I've written before and thanks to so many people who have responded, my trip is getting finalized. Just a couple more things to firm up - We will leave Carlsbad on the morning of Jan. 10th and head to Santa Barbara. I've found a b&b place called a White Jasmine Inn that sounds quite nice and reasonable so thought we'd go there for 2 nights, then head to Solvang for 2 nights. My question is whether we should just sightsee in Santa Barbara and leave wine tour for Solvang or do a wine tour from Santa Barbara and then another one from Solvang. Have you any advice about this? Cloud CLimbers wine tours seems to tickle my fancy but maybe the weather would be too cool. Also, would love recommendations for restaurants around the areas. Thanks again, Californians!!

The wineries are much closer to Solvang, so unless you really want to burn an extra day wine tasting, I would just stay in SB and wait to wine taste in Sovang area.

Agree, the bulk of the best wineries are just a few miles from Solvang, while they are an hour's drive from Santa Barbara.

Restaurant suggestion
Enterprise Fish Company, Palace Grill and Cava Restaurant & Bar in Santa Barbara
Mirabelle Restaurant in Solvang
Out in the wine country, the Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe gets great reviews.

A few of my favorite wineries, both for the quality of the wines and the tasting room view/experience are Cottonwood Canyon, Kenneth Volk, Riverbench and Foxen.

A nice out of the way place to eat north of Solvang is Jocko's in Nipomo, try for an early dinnner, we have been for lunch and while it was very good and filling, they do not fire up the red oak barbecue until dinner.

Just spent 2 nights in Solvang in early August.

We stayed at The Hadsten House Inn for a mid-week rate of $109 ... really liked it there. http://www.hadstenhouse.com/

We had an excellent dinner at Root 246 in Solvang. It is celebrity chef Bradley Ogden's restaurant ... read: not cheap.

Oh, and ... the restaurant on site at The Hadsten House Inn is also very good we thought ... kinda dark in there but the food was good ... delicious spinach salad (get the side salad size ... it was huge).

Also there is an evening happy hour from 4 until 5 and a hot buffet breakfast .. all included in your rate.

OMG ... I just read your previous posts and see that you already ARE staying at Hadsten House!!! Enjoy.

Not really much to do up in Solvang unless you're casino-bound, so you'll have plenty of time for wine-touring around Los Olivos and Santa ynez.

I agree with others- save the wine tasting until you get to Solvang. It's a good drive from Santa Barbara to Solvang. I'll second the Palace Cafe in Santa Barbara and The Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant. Have fun!