Santa Ynez Valley Day Trip Points of Interest

Set among the stunning Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to the north; the Santa Ynez Valley consists of six unique and diverse communities that make up the Santa Barbara wine country.

The Santa Ynez Valley is widely recognized for its world-class wineries and tasting rooms dot the rolling hillsides. Visitors can also browse the valley’s distinctive art galleries, boutiques, and antique stores.

Santa Ynez Valley Road Trip Itinerary

Families will also discover plenty of outdoor activities, including apple and berry picking, bicycling, hiking, and fishing in nearby Cachuma Lake and Nojoqui Falls Park.

Santa Ynez Valley also features a casino, several one-of-a-kind museums, and fascinating historical landmarks such as the 1804 Old Mission Santa Ines that glimpse the area’s rich multi-cultural heritage.

First up, Buellton California

The gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley is the town of Buellton, just off US Highway 101 and State Highway 46, the main artery into the Valley.

Visitors will find everything from full-service hotels to inns, various shops, service stations, and dining locations, including the world-famous Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant.

Grab a bowl of split pea soup, order a sandwich, and prepare for a beautiful road trip. Once you’ve filled up on fuel and food, heading east on 246 into the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, you will cross paths with one of the more unique attractions, Ostrich Land.

Ostrich Land Buellton

Ostrich Land is where you can view and feed ostriches and emus. They also have a shop where you can buy products made from ostriches, including eggs, meat, feathers, and jerky.

Solvang California

Solvang, California, is a unique US destination known for its European charm. This city was founded in 1911 by Danish Americans from the Midwest who crossed the great plains to establish a settlement near the historic Old Mission Santa Ines. They built an entire town dedicated to their heritage to preserve their Scandinavian culture. Today, it attracts over 2 million travelers a year.

Visitors to Solvang can explore its flower-lined streets, Danish folk school, church, and more than 150 unique shops, art galleries, authentic bakeries, restaurants, and over a dozen wine-tasting rooms, as well as choose from 14 hotels and inns.

Continuing eastward and situated at the intersection of State Highways 154 and 246 in the town of Santa Ynez.

Next Up, Santa Ynez

Santa Ynez California

Santa Ynez locals take pride in their Western heritage. The town boasts turn-of-the-20th-century buildings, including a historic saloon, diverse restaurants – one being a steakhouse – a luxurious inn, and a charming bed and breakfast.

A great place to soak in the history of this area is the Santa Ynez Historical Society. This little museum houses a small but fascinating collection of exhibits from the Chumash period through early 20th-century ranching days and features a Native American Room, Pioneer Room, and West Room. Exhibits illustrate what it was like on the old ranches in Santa Ynez Valley before wineries and casinos.

Los Olivos California

We recommended a side trip to Los Olivos from Santa Ynez. Turn left on CA 154, and Los Olivos is only a scenic five-mile trip.

Named for the Spanish words for “the olives,” Los Olivos is also the gateway to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, which stretches north from downtown, winding its way through over two dozen beautiful wineries and vineyards, each with its tasting room.

Neverland Ranch

Neverland Ranch, the former home of pop icon Michael Jackson, is just a short drive from downtown Santa Ynez. However, visitors are not allowed on the property. The ranch’s gate has become a monument to the star, adorned with notes and gifts from fans worldwide.

Final Stop Lake Cachuma

Lake Cachuma

Lake Cachuma was formed in 1953 with the building of Bradbury Dam. Today the lake draws visitors from all over Southern California. For campers, there are over 550 campsites. Cachuma is a perfect location to escape the city without leaving too many of its creature comforts behind.

We recommend visiting the historic town of Los Alamos at the northern end of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Los Alamos California

Los Alamos is 15 miles north of Buellton on Highway 101. This wonderful little town has antique malls, quaint shops, and cafes. Los Alamos Depot Antique Mall is one of California’s largest and home to over 60 antique dealers. Often overlooked by travelers, Los Alamos is well worth a visit.

Non-Wine Tasting Things To Do in Wine Country

Ride horses, taste locally made chocolates and olive oils, smell and see fields of fresh French lavender, and so much more in the gorgeous Santa Barbara mountains.

Getting to the Santa Ynez

With so much to do in the Santa Ynez Valley, most travelers find that one day is not enough. Santa Ynez is a three to four drive from anywhere in southern California and creates a beautiful background for your next memorable vacation.

California Central Coast Day Trip ideas