Stearns pier is super cool as you can drive to the end and back over the wood.

A beautiful place to enjoy the classical California beach front. It was clean and not crowded on a September day. From the end of the pier, you could enjoy the beauty of the coast of Santa Barbara

You can walk or drive onto the pier. The first 90 minutes are free, after that it’s still only a few bucks to park and there is complimentary valet parking near the Harbor House restaurant. There are 4 or 5 restaurants, an ice cream shop a candy store, a few stores with Santa Barbara and beach souvenirs, a psychic shop, a maritime museum and a few other stores. You can fish from the pier and there’s seating.

This is a strollers paradise, an ocean viewers’ delight, a sun soaking pleasure, a snack food entrepreneur’s joy and a beverage sipper’s blissful promenade. This is most definitely a pier walk you don’t want to miss while visiting Santa Barbara! Stearns Wharf is the oldest operating solid wood wharf in California, and it lends to its beautiful aesthetics. This is one of the best 2,000-foot stroll you’ll ever have. We were amazed at just staring into the vast rippling waves of the ocean – which relaxes you within minutes. Give yourself a minimum of 1 hour, preferably more, you’ll enjoy every step!

Lovely old wharf/pier with great views back to the beach, lots of fishing characters, birds and fish. Several restaurants too. A delightful place for a stroll in the Californian sunshine.