It's a great place to visit. Lot's of good restaurants. Shopping is good. We camp in Carpinteria (down the coast a little) and like to take the train up to SB to spend the day. We usually catch the tram (I'm thinking it's .25) up State street and then walk back down to the train station. The train station is a block from the pier (actually there are a couple of main piers). There's some decent restaurants on both piers plus a bunch on State street and across the street from the beach.