A Day Trip to Santa Ynez Valley (from Los Angeles) | A Detailed Itinerary
The Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, on the central coast of California, which makes it a perfect day trip destination for travelers looking to explore a new and different area outside of Los Angeles! This area has recently become one of my favorite places to visit when I want a break from the vibe of Southern California and the hustle and bustle of LA.
This quaint agricultural area is made up of six main towns: Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Buelton, Ballard, and Los Alamos. Each have their own atmosphere and they all have a ton of attractions to check out! You could easily spend a long weekend here — and I would recommend it just to stay at the lovely Skyview Los Alamos — but for the purpose of this blog post I am going to be sharing my recommendation for a day trip itinerary just to give you a quick feel for the region… a wine tasting, if you will :)
A DAY TRIP ITINERARY: FROM LOS ANGELES TO SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
Before we begin with the itinerary, a few notes to keep in mind in advance:
You will want to make a reservation for dinner at S.Y. Kitchen a few days in advance, so be sure to book that when you have your date picked out — you can make a reservation here.
I would recommend you plan your trip for a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to ensure that these locations are open (we did this day trip on a Thursday which was perfect to avoid the large weekend crowds).
Let’s get started!
~9:30-10:00 AM | DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES
Depending on what part of Los Angeles you are starting from, your departure time can make all the difference. Especially if you are going to be traveling on a week day when there is rush hour traffic. You will want to plan your trip accordingly so that you arrive to Cold Spring Tavern around opening time (11:30am) to get in before the big lunch crowd and make the most of your time in the Santa Ynez Valley. I would recommend checking the ETA the day before to guess when will be the best time to leave. It took us about 1.5 hours traveling from the San Fernando Valley.
You are going to be traveling north on the 101 freeway past Ventura, Montecito, and Santa Barbara. So enjoy the picturesque ocean views and historic El Camino Real route as you make your way up the coast. After you pass Santa Barbara you will be taking exit 101B to take CA-154 west.
~11:30AM | LUNCH AT COLD SPRING TAVERN
The first stop of the day is the iconic former stagecoach stop dating back to the 1860s, Cold Spring Tavern. In my opinion this is a must stop on your way to the Santa Ynez Valley!
Cold Spring Tavern
5995 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Mon-Wed: Closed / Thurs: 11:30am-3:30pm / Fri-Sat: 11:30am-8pm / Sun: 11:30am-5pm
This historic spot has the best old western atmosphere and makes for a delicious casual lunch stop. They serve all kinds of American fare, but I would highly recommend trying their infamous Cold Spring Chili or the Original Cold Spring Tri-Tip Sandwich. Enjoy the antique-filled interior of this western tavern or the fresh air of outdoor seating in this mountainside rest stop. Either way, be sure to explore around the property before you head out to see all the historical details of this place!
~1PM | SOLVANG
Your next stop is the city of Solvang, “The Danish Capital of America.” Here you will find a small touristy village known for its Danish-style architecture and a plethora of great shops, galleries, restaurants, and wineries. You can put Mortensen’s Danish Bakery into your GPS to help lead you to the middle of town and free street parking.
Mortensen’s Danish Bakery
1588 Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Be sure to stop into Moretensen’s bakery for an after-lunch sweet treat. They are known for their authentic Danish pastries and they have the most delicious butter cookies, bear claws, and cinnamon rolls. You really can’t go wrong with anything they make! Take your pastry to go as you stroll around the city blocks window shopping and taking in the old-world European architecture.
~ 2PM | LOS OLIVOS
There is a ton to see in Solvang, but don’t wander too long as you need to get a move on to the next stop…Los Olivos! You are going to backtrack back to the 154 (San Marcos Pass) and head north west until you reach the city of Los Olivos.
The first stop is Clairmont Farms, a family owned lavender Farm! This organic farm is a beautiful place to explore — wander through the lavender fields, rest in their charming garden area, and be sure to check out the shop filled with every lavender based personal care products you can imagine — essential oils, candles, hand sanitizer, honey… even dog shampoo! The owners are so friendly and would love to answer any questions you have so be sure to ask anything you have ever wanted to know about lavender.
Clairmont Farms
2480 Roblar Avenue Los Olivos, CA 93441
Thurs-Sun: 11am-5pm
Once you have had your fill of lavender, make your way to the Los Olivos town center. You can park anywhere by the Los Olivos General Store and feel free to wander around this charming city center. There is a great art gallery called Gallery Los Olivos which makes for a nice afternoon meander. But the main attraction for the afternoon is a wine tasting!
You will see just about a million wineries and tasting rooms available to you in this small town, so make some notes of the ones you want to check out for the next time you’re in town. But for now, make your way down Grand Avenue to the end of the main stretch to Saarloos + Sons.
Saarloos + Sons
2971 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Mon-Sun: 11am-5pm
This family owned winery serves a delicious wine tasting and their tasting room has such a beautiful design style and feel. They sell some really unique candles made from old wine bottles that I thought were so cool!
I love the family aspect of their company, you can find it incorporated in their wine stories, branding, and even their mission statement: “We live to honor those that have come before us, and to prepare the way for those yet to come.” — what could be better than that?
Another unique aspect of this winery is that they offer a cupcake pairing that goes with their wine tasting that you can purchase separately if you need an afternoon pick-me-up (or a non-alcoholic option!). Everything here feels very unique and there is some great outdoor seating to sit in the sunshine while enjoying your wine tasting at your own speed.
~5PM | LOS ALAMOS
After your wine tasting, have your designated driver head onto the next stop on the trip. Continue up the 154 back onto the 101 until you reach the small town of Los Alamos. While Los Olivos has a more touristy-winery filled small town feel, Los Alamos has a much more old western local small town feel.
Probably the most notable attraction in Los Alamos is our next stop, The 1880 Union Saloon.
1880 Union Hotel
362 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
Mon-Fri: 3pm-11pm / Sat & Sun: 10am-11pm
This historic stagecoach stop from the nineteenth century has been restored to its original condition and is open to the public as a bar and restaurant as well as a hotel and event space. Stop in for a pint before dinner and to gawk at the amazing antique interior furnishings!
Your last stop in Los Alamos is Bodega Los Alamos, a cute garden and shop at the end of the Main Street block. If you need another libation, feel free to stop into the chill ambiance of their open air wine & beer garden. Or shop around their beautifully curated store or greenhouse for food and home good essentials.
Bodega Los Alamos
273 Bell St, Los Alamos, CA 93440
Thurs-Sun: 12-8pm
~ 6:30PM | DINNER AT S.Y. KITCHEN (SANTA YNEZ)
And the final stop on the trip is to the lovely S.Y. Kitchen! Located back in the town of Santa Ynez, this quaint Italian restaurant is the perfect finishing touch to a beautiful day in the Santa Ynez valley.
S.Y. Kitchen
1110 Faraday St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Mon-Thurs 4:30-9pm / Fri-Sat 11:30am-2pm & 4:30-9:30pm / Sun 11:30am-2pm & 4:30-9pm
I love the cozy atmosphere of this restaurant and the service is top notch! You are going to want to start off your meal with the Bob’s Well Bread to try some of the delish bread that is made locally at Bob’s Well Bread Bakery in Los Alamos (we didn’t have time to stop there today, so I love that you can sample their bread at S.Y. Kitchen!). Some of my other favorites are the Wagyu Meatballs, Burrata & Roasted Cauliflower, and the Margherita Wood Fired Pizza. And because what is a great dinner without a sweet treat, I would highly recommend trying the Pistachio Creme Brûlée, it is phenomenal!
~ 8 PM | DRIVE BACK TO LOS ANGELES
And with that, you are headed back on the 154 towards Los Angeles. If you timed it correctly, you may be headed home during golden hour, so look out for the most beautiful sunset behind you as you pass the stunning Cachuma Lake.
Safe travels & I hope this itinerary gives you a great sample of all that the Santa Ynez Valley has to offer. If you do this trip, let me know what your favorite part was! Bon voyage!
xo Rachael
