Updated: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 5:05 pm

One day every October, the Santa Barbara Harbor and Seafood Festival occurs, bringing a large crowd of hungry locals and visitors from afar. Timed to sync up with the start of the commercial lobster season, the festival showcases local seafood specialties, activities, boat rides, cooking demonstrations and maritime education.

The event also draws more than 30 arts and craft vendors to display their work and sell some items, local environmental organizations to provide educational materials and live musical guests in case any of the delicious meals make some guests want to get up and dance. With the local fisherman right there at the harbor, guests can handpick their meal and watch as local chefs prepare the food with local flavors.

Once filled with seafood, couples should take a boat ride down the California Riviera on one of Santa Barbara's sailing yachts. Passengers can choose from a two hour morning cruise, a two hour afternoon cruise, or a romantic sunset cocktail cruise. Honeymooners can enjoy a romantic sail while surrounding by a breathtaking ocean view of the sunset that passes over the palm trees off Leadbetter Point. On the return trip, the gently lights of Santa Barbara make the shoreline glow, welcoming passengers back to the dock.