the mountains in the background. We didn't spend a lot of time here since we didn't dine here and we just walked into a couple of the shops. The wharf is not as large and vibrant as SF's Pier 39, but glad we were able to visit.

A nice touristy place with a lot of history attached. You can either drive to the wharf or walk over the pier. The path for the vehicles and for the walk is well segregated. It's not a long distance and easily doable on the foot. Beautiful views of the ocean. We went early morning and found it extremely calming and peaceful. The restaurants were still not open and there were a few people around. However the place can get really busy as the day goes by. Do visit on your next trip to Santa Barbara.

We recently visited SB on a quick day trip and did a self tour of UCSB and Solvang. Overall a nice fun lil getaway. Santa Barbara (State St) was pretty underwhelming actually. Beach wasn't too pretty, pier lacked, State street was cool - lots of eateries ... but the overall vibe was older, a lil slower paced..kinda boring. Totally prefer Santa Monica over SB...way cooler vibe. Glad we visited but nothing to return to considering other SoCal beaches.

This was a quick stop on our way home from the coast. It's a nice little pier with some cool shops and restaurants... They have parking on the pier and places to sit and watch the boats. I'm glad we stopped and enjoyed the view.

This place was fun ! A unique experience for sure ! You can drive up on the pier and park and get some food. In my opinion none of the food looked good but it's a nice walk along the pier and a great view of the ocean! Parking is free first 1 1/2 hours free first 2 hours with disability placard.

Was on my list of stops while in Santa Barbara and for good reason. Arrived around 1 on a Wednesday and although not super busy, there were a good amount of visitors. About a 5 minutes walk on the Boardwalk to get to the restaurants and shops. Although they looked full, there are a few parking spaces on the Wharf and this is the way to go if planning to eat here. First 90 minutes are free and pay to add time after. Otherwise, go for street parking which they've extended to 1.5 hours. (Carrillo Blvd) They have a handful of restaurants serving choices of seafood, steak & burgers to name a few. I was going to have lunch at one of the seafood spots but ran out of time given the wait of 30-45 minutes. So I would imagine waits are longer on the weekends. A Water Taxi, Sea Center and an opportunity to fish at the edge of the wharf (there is a Bait and Tackle shop) are available. The amazing views that you get of Santa Barbara & surrounding areas alone are worth this visit!

Great place to watch the sunset from the pier. Originally completed in 1872, this was the longest deep-water pier between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Since that time, it has been plagued by several natural disasters ranging from raging storms that have washed away major sections of the wharf to the big earthquake in 1923 to a devastating fire in 1973. Although it is not used for cargo anymore, it is a great place to walk, relax or grab a bite to eat. We enjoyed eating fish enchiladas sitting on the dock while we watched the boats go by, the seagulls dive for fish and the sun set. Bonus: you can drive on the wharf and park for free for the first 90 minutes. Each additional hour is just $2.50.

The wharf is really pretty and can be explored via car or by walking! It does get pretty crowded on weekends and there are usually a lot of people walking upwards, but they spread out a little once you reach the stores. The ocean view from the wharf is beautiful and you can see the ocean, kayakers, boats and a lot of seaweed in the water. The restaurants there are super nice, albeit a little overpriced but that's what you get for having the most gorgeous ocean view! Eating here is super nice and a beautiful experience, sorta like Nobu but not as upscale! There is plenty of outdoor seating and you can walk around while eating as well. They have fish and chips, icecream and various other restaurants and stores with merchandise like hoodies and stickers! You aren't allowed to ride bikes or scooters here, but I saw a few people riding them on the wharf anyways. The wind does get pretty big, so hold onto your hats! There is a good amount of parking space if you drive to the top of the wharf as well but it's not a very long walk so I recommend walking instead so you can simultaneously enjoy the ocean breeze. A great experience for no money at all! 100% recommend visiting the wharf if you are in Santa Barbara!

This is a loong wharf. It is so big that it has a parking lot on it!! You can walk in or drive. There are many nice restaurants on the pricey side. You will have a lovely view of boats and the water.

Pretty boring. Shops are *very* touristy, nothing we were interested in buying. Only saving grace was the marine museum.

Beautiful views and something for everyone from gift shops, wine tasting, museums, or a walk etc.

Nice wharf with a lot of restaurants and shops. Go for a walk to the end and see some nice views of the city. It's similar to most wharfs.

A wharf you can drive on?! Sweet! This is so cool. There are restaurants you can visit on the wharf as well. It is a working wharf so be mindful and be courteous of your surroundings. It is similar to most wharfs along the PNW but it's something to do and see while in a new city. You can't drive on all wharfs so I guess that makes it unique. I didn't see many people fishing when I came, but it is permitted! Compared to a weekday, this place is packed on a weekend! I was here on a Friday and was able to get around, but come Saturday, it was jam packed with people everywhere.

At this time it's remodeling! Still in the same place with the Longboard Bar and Grill just on top. A great place to go late Spring thur the Summer sunny months. And know for lovely servers. The drinks are great, sandwiches and entree perfect! I have been a regular there driving from Los Angeles for nearly 40 years plus!

It was our second time visiting Stearns wharf, last time we stayed at a boutique hotel which is very close by. This is a smaller pier compare to the major ones in LA. And we could just park our cars alongside the pier which was different too. There are some restaurants and shops but we never tried anything except Deep Sea tasting room. The views are gorgeous especially the weather is mostly sunny and nice in Santa Barbara. There isn't much to do at this wharf except walk around and take some photos. But it's still nice to stop by since Santa Barbara isn't big so you always have time to check everything out!

I love Stearns Wharf. We came here twice on our trip to Santa Barbara. The first time, we didn't know that you could actually drive on the wharf. So we parked at a nearby parking lot that was about a 10-minute walk away. There's a variety of restaurants and shops and we had some fresh box crab and uni at the Santa Barbara shellfish company at the end. People come out here to fish and there's sinks, perhaps to wash your hands after touching your bait on your hook. I'd come fish here too if I lived here. The second time, we caught the little water taxi that goes to and from the harbor and Wharf. They give a great mini tour of the area and tell you a little history about the boats too.

Let's face it. 2020 has been a terrible year. Any amount of normalcy I can find is definitely welcomed. So when I took that first step onto Stearns Wharf I was transported to my childhood in San Diego and all was good again. Stearns Wharf has been a Santa Barbara staple since 1872 (!!!). It's survived time, weather and even fires! You can drive your car on it and park here if you want. I walked it and I'm 1000% sure it's totally safe but hearing those cars roll out on the wood....I'd have been nervous lol. There are 141 parking spots and the first 90 minutes is free before hitting $2.50/hour with a maximum fee of $20. Extremely reasonable IMO. On the pier itself you can fish, shop, eat and watch what's happening on the water. There's also the Sea Center (aquarium) which unfortunately you can't go inside during these times of COVID. That said, the cool breeze, smell of the sea, beautiful scenery and the total history where you're standing on are well worth your time. Highly recommended!

We live only an hour away from SB, so with as many times as we take a casual drive up there, my husband and I haven't ever ventured onto Stearns Wharf. In fact, the last (and only) time I was on Stearns Wharf was in 1977 on my honeymoon with my first husband. Anyway, this was a fun, cool (literally) thing to do, and for some reason, there was a lot of wind, lots of clouds, and it actually grew quite cold out on the pier. Plus, it started to rain. I put on my hoodie on this August day. Whaaaaaat? We were contemplating eating our lunch at Santa Barbara Shellfish Co. right on the pier until the weather was too cold to do so. We still enjoyed walking around and gazing out over the water. I thought our car was going to fall through the wooden planks; it sounded so unstable and creeky as we were driving over it, but we made it back to land without a hitch, lol.

Local favorite and a place that I have been visiting since my childhood. Food, ice cream, souvenir shopping - they have it all. If you're in the area, spend an afternoon here - catch the view and smell the ocean. Just don't put your arm in any bird poop, there's a lot of it.