We spent Steve’s 70th Birthday weekend with our family in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Today I am sharing Five Things I Love About the Santa Ynez Wine Country. As always I am joining my pals Mary Ann and Annie for our Sunday favorites. Happy Sunday!
FAVORITE WINERIES
Although there are far to many to mention. I will name a few new and a few past favorites.
PRESQUILE WINERY
Presquile is not technically in the Santa Ynez Valley (I believe the Santa Maria Valley?) but a great stop if you are headed in that direction. We all met for lunch and a little wine tasting on our way down. I highly recommend the entire experience. The wine is wonderful and the food spot on. The gang…
The fabulous lunch
There are so many wonderful wineries to visit in the area. They are known for their Pinot Noir’s and Chardonnays but there are many other choices now as well. Downtown Los Olivos is home to many tasting rooms, a few of our favorites are Tensley, Holis Bolis, Bien Nacido and more. You might enjoy this list from Food and Wine, or this list from Decanter magazine., or this one from Conde Naste Traveler. We love Foxen a bit out of the way but worth the visit. Brave and Maiden estate ,designed by the wonderful Howard Backen, is one of the most architecturally interesting in the area. Babcock, Peake, Melville, and many others are worth a visit as well as the Alma Rosa tasting room in downtown Solvang. We try and visit one or two wineries whenever we are in the area.
WHERE WE STAYED
We stayed one night at Hotel Ynez where we have stayed once before, and one night at The Landsby in Solvang (where we also have stayed before). You can read my post about the Landsby here. I like both properties. We were to stay two nights at Hotel Ynez (I requested two nights on my original reservation) They confirmed two nights several months ago. Somehow (note to self always look at the final confirmation) they only ended up reserving one night. I did not look at the final confirmation (my fault). I will say they did not handle it very professionally. We ended up having to return to the hotel (gather up all of our stuff) and move to the Landsby. That being said both properties are nice for different reasons. The Hotel Ynez is in the country and The Landsby is in downtown Solvang (which is enjoying a bit of a “resurgence”.by the way). The Hotel Ynez is a converted 50’s motel where the central parking area has been converted into a lovely garden area with fire pits. Great for cooking s’mores provided by Auntie Lauren.
HOTEL YNEZ
THE LANDSBY
WHERE WE ATE
Our favorite restaurants in the area are SY Kitchen for dinner and Industrial Eats and Bob’s Well Bread for lunch. SY kitchen is located in the charming town of Santa Ynez Industrial area in Buellton. SY Kitchen They feature fresh locally sourced food, and have great indoor and outdoor seating. Make reservations it is very popular.
SY KITCHEN
INDUSTRIAL EATS
Industrial Eats is located in a commercial area in Buellton. The menu is diverse and fabulous. It is very casual. You order at the counter and eat family style. It is always packed. I recommend arriving early. I failed to take any pictures
BOB’S WELL BREAD
WHERE TO SHOP
Downtown Los Olivos is home to several charming shops including Avec Mois Decor (Summer hat shopping below), the Fabric Merchant, Wendy Foster, Los Olivos General Store, Wildflower Women and more. Most are on Grand Avenue but Wendy Foster and a few others are tucked into the side streets. Santa Ynez is home to some interesting boutiques, as well as the tiny berg of Los Alamos. Solvang though still filled with many touristy shops, now has a few fun boutiques as well.
Los Olivos is now home to the beautifully restored Matteis Tavern an Auberge property. We have not checked it out yet but will sometime when we are not traveling with a child. Its very pricey but we will pop in next time we are in the area.
WHAT TO WEAR
I love these pants from Zara (they are on order), the gauze shirt and hat are on sale at J Crew factory, the korkease sandals are the most comfortable that I own, and I love the straw bag from Etsy.
SHOP THE POST
Thank you for reading Five Things I Love About the Santa Ynez Wine Country. You can find all of my previous Sunday Favorites right here. Now let’s pop over and visit Annie and Mary Ann for their favorites.
MOST LOVELY THINGS
CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
Cindy! I’ve never been to this wine region, but now I have to go. Summer hat shopping is the cutest thing ever! xo
Hi Juliet
I think you would enjoy it! Summer is a kick!
I’m having such fun! I ordered the beautiful Farm Rio dress in your wedding outfits post, found the bag on Poshmark and today I ordered the Zara Patchwork pants from this post and found the shirt on EBay (JCrew was back ordered till September!). Now I’m going through my closet and selling some things I love from Sundance but which are not feeling quite age-appropriate anymore. Seems I’ve always been trying to “grow into” the age I am! Love your many online presences! Thank you for shopping for me!
Hi Pamela
I am so happy to hear that. You know I am a big eBay fan. I can see why those shirts sold out. Many of you have purchased them because they are such a great buy. I have ordered those pants from Zara and hope they are here by next week for my colorful post!
Your daughter (?) is wearing an adorable green and white striped dress in the photo. Would I be able to ask where she got it?
I enjoyed your post and am saving your recommendations for a future trip. I would also love to hear about some of the wineries in your area sometime.
I always enjoy your posts! Thank you!
Hi Peggy
I just heard from my daughter and here is the link to the dress. I am working on an ebook for the Paso Robles area. I hope to have it ready soon.
https://rstyle.me/+JwyQHO0hjHAJFNFyXUT7lA
Please tell your daughter thank you for the link to the dress, and I will be looking forward to your Pasa Robles ebook!
Of course Peggy!!
What a fun trip with family. That will always be a great memory for you all. Steve doesn’t look 70. It must be that great California living. 😎❤️
Karen B.
Hi Karen
I will tell him you will make his day!!
Your trip sounds just amazing, lots to see and do! Loved seeing your family pics – you guys know how to celebrate a birthday! Love the outfit, I have a couple of the gauze shirts that I absolutely love. Have a great week!
Hi Barb
Those gauze shirts are amazing! Such a great buy and wonderful quality!
Great family photo. Looks like everyone had a great time for Steve’s birthday. Summer is always so cute! Love the Zara pants.
Hi Nancy
I am hoping to have those Zara pants by next week for my post with Jennifer!
Your trip looks like such fun. I live in SLO county too and we really are lucky to have so many great staycaton options close by. Speaking of wine country, I work at a historic adobe in SLO that was the home of the first commercial winemaker in our county, the Dalliedt Adobe. Well worth a drive some weekend when north county is hot and you want to cool off!
My mother lived in Orcutt in the 1920s. I remember as a child driving through that beautiful area when we would visit her aunt who lived there until the 1960s. I remember the area as completely remote. It’s no longer like that but still a peaceful drive from LA.
This post was so helpful and informative! It will help us with our trip planning. Loved the family photo too!
Thank you for another great post, and for a terrific wine tasting outfit. You’ve inspired me to shop for a pair of comfortable print pants. Your wine tasting outfit would look right at home here at a Manhattan sidewalk restaurant.
Have a great holiday.
As some one who has lived in Santa Barbara County for over 50 years, I’m constantly taken aback by travel reviews and tips for our area: however, your blog has hit all the great spots, and you really did a good job of covering so many of the areas. I’m sorry you had the bad experience at the hotel, but the Landsby is a wonderful place in Solvang, which as you wrote, is stepping up as a great restaurant and wine tasting spot. Thank you.
Wonderful post Cindy! You’d make a great tour guide!
Cindy! You live in such a beautiful area! What a fun and memorable way to celebrate Steve’s birthday with your family!
I’m going to order those pants from Zara. They look like those that Linda Wright wears in this summer, but without spending $350!
xx
Hi Annie
They do look like Linda Wright’s pants maybe that is why I was drawn to them!
Hi Cindy,
So nice that you organized and created a special birthday celebration for Steve.
It looks like you had a memorable time with your lively family.
As usual precious Summer steals the show trying on her hat.
I hope Steve’s healing is doing well.,
What a wonderful trip, with that blue, blue sky. I can’t hear the word Solvang (or Buellton! Or Los Olivos!) without happily remembering the film Sideways, which I watch at least once a year. It never fails to make me laugh.
Cindy looks like a lot of fun. So nice you all got together for Steve. That’s the best kind of birthday. That Summer is such a little cutie. Isn’t it nice you are all close?
I am saving this as Max and I haven’t gotten down to all these towns.. I have Los Olives on my list and The Landsby too. Love that outfit! I have to check out J Crew factory for their gauze pieces for summer..
Happy Birthday to Steve! xo
What a fun trip for a birthday! Isn’t California just the greatest?
We are very lucky aren’t we Holly
Thank you for sharing your pictures of your beautiful family, Cindy! What a delightful Sunday morning read, way Up North in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula! XO
Hi Kathryn
I bet it is beautiful up there in Northern Michigan. I remember it from my youth
Cindy, happy Sunday! Love seeing your beautiful family! It sounds like a wonderful trip!
Hi Eliz
Thank you so much! Happy weekend to you!
Love reading about your travels. We love that area! Your post reminds me that we need to make time to get up there. It’s been several years, but we always enjoy a nice, weekend getaway to the area. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Hi Kimberlee
We love that area. It is very laid back and so close to us now.
You forgot J Woeste, the BEST garden stores – ever in Los Olivos. We went to the Margerum White M%5 release party in Los Olivos the same weekend you were there with family. It is truly a lovely area!
Hi Dianne
I have not been in there in recent years. I must go back and check it out. Thank you for reminding me!
Always enjoying reading your blog Cindy.
Loved seeing an updated photo of the whole family. Summer is such a cutie…still can’t believe she is 5 already. All of you look wonderful! Bet Steve is enjoying being in a walking boot now! Hope Steve had a wonderful 70th birthday celebration with the family.
Hi Laurie
As you know I have a great assistant!
Saving this post for future trips and secretly hoping I run into you when we do finally visit CA.
Hi Nancy
I sure hope so!!
Thank you for the travelog! Such great info! Those pants are perfect for you.
Summer’s dad is a tall one! Wonder if she will be tall like him? Happy Happy Memorial Day to you and yours!
Hi Gray
Now you know why Summer is so tall! Have a great weekend.
I’m so glad you got a photo of the whole darling family!!
The food has my mouth watering. Fun post! I’d love to go there
Thanks Mary Ann, Sometime when you are out here we should meet there!