Visit Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara

When you visit Santa Barbara you must visit Stearns Wharf.  The wharf at one time served the passenger and freight shipping needs of Santa Barbara.  The wharf now has many restaurants and shops for you to explore and enjoy.

Stearns Warf was built in 1872 by a local lumberman named John P. Stearns.  The wharf is one of Santa Barbara’s biggest tourist attractions.  On clear days you can see the Santa Barbara Mountains and the coastline.  On State Street and Cabrillo Blvd. There are great restaurants, shops and hotels.

You can rent a bicycle and ride along a trail that runs the length of the beach.

Stearns Wharf has suffered many setbacks since it was built.  It was damaged by the 1925 earthquake.  A fire in 1973 caused the wharf to be closed.  It was closed for 6 years while it was being rebuilt.  It was opened again in 1981.  A fire in 1998 destroyed the last 150 feet of the wharf.  It destroyed the well known Moby Dick Restaurant.

Santa Barbara is a great place to go whale watching.  You can witness the migration of the gray whales.  You will also see other large marine mammals.  Over 27 types of whales and dolphins live in the Santa Barbara channel at certain times of the year.  This area is one of the best whale watching sites in the world.

You can see the whales around Santa Barbara at different times of the year.  During February, March and early April you can see the California Gray Whales.  From May to September you can see Blue whales, Minke whales and Humpback whales.  Sometimes you might see Right whales and Orcas.  You can see dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions.  You can take whale watching tours.

When you visit Stearns Wharf you can fish at the end of the pier.  You can go to a restaurant and have a great seafood dinner.  You can go wine tasting and enjoy some of Santa Barbara’s finest wines.

Stearns Wharf has gone from being a port for cargo and passenger ships to a harbor for pleasure boats, a fishing fleet and whale watching tour boats.  In the 1930’s there were floating casinos at the pier.  During World War II it became a naval installation.  The wharf is now home to shops and restaurants.

Stearns Wharf is home to the Ty Warner Sea Center.  It is part of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.  You must go visit the Ty Warner Sea Center.  It is a great place to take children.  There are exhibits and programs for them.  It is truly a fabulous place.

Article sources:

http://www.santabarbara.com/points_of_interest

http://www.santabarbar.gov/visitor/things/waterfront/