Santa Barbara Cruise Port

Sometimes called the American Riviera due to its resemblance to that famous stretch of the Mediterranean in France, Santa Barbara is a seaside port town on the Southern California coast. Stop in the city's Funk Zone to sample local wines, get pampered at high-end spas, or dine at Michelin-starred restaurants. The beaches are awash in surfing and kayaking opportunities, and the Old Mission Santa Barbara offers lessons in history and Spanish architecture.

• Santa Barbara is a great place for food and wine tourism, and also celebrity-spotting, as many Hollywood stars live here.
• The weather is warm year-round and the sun isn't shy in Southern California—wear plenty of sunscreen.
• Santa Barbara is a bit more formal than some other parts of Southern California, so check restaurants for their dress code before you dine.
• Most of Santa Barbara is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.
• Although seafood is popular here, Santa Barbara is also in the heart of avocado country and a great place to try the popular fruit.

Santa Barbara is situated on the Southern California coast, about a 2-hour drive to downtown Los Angeles (traffic-dependent) or around five hours to San Francisco on the scenic Highway 101, which passes some of the state’s prettiest stretches of coastline, including Big Sur. Walk to the Harbor and Stearns Wharf from the port.

Cruise ship passengers anchor offshore and are taken to Sea Landing. You'll find seafood restaurants, museums, souvenir shops, and ATMs, in the Harbor and Stearns Wharf area. Bike rentals are available. The US dollar is the local currency, and English is the spoken language, although you may encounter some Spanish, too.