The southern end of State St gives way onto Stearns Wharf, a rough wooden pier lined with souvenir shops, snack stands and seafood shacks. Built in 1872, it’s the oldest continuously operating wharf on the West Coast, although the actual structure has been rebuilt more than once. During the 1940s it was co-owned by tough-guy actor Jimmy Cagney and his brothers. If you’ve got kids, tow them inside the Ty Warner Sea Center .
Parking on the wharf costs $2.50 per hour; the first 90 minutes are free with merchant validation. But trust us, you’d rather walk than drive over the wharf’s bumpy wooden slats. The wharf entrance is a stop on MTD's downtown and waterfront shuttles.
