Visitor Activities

Historic Stearns Wharf is California's oldest working wharf dating back to 1872. The famous Dolphin Fountain, sculpted by local artist Bud Bottoms, marks the start of the wharf and welcomes visitors from around the globe. Steadfast wooden timbers support the wharf above the blue Pacific Ocean. More Details About Stearns Wharf.

Santa Barbara Harbor is the home to many boat charters ready to satisfy the adventurous side in anyone. Here's your chance to fish, sail, powerboat or catamaran; or take a leisurely cruise whether a coastal, harbor, Channel Islands, sunset dinner or whale watching; Cruise to the islands and take lessons for kayaking, diving and sailing. There’s something for everyone.

Celebration Cruises: Charters, Parasailing & Sunset Cruises  (805) 465-6676

Channel Islands Expeditions: Guided Kayak, Snorkel & SCUBA Charters          (805) 899-4925

Condor Express: Charters & Whale Watching   (805) 882-0088

Double Dolphin:  Sunset Cruises, Dinner Cruises, Whale Watching, Music on the Water, Sipping on the Sea Coastal Cruises, Public Charters, and Private Charters up to 49 people  (805) 962-2826

Santa Barbara Landing: Fishing, Whale Watching, SCUBA, Kayak, Snorkel, Island Adventure Charters  (805) 963-3564

Santa Barbara Sailing Center: Kayak, Paddle Boarding, Sailboat Rentals, American Sailing Association Certified Sailing School, Summer Sailing Camps, After School Sailing Camps, Sailing Charters, & Whale Watching                            (805) 962-2826

Santa Barbara Sea Charters:  Charters & Whale Watching   (805) 896-0541

Santa Barbara Sport Fishing: 6 Pack Fishing Charters   (805) 637-3425

Santa Barbara Water Taxi:  Lil' Toot Santa Barbara boat shuttle between Main Harbor and Stearns Wharf  (805) 330-2211

Stardust Sportfishing: Fishing Charters  (805) 963-3564

Sunset Kidd Sailing Charters: Sunset Cruises, Public Coastline Cruises, Private Charters, & Whale Watching  (805) 962-8222

SunSwept Sailing: Authentic Sailing Experiences on the Santa Barbara Coast. Private charters aboard the classic yacht, Kelpie, for up to 6 passengers, year-round  (805) 786-7245

The Landing Jet Boats: Charters and Cruises  (805) 963-3564

The southern border of the City contains four miles of beaches including East Beach, West Beach, Leadbetter Beach, Shoreline Park, and the beach in the Mesa neighborhood accessed by Mesa Lane and Thousand Steps (end of Santa Cruz Boulevard).

Parks and Recreation staff grooms beach sand on Leadbetter, West, and East Beaches between May and October, and they rake the beach sand between November and April. Beaches are groomed for safety and recreation purposes. Parks staff works closely with biologists for bird monitoring before any grooming and raking takes place.

The Recreation Division provides beach lifeguard services at East, West, and Leadbetter beaches daily during the summer.

The City of Santa Barbara has several parking lots along the City’s Waterfront.

Dogs are not allowed on the beach from the eastern City limits west to Leadbetter. Dogs may be exercised off-leash on the beach from the Shoreline Park Steps to the eastern edge of the Arroyo Burro Estuary.

Alcohol is prohibited on all beaches. For more information about City policies related to beach use, see Park Use Rules, Regulations, and Code of Conduct.

To learn more about beach maintenance and what to expect of Santa Barbara beaches, view  Enjoying Santa Barbara's Beaches.

Beach Wheelchair

The City of Santa Barbara currently has two beach wheelchairs (one manual and one motorized) available to the public and visitors free of charge seven days a week during regular operational hours; they are located at the Cabrillo Pavilion at East Beach.

Requests for the wheelchair can be made online; for help please call Cabrillo Pavilion staff at (805) 897-2680. Completion of a liability waiver and identification is required for reservations.

The beach wheelchairs were funded by a grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy in 2019. 

Visit the Parks and Recreation Department to plan your next parks adventure.

The Waterfront is the place to satisfy all culinary tastes. Stearns Wharf offers world-class restaurants, a wine-tasting room, a candy store, and an ice cream shop for dessert. Likewise, the Harbor offers world-class restaurants, outside sushi and goumet dishes, and several open seating bars with scenic views overlooking the Harbor.

Stearns Wharf

Santa Barbara Harbor

Help keep our beaches (and kiteboarders!) safe by following this set of guidelines for fun, happy, safe kiteboarding in Santa Barbara.

Review the  Kiteboarding Guidelines for safety information.

Near the Santa Barbara Waterfront, rental companies offer resources for snorkeling, bicycling, in-line skating, dive gear, kayaking, surfboards, SUPs, jet skis, and sailboats.  

Blue Water Hunter
Snorkeling & Diving Rentals
(800) 452-6696

Paddle Sports, L.L.C.
Kayaks, Stand-up Paddle Boards, Gear
(805) 899-4925

Santa Barbara Boat Rentals
Sailboats and Kayaks
(805) 962-2826

Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Sailboats, Kayaks, Stand-up Paddle Boards
(805) 962-2826 

Santa Barbara Landing
Kayaks, Charters, Cruises, Fishing Tackle, SCUBA & Snorkel, Waverunners, Stand-up Paddle Boards
(805) 963-3564

Santa Barbara Adventure Company
Kayak Excursions
(805) 884-Wave

Need gear? Near the Santa Barbara Waterfront, rental companies offer resources for snorkeling, bicycling, in-line skating, dive gear, kayaking, surfboards, SUPs, jet skis, and sailboats.

Sailing Clubs

Santa Barbara Sailing Center
Santa Barbara Harbor near the boat launch
(805) 899-9139

Santa Barbara Sea Shell Association
Santa Barbara Harbor
(805) 898-8768

Santa Barbara Yacht Club
Santa Barbara Harbor along the Breakwater
(805) 965-8112

Santa Barbara Youth Foundation
Santa Barbara Harbor
(805) 3849500

Lessons & Instruction

Blue Water Hunter
Snorkeling & Diving Instruction, Rentals
(805) 564-6677

Paddle Sports, L.L.C.
Kayak & Lessons, Gear & Apparel
(805) 899-4925

Santa Barbara Boat Rentals
Sailboats and Kayak, & Lessons
(805) 962-2826

Welcome to Santa Barbara Harbor's rich recreational environment. The harbor is a great place to start your kayak or stand-up paddle board excursion, with a designated human-powered vessel dock located in the launch ramp, as well as convenient access from West Beach and Leadbetter Beach.  More Details at Paddling in Santa Barbara Harbor

Brophys Mercantile
Gift and Apparel
(805) 962-0805

Coastal Treasures
Tourist Gifts
(805) 966-7643

Conway Family Wines
Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room
Wine Tasting
(805) 618-1185

Deep Blue Sea
Tourist Gifts
(805) 962-0715

Mother Stearns Candy
Candies and Goodies
(805) 962-6010

Nature's Own
Sea Shells and Gifts
(805) 965-4040

Old Wharf Trading Co
Gift and Apparel
(805) 962-4118

Paddle Sports, L.L.C.
Apparel
(805) 899-4925

Santa Barbara Landing
Apparel, Gifts, Fishing Tackle, SCUBA Equipment
(805) 965-2271

SBMM Gift Store
Maritime Gift and Apparel
(805) 962-8404, ext. 115

Topside Clothing
Gift and Apparel
(805) 963-0852

West Marine Products, Inc.
Marine Gear & Apparel
(805) 564-1334

Madame Rosinka
Fortunes Told
(805) 965-2271

There is something for everyone at the Santa Barbara Waterfront: biking, diving, fishing, fortune telling, kayaking, parasailing, in-line skating, sailing, skating, surfing, swimming, volleyball, walking, whale watching, windsurfing, & more. 

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
113 Harbor Way
(805) 962-8404

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
211 Stearns Wharf
(805) 962-2526

Visit Things to Do for more.