A Guide to California's Lesser-Known Wine Country

The big draw here is wine tasting, and for good reason. The region produces some of the best wines coming out of California from Margerum to Folded Hills and much more. The town of Los Olivos is packed with tasting rooms so you can enjoy a leisurely afternoon outside enjoying wine and music with friends and most vineyards have their larger tasting rooms on-site as well. If you're more interested in adventure, Vino Vaqueros mixes trail rides on horseback with wine tasting, or if two wheels are more your speed, there are wine cycling tours. A hot air balloon tour will give you a great overview of the valley, while a walking tour of any of the small towns in the area (Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Solvang and Buellton) will fill your day with shopping and eating. Ostrichland is always a fun visit for the entire family.

Day trips

Santa Barbara proper is just a short drive south, with lots of beautiful beaches lining the coast on the way day. Another fun side trip is to visit Cold Spring Tavern, a former stagecoach stop on the San Marcos Pass that draws a big weekend crowd for food, drink and music. Alisal Ranch, also in the SYV offers golf, horseback riding and spa treatments in a luxurious, dude ranch setting.

Breakfast

Grab a pastry from one of the many bakeries in Solvang, a town rooted in Danish history. I also love Ellen's Danish Pancake House in Buellton for crepe-like, Danish pancakes dusted in powdered sugar.

Lunch/Dinner

In Los Olivos, you can't go wrong with lunch or dinner at Bar le Cote. Bar le Cote has several sister restaurants in the area, with Michelin-star Bell's and Priedite BBQ in Los Alamos. Finally, for an old-school favorite, visit the Hitching Post in Buellton for a more rustic experience and steakhouse classics that never go wrong. (Also seen in the movie Sideways, which is frequently cited at spots around town.)