Santa Barbara's historical maritime pleasures

If you’re a fan of surf movies or just find yourself looking for a cool brew while visiting the Santa Barbara harbor, hunt for The Endless Summer Café. Hunting is the truth as it’s tucked away upstairs over the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Posters from the movie adorn the walls and you can’t miss the suspended surfboard with the movie logo burnished into its surface.  With any luck you might rub shoulders with director, Bruce Brown who created the iconic surf movie and stops by with his family when he’s in Santa Barbara.

From the deck, there are no waves to watch but you’ll gaze across the oldest working wharf in California, Stearns Wharf. The first pilings date back to 1872. Today, the harbor is home to over 1,000 fishing and pleasure vessels and sits at the gateway to the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.

The wharf’s shops feature gifts and local seafood.  At the Santa Barbara Fish Market they’ll happily crack open live Uni (Sea Urchin) if you ask.  For a more formal repast, dine on white table cloths at Chuck’s Waterfront Grill, a more traditional seafood and steak establishment. It’s the tastiest local breakfast spot within earshot of seagulls and wagging rigging.

From the restaurants and along the docks, you’ll see dive boats, sport fishing vessels and a range of small to towering commercial craft sit side by side.  Interested in taking to the water yourself? Hire a kayak to paddle the historical harbor, enjoy a romantic sunset cruise or take a turn at SUP, stand-up paddle boarding.

When you've finished playing at the harbor, return to downtown easily via water taxi or the waterfront shuttle.  The quarter toll each way comes with a free transfer. The City website has a host of suggestions to make your Santa Barbara sojourn memorable.

Photo courtesy of author.