Best Itinerary for a Weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley

Today I want to bring you my guide to spending a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley. This part of Santa Barbara County is a great place to go wine tasting, explore famous towns like Solvang, and soak up the scenery. If you want to get away from it all and experience a relaxed pace of life in a beautiful part of California, read on for my itinerary. I’ve included a map, too.

Weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley

A lot of people know the Santa Ynez Valley from the movie Sideways. This quirky film about two friends who travel to wine country on a guys’ getaway was a sleeper hit in 2004. Towns like Buellton, Solvang, and Los Olivos featured in the movie, and decades later people still visit to follow in the footsteps of Miles and Jack (I’ve even published a guide to it).

But there’s a lot more to the Santa Ynez Valley than just the places that featured in the movie. From beautiful hotels to world-class wineries, delicious restaurants, and great shopping, this place is worth a special trip.

I should know. I’ve been coming here for years, and on each trip I discover more to love about it. Whether I stay a night for a quick escape, visit on a day trip from Santa Barbara, or stop here on a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, this part of Southern California never disappoints.

Hotel in Santa Ynez

On this trip I’m spending a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley with my other half and his parents. We’ve booked rooms at The Genevieve, a boutique hotel in the town of Santa Ynez. Built in the Victorian style, it has loads of charm and beautiful gardens with outdoor fire pits for cozy evenings.

The Genevieve also has 20 individually-styled rooms, an indulgent spa, an outdoor hot tub, and a whiskey library that makes me want to curl up with a good book on a rainy day. In addition to a complimentary breakfast each morning, the hotel offers guests a daily wine happy hour and late night tea and cookies.

As if that’s not enough of a reason to stay here, the restaurant serves some of the best food in the area. We had a delicious brunch on the terrace at The Victor when we spent 2 days in Santa Barbara, and this time we’re looking forward to more. If you want to follow in our footsteps, you can book your room here.

Friday

After checking into the hotel at 5pm, we start our itinerary for a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley with pre-dinner cocktails. We walk through the garden at The Genevieve to get to The Victor, and we settle in at a low table by the big outdoor fireplace.

There are plenty of specials on the happy hour menu, and soon we’re tucking into everything from elderflower gin and tonics to local Sauvignon Blanc.

We enjoy our drinks with light-as-air grilled olive bread and unctuous melty brie with local honey and almonds. The food is every bit as delicious as we remember, and it sets the bar high for our weekend.

Dinner in Buellton

From happy hour we drive over to the nearby town of Buellton for dinner. We’re eating at the Hitching Post II, a famous local steakhouse that featured in the movie Sideways. Miles runs into Maya here in the movie, and the restaurant has been popular with visitors retracing his steps ever since.

We tuck into everything from the famous grilled artichokes to swordfish and filet mignon with big baked potatoes. The steaks are cooked perfectly, and the food goes down a treat in the rustic dining room.

I’d been here once before, but we read mixed reviews before we came this time. Thankfully our experience is a positive one, from the food to the restaurant’s signature wine and friendly service.

Saturday

The next morning our weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley continues with a big day of sightseeing. We fortify ourselves with heaping plates of pancakes and Italian eggs Benedict at The Genevieve, then set off to see some of the most famous places in the area.

Los Olivos

We start our day in Los Olivos. This town dates back to the 1860s, when the stagecoach route came through and put it on the map.

It’s one of our favorite places in the Santa Ynez Valley, not least because it’s dotted with everything from cute boutiques to tasting rooms, historic shopfronts, and Victorian houses. Add to that a country chic atmosphere, and there’s a lot to love about this place.

We walk up and down Grand Ave, the main street in town. Along with the streets around it, this road is home to more than 30 tasting rooms in a 5-block area. Our favorite is Taste of Santa Rita Hills. We stop to try local wines here nearly every time we visit.

It’s a bit early for a tasting today, so we satisfy ourselves with popping into cute gift shops like Los Olivos General Store and checking out Fess Parker Wine Country Inn and its sweet restaurant, Nella.

After we’ve gotten our fill of browsing in the shops and peering into the outdoor courtyards of the tasting rooms along the road, we settle in for lunch at Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe. Like the Hitching Post II, this place featured in Sideways. It’s where the famous scene in which Miles disparages Merlot was filmed.

Inside the the restaurant there’s an impressive wall of wine, not to mention a big bar and an area with bottles for sale. We sit outside, where we tuck into some of the biggest salads I’ve seen in a while. I’ve had lunch here with the owner before, and the food is even better than I remember. The service is warm and attentive, too.

Santa Ynez

After lunch we leave Los Olivos and continue our weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley by heading back to The Genevieve to explore the area around the hotel. It’s right on the main street in Santa Ynez, and we’re looking forward to doing some more browsing and exploring.

Santa Ynez is straight out of the Old West, but its 19th-century facades belie a sophistication that becomes evident as soon as we step inside the shops and restaurants along Sagunto St.

While there are plenty of saloons, stagecoaches, and horseshoes around, there are also boutiques like Santa Ynez General, where we’re told the owner used to work for Ralph Lauren in New York (and the selection of stylish clothing and cowboy boots shows it).

We love the mix of old and new, Western and mainstream here. From the cute clothing at Heaven Scent to the old farming equipment outside the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum and the tiny local library (it’s so small the librarian jokes that it’s more of a twig than a branch), we’re enamored.

We even stumble upon a pick-up party for the olive oil club at the Global Gardens farm shop.

And that’s to say nothing of the restaurants. We’ve enjoyed a number of meals at Ellie’s Tap & Vine (we love that the chef always comes out to talk with us). We also like the coffee at Pony Cocktails + Kitchen and the breakfasts at The Baker’s Table. And then there’s the famous Maverick Saloon, which is a late-night staple.

Wine Tasting

After exploring the town, our weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley continues as we make the quick drive to a winery called Brave & Maiden. A friend of ours is a member of the wine club here, and he’s graciously treated us to a tasting.

We’re impressed from the start. The tasting room is bright and airy, with high ceilings and a big outdoor courtyard next to the vines. Someone with a seriously good sense of style has decorated the place, and I want to stay forever as soon as I walk in.

The wines further convince me. We sit down with a charismatic host who walks us through the tasting notes as he entertains us with stories of his life. We sip everything from a rose to a Merlot and a Syrah, and we’re all impressed by how good they are (and how refreshing their price points are compared to places like Napa).

Dinner

After the wine tasting we freshen up at The Genevieve before heading back to Los Olivos for dinner. We start at the atmospheric bar at the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, a luxurious hotel and historical landmark that was built in the 19th century as a stagecoach stop.

The bar has a stylish feel even while it retains its authentic Old West vibe. Next to it is a coffee shop with original 1880s red velvet wallpaper and a secret hole in the floor where the bootlegger owner stored alcohol during Prohibition.

We tuck into a round of local wine and cocktails as we take in the cowboy hats and belt buckles buzzing around us.

From the bar we walk through a corridor lined with old photos to get to The Tavern for dinner. This ranch-inspired restaurant has an open kitchen and big windows looking out onto a garden with a tall water tower.

We’re seated in a cozy booth, and we order everything from tuna tartare to mouth-watering salads and a giant Wagyu bone-in tomahawk steak personally cooked by the chef. It’s a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds, and it all goes down a treat with a bottle of local wine from Star Lane.

Sunday

The next morning our itinerary for a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley continues with another big day of exploring the area. After a breakfast of omelets and French toast, we check out of The Genevieve and get going.

Los Padres National Forest

Our first stop is a drive in Los Padres National Forest. We head out along Figueroa Mountain Road, passing through beautiful scenery and local hiking trails as we start our ascent into the hills.

As we go we’re treated to increasingly spectacular views over the surrounding area. It’s beautiful here, and we make a mental note to bring our hiking boots next time we visit.

Solvang

Back in the valley, we drive over to Solvang. Founded in 1911, this Danish-inspired town is famous for its whimsical architecture, themed shops, windmills, and range of spots to eat and drink. It’s one of the most famous places in the Santa Ynez Valley, and people come from all over to immerse themselves in this little slice of Americanized Scandinavia.

We’re no exception. We walk around the main streets, soaking up the windmills and window shopping at the souvenir shops. Our mouths water as we pass bakery after bakery, and we smile as we see a horse-drawn trolley roll past.

At the suggestion of a Danish friend, we stop for pastries at the Danish Mill Bakery. I order a Napoleon’s Hat, a shortcrust pastry filled with marzipan and dipped in chocolate. It’s a fun taste of Denmark, and a sweet way to experience Solvang.

Lunch in Los Olivos

Leaving all things Danish behind, we drive back to Los Olivos for lunch. We sit outside at Panino, a casual order-at-the-counter place we’ve enjoyed on previous trips. This visit is no exception, and our focaccia sandwiches with roasted red peppers, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes go down a treat as we watch the world go by.

Wine Tasting

After lunch our itinerary for a weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley continues with some wine tasting. We’ve been to Foxen’s little roadside “Shack” that featured in Sideways on previous trips, and we’ve booked ourselves a Sunday afternoon tasting for a trip down memory lane.

We sit outside at a big barrel that’s been turned into a table, and soak up the sunshine. Soon we’re sipping everything from Chardonnay to Syrah and Cab Franc next to the rustic wooden tasting room. Our host is incredibly friendly and informative, and it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Santa Barbara wine country.

Los Alamos

From Foxen we drive over to Los Alamos. This town was founded in 1876 when the stagecoach line was rerouted through the area. It’s come highly recommended by locals, and we’re excited to see what it has in store for us.

When we arrive we discover Bell St, which is full of historic facades. Behind them we find antiques shops, stylish restaurants, cool bars, and hipster motels. We pop into places like Pico, which is housed in a former general store, and press our noses to the glass at Bell’s, a French bistro in an old farm building.

Farther down Bell St we come across the wooden facade of an Old West outpost called the 1880 Union Hotel. Built by Wells Fargo in the late 19th century as stagecoach station, it’s now a private events venue. The historic saloon inside is frozen in time, and we can’t help peering through the window to get a better look.

We later learn that Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney filmed the video for their song “Say Say Say” here. Jon Bon Jovi set his music video for “Bang a Drum” with Chris Ladeaux on the property as well. Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson have offered wine tastings here, too.

Next door we find another cool historic space called The Maker’s Son. It’s right by the beautiful Victorian Mansion B&B. Across the street we discover a big outdoor garden at Bodega and the rustic-chic Alamo Motel.

Weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley

It’s hard to tear ourselves away, but we have a long drive ahead of us. We leave Los Alamos having had an amazing send-off from our weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley. We can’t wait to see what we discover on our next trip to the area. I hope this blog post has inspired you to visit, too.

Santa Ynez Valley Itinerary Map

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