Stearns Wharf is a wooden pier that runs out from the end of State Street into Santa Barbara's harbor. Built in 1872, it is the oldest working wooden wharf in California, and it still holds restaurants, gift shops, a shellfish market and the Sea Center aquarium. Walk to the far end for open ocean views, with the Santa Ynez Mountains behind the city. Walking the pier is free. Go for seafood, a scoop of ice cream, or a stroll before sunset.
From 1872 to today
Stearns Wharf was completed in 1872 by John Peck Stearns, with financial backing from Colonel William Welles Hollister. It let ocean-going ships dock directly at Santa Barbara's shoreline, which eased the city's geographic isolation.
The pier is roughly 2,300 feet long and was once the longest deep-water pier between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It has survived storms, fires and earthquakes. A major fire in 1998 destroyed part of the structure, and the wharf was rebuilt and reopened with its restaurants, shops and marine exhibits. Renovations were carried out in 1982.
Since the 1940s, the wharf has been used more for restaurants and recreational fishing than for the shipping and freight it was built to serve.
What is on the pier
The Sea Center is run by the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. It is an interactive marine education facility and aquarium, and children can pet live sharks there. Adult tickets start at $14.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is also on the wharf, with exhibits on the area's seafaring history, shipwrecks and fishing. A Channel Islands exhibit hall and a bait and tackle shop add to the mix.
On the second story, the Deep Sea Tasting Room serves wine made from Santa Barbara grapes, with an outdoor patio that looks out over the Pacific. The brick-red Char West Fish & Chips building, a New England-style shop, is a good spot for photos on any day.
Eating and drinking on the wharf
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, near the south end of the wharf, serves clam chowder, lobster bisque and full lobster dinners. The lobster bisque is the dish to start with if you are new to the place.
Great Pacific Ice Cream Co. is the wharf's best-known ice cream stop. The flavors and generous portions justify its higher prices.
Moby Dick Restaurant is named for the chance to spot whales from the dining room. Buy a bowl of chowder or a scoop of ice cream and take it to a bench at the end of the pier to eat as the sun goes down.
Getting there and getting around
The wharf starts where State Street ends, so you can walk to it from downtown. Cabrillo Boulevard has parking areas a short walk away, or you can park on the pier itself.
You can rent a bike, a Segway or a four-person beach bike and ride along the harbor to the wharf.
The Lil' Toot water taxi is a narrated boat ride from the wharf to Santa Barbara Harbor and back. Rides run every half hour in the afternoon, and children enjoy it.
Perguntas frequentes
Is there an entry fee for Stearns Wharf?
Walking the pier is free. Adult tickets to the Sea Center start at $14, and food, shopping and boat trips cost extra.
How long do you need at Stearns Wharf?
Plan 2 to 3 hours. Add more time if you eat a long meal or visit the Sea Center.
Can you fish from the wharf?
Yes. Fishing from the wharf is free, and you can rent gear from a wharf vendor.
Where can you park for Stearns Wharf?
You can park on the pier or in the Cabrillo Boulevard parking areas, a short walk away. On the pier, the first 90 minutes are free for vehicles up to 20 feet, then $2.50 per additional hour, with a $20 daily maximum.
When is the best time to visit Stearns Wharf?
Go at sunset for the views. Go early in the morning if you want to buy fish from the boats as they unload.
