Santa Barbara: America’s Riviera

SANTA BARBARA — Home to a bustling working harbor and a busy fishing community, Santa Barbara is commonly referred to as The American Riviera, home to a harbor that offers enough amenities for boaters to never leave the waterfront. However some of Santa Barbara’s greatest assets are within a 20-minute walk from the harbor entrance, including a vibrant downtown, numerous eateries and a dash of culture.

Those willing to venture a little farther, either by trolley or car, can explore Santa Barbara County’s architectural history, golf courses and wineries.

Santa Barbara offers boaters plenty to do when visiting The American Riviera. Below are a few activities The Log’s reporter discovered while visiting the Santa Barbara waterfront.

Local Cuisine as Unique as California

California is known for having a taste of its own when it comes to food. Unique culinary experiences are especially flavorful in Santa Barbara. The Central Coast’s signature tastes can be found a few steps away from your boat.

The harbor is home to several eateries, including Breakwater Restaurant, Brophy Brothers, Chuck’s Waterfront Grill, The Endless Summer Bar-Café, On The Alley, Sushi Go Go and Shoreline Beach Café.

The Log enjoyed a Monday afternoon lunch at Chuck’s Waterfront Grill. On the menu for our reporter: Grilled Mahi-Mahi served with lime basil butter. The Endless Summer Bar-Café is operated by the same management group. Between both restaurants boaters can enjoy salmon, prawns, halibut, seafood pasta, fish tacos, crusted ahi and spinach salad, burgers, chicken or seafood sandwiches, clams, steak, calamari, oysters, mussels and crab cakes.

Boaters can order from Chuck’s Waterfront Grill or Endless Summer and have the food delivered directly to their vessel.

Those willing to walk a few minutes away from the harbor can visit any of the restaurants on Stearns Wharf, such as Char West Fish & Chips, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room, Great Pacific Ice Cream Co., The Harbor Restaurant, Longboards Grill Santa Barbara, Moby Dick Restaurant and Santa Barbara Shellfish Co.

Lodging

The Log was treated to a comfortable and relaxing room at the Franciscan Inn on Bath Street. The room included a stove, refrigerator, microwave oven and cabinets filled with pots, pans and utensils, making Franciscan Inn ideal for mid-range and long-term stays. Also featured is a daily continental breakfast and free parking. Franciscan Inn (109 Bath Street) is a short walk to both the harbor and Stearns Wharf.

Several other hotels and inns are on Bath Street and along the main thoroughfare paralleling the coastline (Shoreline Drive/Cabrillo Boulevard).

Hit the Greens

There are plenty of opportunities to exchange a serene view of rolling hills meeting deep blue sea for a peaceful day at the golf course. Santa Barbara Golf Course is an 18-hole venue open to the public and located within city limits. Boaters who have access to a car could stray a little out of town and take a few swings at Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Solvang, Glen Annie Golf Club or Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta or La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc.

Sandpiper was designed by Billy Bell and rated as a Top 25 public course by Golf Digest; the course is located near Bacara Resort offers great ocean views. The 6,420-yard, par-71 hillside course at Glen Annie is 130 acres in size and features 58 bunkers, two lakes, narrow fairways and plenty of trees.

State Street

Santa Barbara is one of the most walkable cities along the Southern and Central California Coast. A brief walk from the harbor is where State Street meets Stearns Wharf. This short walk features breathtaking views of the Santa Barbara coastline and picturesque rolling hills on the horizon.

A turn onto State Street and toward the other side of the 101 Freeway will reveal the heart of Santa Barbara’s commercial and entertainment district. State Street is filled with boutique and mainstream shops, cinemas, concert halls, museums, restaurants and theatres.

There are a wide variety of eateries along State Street, including American, Indian, Japanese and Mexican among others.

State Street is the ultimate destination if you are looking for a night out on the town but without the large crowds or traffic.

Trolley

Avoid walking or driving on your own by relaxing aboard a trolley running throughout the city daily. The trolley picks up riders in between Stearns Wharf and Santa Barbara Harbor beginning at 10 a.m. every day; service ends at 5 p.m. Daily tickets are $19 for adults and $8 for children; fare include on-and-off privileges throughout the day.

Waterfront Fun

Your boat might not be the only place to enjoy the waters of Santa Barbara. There are several ways to enjoy Santa Barbara’s coast and harbor, such as kayaking, SCUBA diving, sport fishing or taking an excursion to Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary.

Companies such as Paddle Sports Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Adventure Co. offer kayaking, while anyone interested in SCUBA diving can either do so on their own or hop aboard a dive boat from SEA Landing at the harbor.

Windsurfing aficionados can catch some big air anywhere off the Santa Barbara coast or strap into a parachute at Blue Edge Parasailing on Stearns Wharf.

Santa Barbara Sailing Center offers sailboat cruises aboard a 50-foot catamaran named Double Dolphin or any number of large and small rentals. Leisure sails can also be found aboard a 41-foot ketch via Sunset Kidd Sailing Cruises.

There are also sportfishing charters available at the harbor. Weekly regattas take place every Wednesday during the summer.

Wine Country

Santa Barbara is home to a handful of American Viticulture Areas (AVAs), where locals and visitors alike can visit any number of wineries.

The Santa Ynez Valley AVA features 50 wineries, including the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard.

Cooler temperatures and foggy conditions define the Santa Maria Valley AVA, a wine region Santa Barbara’s tourism department claim is reminiscent of Burgundy, France; expect to find chardonnay and pinot noir here.

Warmer climates define the Happy Valley AVA, where wine lovers can find cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

In all Santa Barbara County is home to 175 wineries.

There are several “wine loops” and tasting rooms available for visitors to maximize how many wineries they can visit. Wine loops, which are designated routes with a sampling of vineyards along the way, include: Santa Ynez and Los Olivos; Foxen Canyon and Alisos Canyon Road; Solvang; Santa Rita Hills; Santa Maria; and, Solvang.

The city of Santa Barbara also offers “The Urban Wine Trail” for those who want to remain close to the harbor. Visit urbanwinetrailsb.com for more information.