Stearns Wharf

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.

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!

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!