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Old West facades and horseshoe-embedded crosswalks make Santa Ynez valley a unique region in South California. Visitors enjoy the area’s strong cultural heritage and taste world-class wine in an unpretentious, friendly atmosphere.
This burgeoning wine region is located just north of Santa Barbara and is home to more than 60 vineyards. The wonderful weekend designation is filled with farms and vineyards, giant windmills, old Danish mansions, aebleskiver, and lots of wine. Santa Ynez Valley is a place you will want to go back to more than once. Here are some Amazing Things to Do in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Visit Solvang
The charming Danish-themed town of Solvang, where half-timbered farm-style houses, windmills are home to delectable bakeries, galleries, and wine tasting rooms. For lunch, head to First and Oak inside the enchanting Mirabelle Inn ( a luxurious, charming boutique accommodation), where you will savor a customizable tasting menu with locally sourced fresh ingredients and seasonal hits like
Spend a night after exploring the many delights of Solvang at Mirabelle Inn. Each of its 12 guest rooms offers distinct European interiors, and elegant decor will transport you to another country. A fireplace and plush bathrobes are provided in each room at this boutique hotel, to make you feel completely relaxed after a busy day.
Visit a vineyard
You can join and enjoy a fun-filled wine tour that includes wine tasting and paying a visit to Santa Ynez’s wineries, tasting rooms, cellars, and local vineyards. Have a great tasting experience in a wine tasting room and tickle your taste buds with a broad selection of wines. If you are a wine connoisseur or simply love a bottle of wine, you cannot miss one of the many wineries that dots this beautiful area.
Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Parks-Janeway Carriage House
This historical museum celebrates the rich history of the area, its pioneering settlers, and the foundation of the five early townships of this unique region. The museum hosts an array of memorabilia and artifacts that will take your breath away. You will also find an astonishing collection of mud wagons, carriages, stagecoaches, and surrey reminiscent of the bygone era. The museum has nominal entry charges.
Shop to take memories back
It is all about shopping for knickknacks in Solvang, a town defined by its Danish heritage. Pop into any one of the delectable Danish bakery shops on and around Mission Drive for flodeboller cream puffs, Fruit Filled Pastries or aebleskivers, and many authentic traditional Danish Pastries. Then visit Cailloux Cheese Shop for a scrumptious variety of locally made cheeses, olive oils, jams, and chocolates—the perfect little gifts to bring home. You can also visit a quaint store, Jule Hus – A hidden Christmas wonderland for young and old.
Take a bike tour
Riding a bike allows you to enjoy better views of the scenery of this magnificent region. You can hire a Rad Power E-bike or Specialized Sportbike Ride through the towns and vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley wine region with a guide. You will go through many wineries and other spots for wine tastings, an olive-oil tasting, and an Italian-inspired picnic lunch.
The picturesque towns of Santa Ynez Valley are clustered close together, so no matter which town you pick as your base, you will find it easy to explore the others. The pastoral rolling hills and charming ranch towns – have captured the attention of everyone who wants to enjoy a quiet yet unique holiday. If you plan to stay for the night or perhaps spend a week or two, Mirabelle Inn is one of the best hotels in Santa Ynez to enjoy a luxury stay.
Just 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to quaint wine-tasting rooms, pastoral rolling hills, and charming ranch towns—some seemingly pulled straight from spaghetti western sets.
