The Santa Ynez Valley is one of our favorite places. If you've never been, here are the wineries, restaurants, and random attractions we recommend:
WINERIES
Along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail:
Foxen Vineyard + Winery
try the Cab Franc!
7600 Foxen Canyon Road
Presqu'ile Vineyard + Winery
clean and modern, beautiful setting
5391 Presquile Drive
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
some of our favorite wines in the Valley
5230 Tepusquet Road
Demetria Estate Winery
appointment only
6701 Foxen Canyon Road
Rancho Sisquoc
6600 Foxen Canyon Road
Tres Hermanas Vineyard + Winery
9660 Foxen Canyon Road
We recommend getting a group together and hiring a driver. Or visit the tasting rooms in Los Olivos and avoid the driving thing altogether.
SOLVANG
Solvang is a weird little Danish Disneyland. With lots and lots of pastries. It is also home to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which Adrienne dragged Chris to on one occasion. Go there if you enjoy looking at books in glass cases. Otherwise, get out of Solvang and go wine tasting (see Wineries). There is little-to-no night life, so plan to eat dinner early if you're going to be in town on Friday or Sunday evening. Go to Paula's Pancake House for breakfast, Bacon & Brine for excellent pork sandwiches, and Mad & Vin at the Landsby for a nice dinner.
BUELLTON
Whenever we stay in Buellton, we spend most of our time out wine tasting or visiting the other towns that are only 10-15 minutes away. No offense to Buellton, but besides the windmill-flaunting Days Inn and the Hitching Post restaurant (both from Sideways) there's not a whole lot to it. If you're not into wine, kill some time driving to Ostrichland USA, or see if you can convince a desperate real estate agent to take you to Neverland Ranch, which is currently on sale for $100 million.
LOS ALAMOS
Adrienne LOVES Los Alamos. With a population size of just under 2,000, it's the biggest little town you've never heard of. Come for the antique stores and faux Wild West finery, stay for the random, 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon'-style Hollywood connections. Among it's many attractions: the Union Hotel, built in 1880, where Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney filmed part of their Say, Say, Say music video. Visit the Union's saloon late-night for pool and shuffle board. There's also Casa Dumetz, a tasting room run by Emilio Estevez's girlfriend. Bob's Bakery is great for bread, bagels, and the like. You can also try Plenty for lunch and Pico for dinner. The weekend of our wedding, Los Alamos is celebrating Old Days, where everyone gets together to rope cattle and put on an Americana-inspired parade and classic car show. Don't worry about finding anything; everything in Los Alamos is on Bell Street.