Santa Barbara Winery Tour
Apr 19th, 2010, 12:57 PM
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If you happen to be a fan of the movie "Sideways" you'll want to visit Fess Parker Winery on Foxen Canyon Road. There are several wineries along that road including Foxen, Riverbench, Rancho Sisquoc, and Zaca Mesa. I usually go to a deli in Santa Ynez or Los Olivos for picnic foor when wine tasting.
In Santa Barbara, some of the places DW and I have enjoyed are The Palace Grill, Original Enterprise Fish Company, Wine Cask and Opal Restaurant and Bar.
Hotels -- Fess Parker's Doubletree across the street from the beach is great, but expensive. Country Inn and Suites has been reasonable and comfortable as was the Franciscan.
In Santa Barbara, some of the places DW and I have enjoyed are The Palace Grill, Original Enterprise Fish Company, Wine Cask and Opal Restaurant and Bar.
Hotels -- Fess Parker's Doubletree across the street from the beach is great, but expensive. Country Inn and Suites has been reasonable and comfortable as was the Franciscan.
Apr 23rd, 2010, 05:17 AM
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Santa Barbara is a wonderful city... hope you enjoy your visit! I like CA Darios for Italian, Reynaud's for breakfast with to die for chocolate croissants and Santa Barbara Shellfish Co out on the pier for a casual dinner. Also, the Santa Barbara Cheese Shop in the Paseo Nuevo Mall on Lower State makes for a great snack!
Hotels in SB are plentiful... what is your budget? I especially like the Inn of the Spanish Garden for its small hotel feeling, free off street parking and great location. It is four blocks from Stste, which means if you like to walk, you can get everywhere you need to go and its quiet and restful!
Fess Parkers is great! Totally different feeling, more like a resort with a big huge pool and that wonderful ocean view! Not a luxury hotel by any means but clean with big rooms with large patios! Lots of choices, all depends what you want!
Have you read hotel reviews on trip advisor? I think I may have written a little trip report here too... you can search and find lots of SB hotel info.
My favorite wineries in the area are Byron (in Los Olivos), Cambria, Foxen, Rancho Sisquoc,Riverbench and Gainey, Au Bon Climat and Sanford.
If you're planning to taste everyday you might want to try to get a room a bit further north... The Ballard House Inn, Fess Parkers Inn in Los Olivos, Hadsten House in Solvang or even the Chumash Casino... all of these would be more convenient for you than driving into SB each day.
Happy to answer specific questions...
Hotels in SB are plentiful... what is your budget? I especially like the Inn of the Spanish Garden for its small hotel feeling, free off street parking and great location. It is four blocks from Stste, which means if you like to walk, you can get everywhere you need to go and its quiet and restful!
Fess Parkers is great! Totally different feeling, more like a resort with a big huge pool and that wonderful ocean view! Not a luxury hotel by any means but clean with big rooms with large patios! Lots of choices, all depends what you want!
Have you read hotel reviews on trip advisor? I think I may have written a little trip report here too... you can search and find lots of SB hotel info.
My favorite wineries in the area are Byron (in Los Olivos), Cambria, Foxen, Rancho Sisquoc,Riverbench and Gainey, Au Bon Climat and Sanford.
If you're planning to taste everyday you might want to try to get a room a bit further north... The Ballard House Inn, Fess Parkers Inn in Los Olivos, Hadsten House in Solvang or even the Chumash Casino... all of these would be more convenient for you than driving into SB each day.
Happy to answer specific questions...
Apr 24th, 2010, 03:51 PM
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Are you familiar with the Santa Ynez Inn? We are coming from a conference in LA, have 3 nights. Considering one central location or two, any thoughts?
Love the beach, we will splurge, nothing crazy, but want something very nice.
Our favorite in Santa Monica is Shutters, small, beautiful great location. Would love the same, but with a Santa Barbara/wine country feel
Love the beach, we will splurge, nothing crazy, but want something very nice.
Our favorite in Santa Monica is Shutters, small, beautiful great location. Would love the same, but with a Santa Barbara/wine country feel
Apr 24th, 2010, 04:31 PM
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The Santa Ynez Inn is right across the parking lots from Grappolo.. one of the best Italian, if not THE best on the Central Coast. it would be a good location if your going to spend most of your time in the area wine tasting... much better than staying in SB and driving each day. However, know that Santa Ynez is a sleepy little town that rolls up at 5Pm except for a handful of restaurants and the cowboy bar.
There are some nice boutiques, a post office and a some places to eat... thats about it. If you want nightlife, you wont find it in Santa Ynez.. no beach either.
Are you then driving back to LA? Maybe spend two nights in Santa Ynez and just one in SB to enjoy the beach. We dont have anything like Shutters... unless you stay at the Four Seasons. I havent stayed there overnight but the property is gorgeous!
There are some nice boutiques, a post office and a some places to eat... thats about it. If you want nightlife, you wont find it in Santa Ynez.. no beach either.
Are you then driving back to LA? Maybe spend two nights in Santa Ynez and just one in SB to enjoy the beach. We dont have anything like Shutters... unless you stay at the Four Seasons. I havent stayed there overnight but the property is gorgeous!
Apr 24th, 2010, 05:44 PM
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We would like two nights in Wine country and one in Santa Barbara, before returming to LA. If Santa Ynez is too sleepy, what about Los Olivos, Buelton or Solvang? Something centrally located and we are open to suggestions.
Thanks soo much, glad to help on any travel you plan to the tri-state area!
Thanks soo much, glad to help on any travel you plan to the tri-state area!
Apr 24th, 2010, 09:49 PM
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I would sugggest staying in Solvang for two nights at either The Petersen Inn or The Hadsten House. PCPA Theatrefest is doing Curtains in June and West Side Story in July... fun musicals in the evenings and Solvang is great in the summer for window shopping at night... lots of white lights and not many people out on the streets... all very central to what you want to see. Do your wine tasting for a few days and then book either the Four Seasons, Fess Parkers or Inn of the Spanish Garden for one night in Santa Barbara on your way back to LA.
Picnics from El Rancho Market or the Los Olivos Market will make you smile. Los OLivos Market aslo has wonderful gelato!
I mentioned other things on your Sideways thread too... hope it helps!
Picnics from El Rancho Market or the Los Olivos Market will make you smile. Los OLivos Market aslo has wonderful gelato!
I mentioned other things on your Sideways thread too... hope it helps!
Apr 25th, 2010, 05:36 AM
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This is a wonderful area to visit and I love helping because if you can make the most of your time with the least driving... it really does make for a nicer stay. Make sure you get a map for both the Santa Maria Wine Trail and the Foxen Wine Trail. That will be a huge help!
Make sure you get a map for both the Santa Maria Wine Trail and the Foxen Wine Trail. That will be a huge help!
Apr 25th, 2010, 04:20 PM
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There is another alternative to going to wineries. You can also go to a traditional wine bar, sit down and have a flight of wines from different producers. We are the primary tasting room for Au Bon Climat, Margerum, and Arcadian in addition to hosting 25 other wineries. Check us out in Solvang next time you visit.
Print this comment and bring it with you and we will give you $7 off our best Grand Cru tasting.
http://www.tastesofthevalleys.com
Print this comment and bring it with you and we will give you $7 off our best Grand Cru tasting.
http://www.tastesofthevalleys.com
Apr 28th, 2010, 09:36 AM
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I would stay one night in Santa Barbara the Harborview Inn is really nice and right across the street from the ocean. A hidden gem is also the Franciscan Inn which is about a block from the beach and close to some good restaurants. The other two nights you might think about the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort just outside of Solvang. It is close to everything, they also have a private lake, horseback riding, two golf courses (one was featured in the movie Sideways). I think they even have wine tasting special packages. Have fun
