 The
Waterfront ranges from Leadbetter
Beach, past the Harbor, West
Beach, Stearns Wharf, Chase
Palm Park, the Zoological Gardens
and to East Beach.
Along this stretch of incredible coastline you will find restaurants,
shops, artists, and a bike trail. The waterfront is an important
meeting place for locals during the Forth of July and First Night
celebrations.
Stearns Wharf
Stearns
Wharf is the center of all this activity. The structure
is over 130 years old and has been the home of much of Santa
Barbara's early history when immigrants and supplies had to come
primarily from the sea.
A popular attraction
is the Ty Warner
Sea Center -
a fun, engaging, interactive marine education facility located on
Stearns Wharf. Owned and operated by the Santa Barbara Museum of
Natural History, the Ty Warner Sea Center fulfills the mission of the
Museum to inspire a passion for the natural world.
The
Harbor
The Harbor
began almost a hundred years ago when a wealthy Santa Barbara resident
wanted to keep his yacht closer to home - or so the story goes.
He created the breakwater and harbor that keeps the considerable
fishing and pleasure boat population of Santa Barbara safe and moored.
The Harbor and Stearns Wharf are connected by the
Waterfront Shuttle "Lil Toot".
Today,
the Harbor features the Maritime
Museum and one of Santa Barbara's landmark restaurants, Brophy Bros. The breakwater is paved and you can take a stroll
out to the end.
Chase Palm
Park
You
will find a wonderful park to the east of the Wharf, Chase
Palm Park, that features the weekly Arts
& Crafts Show. Each Sunday local artisans gather to
share their latest wares.
Chase
Palm Park is also a mecca for the younger crowd as they try their
skill at Skater's Point,
Santa Barbara's gift to skateboarders and inline skaters.
Directions:
Take the 101 to Cabrillo or Garden. Turn away from the
mountains. Cabrillo Blvd. Will bring you to the East Beach edge
of the Waterfront. Garden will bring you closer to the
Wharf. The parking is along the south side of Cabrillo, in the
lot near East Beach, on one of the side streets off State Street, in
the parking lot near the harbor and in the lot near Leadbetter
Beach. If there is a major event going on, park in one of the
main city lots up State Street and take the Waterfront Shuttle.
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