A Day in Port: Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara is a beautiful destination. It has a mild climate, historic architecture,  a great food scene and is, in fact, sometimes referred to as the American Riviera®.

This is a city on the central California coast. It is about 95 miles north of Los Angeles.  The city operates on the PDT (Pacific Time Zone), the same time zone as all of California.

It has a population of 88,410 making it the 90th biggest city in California.

“Santa Barbara is the ideal port of call for cruise ships due to its  size and walkability. Those arriving by cruise ship dock 1.5 miles offshore from the Santa Barbara Harbor. Passengers are then taken ashore by tender to the Sea Landing, where they are greeted by Santa Barbara’s Hospitality Team. They are a friendly  group ready to answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Hospitality tents are located along Cabrillo Boulevard, and across from Bath Street.”  – Arriving by cruise ship.

Transportation from the cruise port is easy:

1. Santa Barbara Trolley 
   • This link: Santa Barbara Trolley is for cruise ship passengers.
2. Downtown Waterfront Shuttle
   •  Visitors to S. Barbara enjoy riding down State Street and along the waterfront in battery-electric shuttles. The fare is only 50 cents per ride. Plan ahead and buy a one-day electric shuttle pass for only one dollar for unlimited rides. These one-day passes are available for purchase at MTD’s Transit Center, 1020 Chapala Street as well as the MTD Administrative Offices, 550 Olive Street in the downtown area..
3. Uber & Lyft Rides
   • If you have either of these apps downloaded on your phone then you can take advantage of this easy way to get around.
4. Taxis and Cabs
   • Similarly there a number of reliable taxis and cab companies that service the this area. Look for them on the street and ask at one of the visitor centers.

Here is a sampling of things to see and places to eat while in this lovely port.

Places to see:  

1. Santa Barbara County Court House & Sunken Gardens
   • 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA
   • The Santa Barbara County Court House is a must see. Designed in the Spanish-Colonial style it was  completed in 1929. The still-functioning Courthouse is a Santa Barbara landmark. It has a four-faced clock tower, red tile roof, beautiful arches, and sunken garden and grounds. Inside, you get a history lesson from the elaborate hand-painted murals, wrought-iron chandeliers. Climb (or take the elevator) to the top of the clock tower for a panoramic view of Santa Barbara. Above all, the view is breathtaking.
2. Old Mission Santa Barbara
   • 2201 Laguna Sreet, Santa Barbara, CA
   • The Santa Barbara Mission was established on the Feast of S. Barbara in 1786 by the Spanish Franciscans. More than 200 years later, the Mission continues to be a cultural and historic landmark. The Mission is home to a community of Franciscan friars, and a beautiful church with a large and active parish. You will also find a museum, gift shop, a cemetery and mausoleum. There are also twelve acres of beautiful landscaped gardens.
3. Santa Barbara Historical Museum
   • 136 East de la Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, CA
   • The S. Barbara Museum is a wonderful place to see historical artifacts. You can also learn about the area. In short, you will learn how this town became a wonderful City.
4. Santa Barbara Museum of Art
   • 130 State Street, S.B., CA
   • This museum is small but has an impressive art collection. A renovation has been in progress for some time and therefore some exhibits may be closed. Be sure to check out their website before visiting.
5. Santa Barbara Zoo
   • 500 Ninos Drive, S.B., CA
   • If zoos are your thing, you certainly will want to visit The Santa Barbara Zoo.
6. Sterns Wharf & Harbor District
   • 217 Stearns Wharf, S.B., CA
   • Sterns Warf is California’s oldest working wharf. It dates back to 1872. Spend some time with marine life at the Sea Center. There are a number of restaurants, souvenir shops, and even a wine tasting shop. Finally, you can have your fortune told at Madame Rosinka’s.  In short, the Wharf is a great place to visit and enjoy the views.
7. Moxie, The Wolf Museum of Exploration & Innovation
   • 125 State Street, S.B., CA
   • Moxie is a hands-on museum. In short, you will find it is filled with interactive experiences in science and creativity. The museum’s three floors have 17,000 square feet of exhibits. As a result, it is fun for all ages.
8. State Street
   • Historic State Street Plaza is a pedestrian-friendly downtown. It has a great variety of shopping choices. It is rather nice to walk along, exploring the various shops and restaurants.

Places to eat: 

• Sambos
  • 216 W. Cabrillo Boulevard. S.B., CA
  • This is the Original Sambo’s Restaurant. Sambos is a family-owned restaurant offering classic American fare since 1957. We went there for a late breakfast during our stay and the food was excellent. I highly recommend the California Benedict and the Breakfast Burrito. Skip the home fries but don’t miss the hash browns.
• The Lark
  • 131 Anacapa Street, S.B., CA
  • If you are lucky to be in Santa Barbara during the dinner hour do not miss this wonderful restaurant. As stated on their website, The Lark is a shared dining experience featuring artisanal and seasonal ingredients celebrating the food of the central coast of California. In addition, their brussels sprouts are the best I have ever eaten. In fact, I purchased their cookbook just to get the recipe.
• los Agaves Restaurant
  • They have two Santa Barbara locations, 600 N Milpas Street and 2911 De La Vina Street.
  • If you enjoy the flavors of Mexico and high-quality ingredients then do not miss this restaurant.  los Agaves is an award-winning Mexican restaurant, offering wonderful food in a warm, friendly environment.
• Cajun Kitchen Cafe
  • They have two Santa Barbara locations 1924 De La Vina Street and 901 Chapala Street
  •  I highly recommend the California Benedict, with the hollandaise sauce on the side. In addition, the Jambalaya & Eggs were also a big hit at our table. The Denver Omelet was okay but there were many other omelets on the menu that looked more promising.

• Places to taste wine: 

  

  • There are a number of wine tours you can find online, through Tripadvisor, Viator, and others. In addition, you can rent a car and schedule them yourself, but please have a designated driver. You can certainly find tasting rooms in downtown Santa Barbara also.
  • Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room 
    • on Stern’s Warf

• • Santa Barbara Winery
    • 202 Anacapa Street, S.B., CA
    • Close to the water and most importantly has good online reviews.
  • Jamie Slone Wines
    • 23 E De La Guerra Street, S.B., CA
    • Also located in the downtown area.
  • Grassini Family Vineyards
    • 24 El Paseo, S.B., CA
    • Another great tasting room in the downtown area.

• If you liked this post you should read How to Stay Healthy on a Cruise. and
• The Ultimate Ship Tour: Royal Princess.