kybourbon

Ruby - Many of the places in Central Coast are in towns such as Solvang, Buelton, Los Olivos. These towns are full of tasting rooms that are tasting rooms/gift shop/restaurant combos. I think Solvang (Dutch facades) is the most geared toward children although somewhat tacky. Many of the gift shops will have things that appeal to children and will have nothing to do with wine.

In Buelton, there is an ostrich farm near the Hitching Post (from the movie Sideways fame). Your daughter will probably enjoy that. There are also many horse farms in the area and some offer riding.

I had lunch at Los Olivos Cafe(also in Sideways)and there were several children eating there. You can "taste" while having lunch. They have a bar and wine shop area and also have dining tables inside and out. Portions are huge and the food was very good.

A much more casual option is the Los Olivos Grocery at the edge of town. I'm not sure you can taste there or if they just sell by the bottle. You walk to the back to order at the deli and then go back out front to the tables and they will bring your food out. It's a gourmet deli/grocery, but they will have things a 4 year old would enjoy if she is a picky eater.

The Central Coast vineyards in the countryside are geared more towards tasting only and their gift shops contain mostly wine related items.

I suggest you to stick to the tasting rooms in the towns which will take less time. Los Olivos probably has 20 tasting rooms in a 2 block area.

SAnParis

I don't mean to stereotype, but typically on these threads where children are in question the 'anti-children brigade' is oft-times led by people who don't even have children. In which case, I would tend to value your opinion to a somewhat lessor degree than someone who is a parent. It would be similar to me commenting in the negative on something such as Scotch. I don't care for it, don't know a lot about it & will stick w/bourbon having been unduly influenced while residing in Louisville Ky. Wouldn't you care to hear from a vastly experienced Scotch drinker, than me ?

NewbE

Funny, the so-called "anti-kid brigade" in this thread seems to be composed mostly of grandparents. They seem convinced that it's a generational issue, as in "apres moi, le deluge."

steviegene

SanParis,

Why would someone's opinion not matter if they dont have kids?
If there is a screaming child running through a wine tasting room - and a person has a problem with that - would it matter whether or not they have kids?
Dont think so.

beachbum

You've got it backwards, SAnParis, at least with this issue. Parents are much more likely to be biased in their opinion on the question posed in this thread. So, if you're going to discount anyone's opinions, it should be those of the parents.

GoTravel

<""For those who are constantly having ruined vacations and dinners because of the mere presence of the child, I think there are deeper issues"">

Who said they were constantly having ruined vacations and dinners because of children?

When I go on an adult vacation, I don't want to see or hear kids.

When I go to Disney, I know kids will be everywhere and that is part of the fun.

steviegene

Agreed GoTravel....
for example, when I go out to a fancy dinner to be with my husband- I dont want to hear crying babies.
(note to parents if a restaruant doesnt have a kids menu - its not "family-friendly").

kybourbon

I think you should discount the opinions of people that haven't actually been to the Central Coast wineries and vineyards. Several people keep mentioning Napa and it's nothing like Napa.

I'm a parent of a 21 year old if that counts for anything.

Meant to add that Hitching Post Restaurant has wine tasting with dinner - 6 wines for $8 AND a kid's menu.
http://www.hitchingpost2.com/restaurant.html

MikeT

"I don't mean to stereotype, but typically on these threads where children are in question the 'anti-children brigade' is oft-times led by people who don't even have children. In which case, I would tend to value your opinion to a somewhat lessor degree than someone who is a parent."

That's completely illogical. If the issue is whether children are appropriate in a setting, arguably it is parents who lack the necessary perspective to analyze the problem since it is parents, after all, who are creating the alleged problem.

starrsville

kybourbon, I think some of the conversation is not Central Coast winery specific. It's been an interesting conversation, that's for sure!

mah1980

I agree, I think the opinions of those that DON'T have kids should carry more weight in this type of debate. A lot of times in these discussions, it seems that parents cannot distinguish between issues with children in non-child friendly places and THEIR children in particular, and they get defensive because they feel their children are being attacked.

And this is not a generational, "remember the good old days" type of debate where elderly people are recalling a kinder, gentler era. I am in my late 20's. I think it's out of control the way some parents are in bringing their kids to fancy restaurants, etc....

And inevitably, when they realize that they can't win on the merits, the debate goes towards "well, if you don't have kids, your opinion doesn't matter." That is a pretty lame approach to logic. I hope that whoever said that isn't a lawyer or in any other type of profession where logic and sound arguments matter!

starrsville

Well said, MikeT.

MikeT

I realize these are difficult disagreements because they are about competing self-interests and different senses of entitlement.

This weekend, interesting, I was at some wineries and the only child I saw was sitting outside in a stroller while his parents and grandparents had a bottle of wine.

I then went to a restaurant with friends who often complain about children in restaurants. The place was full of kids. But as my friends said, "It's 5:30 in the evening, we don't have any room to complain about kids being here since that's exactly when they should be in a restaurant like this."

IOW, it's about understanding both your own self-interest and the interests of others. I don't talk during a symphony concert because it will bother others. It doesn't bother me if I talk, but it's about being considerate of others.

beachbum2

OK, I said I wouldn't post again, but I feel this has gotten way out of control from the OP. The talk of these parents being the special or me generation or the kids being that is rediculous. That generation is in high school and college now. I'm in my late 30's and my husband in his 40's.....far from the Me or special generation and our kids are also too young to be part of it(thank God). The key to this is WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL COAST.....not Napa and I can also tell you the parents on this post are not the ones you are talking about because those people wouldn't care a lick about what you think and don't which is why their kids run wild in places that are not appropriate. As I said, our kids have been to MANY wineries with us, but one or 2 in a day...not a tour and sometimes one of us is outside with them. Yes, our kids go to very nice restaurants, but most either have high chairs and/or kids menus and we go early. Yes, if one of our kids is being a monster, one or all of us are out of there ASAP. I Do respect others because at times, We are out without the kids and as many post have said "You don't want to go where there are screaming children" As a parent of 3 kids, when I escape, I don't want to be around little monsters either, but if parents have their kids in a more adult place...I hope they are respectful of others too. This is not an all the time occurance for our kids either, but there are times they are in a more adult place. I wish I was part of the me/special generation, then I would have parents still alive and willing to take my little ones so there would be even less occurance. Please just don't make rediculous assumptions about who these parents are...I wouldn't dare take my kids on a wine tour vacation through Napa or Sonoma. That's why I haven't been there in 9 years. If a place is family friendly, we are there, if not ...we respect that too. We have always felt welcome in Central and South Coast wineries with the kids, but I'm not going to subject the kids to a tour and tastings of multiple places...Noone would enjoy it.

highflyer

MOVE TO THE LOUNGE

rubyselbow

Kybourbon, thank you for all the info! Sounds like a good idea.

Beachbum, I think a lot of us can relate and you explained the situation well.

Mah and Newbe, I take your opinions with a grain of salt. If you would've read my original question and my follow up clarification, you would know that it is not like the wineries were the destination of our vacation. We are merely driving THROUGH. And now that I know that there are tasting shops in town I don't even have to go to the winery. Not running into snobs like you is very appealing also.

Wednesday

ok, dumb question...I have never been to a real winery....but what is the difference between going to a winery specifically for the purpose of drinking wine, or touring the Budweiser factory, or going to a bar or a casino ?...just because it has a garden and is pretty, they still serve alcohol...heck, they make the alcohol....is is because wine is thought of as more "elegant" than beer ? You wouldn't take them to a bar or casino....I am just asking....

starrsville

It's not a dumb question, Wednesday.

steviegene

rubyselbow -- thats a pretty nasty comment directed at people who are sharing their opinions. Some people might have a few slurs to throw at those who bring children to inappropiate places.

NewbE

I am now in the category of No Good Deed Goes Upunished. Rubyselbow, if you learned how to READ, you would see I've been encouraging you to bring your kids to wineries. I am on your side, or I was until I realized not even you appreciate it. You owe me an apology.