Stearns Wharf, The Pier

Santa Barbara, California Print   Leave a comment

Description

There are lots of ways to enjoy the pier. We call it "the pier" because Stearns Wharf sounds, well, stern, and the pier is a whole lot more fun than that! It's nice to stroll along the pier and look out on either side of you at the breathtaking views of Santa Barbara and East Beach. There are plaques up along the pier that explain the wildlife, such as the kelp forests below, the blue herons that relax in the sun, or how the moon shapes the tides. It makes for an interesting read. On weekends at the base of the pier, Arlington West is set up in the sand at West Beach. It is a memorial to the soldiers who have died in Iraq. Each soldier's name is on a white cross, and family members travel from far away to remember their loved one. It's very sad to see how many crosses there are.
To the right as you reach halfway along the pier is the Harbor Restaurant, which offers a formal dining experience with views of the sail boats and the ocean through huge glass windows. Above it, Longboards Grill is a great, inexpensive place to eat, with 360 degree views of the ocean and mountains! You will feel like you're the luckiest person on earth as you sit up there beholding the view. The Santa Barbara rolls are yummy. Further along the pier there are a number of touristy knick-knack stores that kids enjoy.
Something we always do when we go to the pier is get icecream! It's a really yummy brand there, especially the Rocky Road icecream! You can eat it on the benches behind the ice cream parlor overlooking the ocean. The views of Santa Barbara backed by the Santa Ynez mountains are breathtaking. On Sunday afternoons there is live Jazz atop the stairs where the wineshop is. The wine shop doesn't own the balcony up there so anyone can go up and enjoy the views! Walk to the very end of the pier and you will might see seals hanging out on buoys not far from shore. They make some great noises!
The newly remodeled Ty Warner Sea Center is more like a science lab than a fancy aquarium. There are some no-frills touchpools and tanks, and upstairs there are some fun activities for older kids. Kids can measure the water quality and temperature of the water below the pier. The young volunteers at the Science Center are friendly and tell you about the animals. The best part though are the views through the huge windows. On cold rainy days the Sea Center is a good place to come to enjoy views from the pier without the cold.
You can drive onto the pier if you want and it's fun to hear it creak beneath you! You park all the way at the end and get your parking validated when you buy icecream, a meal, or a souvenir.
While in the area, check out gorgeous Shoreline Park on cliffs above Leadbetter Beach. Also nice is a long walk along the Cabrillo Bike Path all the way to East Beach and the Andree Clark Bird Refuge lagoon. There is a really cool playground on the way- Chase Palm Park.

Photo Gallery

View of the beach and mountains from the pier.	I love the mountains behind the pier! Wow!	View of the harbor and "the mesa" from the pier.
A shiny Great Blue Heron, relaxing on the pier.	Tables at the top of the pier on the balcony that's open to the public.	Colorful view from the pier.
View from the upstairs balcony of a couple enjoying a walk on the pier.	Shaded picnic tables on the pier where you can enjoy your icecream cone! The upstairs balcony that is open to the public is shown in the background.	Small octopus at the sea center! Look at him go!
View from the big windows on the second floor of the sea center.	View of Santa Barbara from the sea center.	The famous dolphin fountain at the base of the pier.
Colorful flags on the pier.	Ty Warner Sea Center, on the pier.	You can't top this view- you will for sure feel happy while up here and will have a renewed perspective on life! Longboards Grill on the pier.

Directions

Exit the 101 Freeway at Castillo Street. Turn towards the ocean. Turn left onto Cabrillo Blvd. Park along the road for free before you get to the pier. Or turn right, onto the pier, and park all the way at the end. You can get your pier parking validated at the icecream place or one of the souvenir shops. Harbor Restaurant and Longboards Grill have valet parking.
Ty Warner Sea Center admission is $8, and $5 for children. Call (805) 962-2526.
Harbor Restaurant, call (805) 963-3311.
Longboards Grill, call (805) 963-3311.
Great Pacific Icecream Co, (805) 962-0108.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

Sam 07/07/2010 12:22	I proposed to my wife on the pier in August 2001. Those were the best days ever.
Nancy 10/22/2009 20:37	YO QUIEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
Nathalie 10/09/2009 14:07	Le plus beau voyage que j\'ai fait!
Will 10/01/2009 14:03	So Jealous! Have fun guys!
Colleen 09/13/2009 21:55	My kids like the crawl tunnel and the warty sea cucumbers. If you get an annual pass at the Natural History Museum you can come as often as you want and only stay for a short while without feeling guilty about wasting the entrance fee.
Denise 09/09/2009 14:47	Great pictures! Wow, I haven't been to SB in years and years....it's so gorgeous...