We will be visiting our son (26) who lives in LA at the beginning of April. We are planning a weekend trip with him, heading north towards Santa Barbara area , maybe ojai. any suggestions as to where to stay (preferably under $200. per nite) or interesting outdoor activities? Also while scanning the other forums, saw info about the Santa Barbara wine trails...Any suggestions about that. Thanks Diane

I'm no help on lodging, but there are lots of websites that will give you information about wine tasting in and around Santa Barbara. I'd recommend going to wineries themselves (www.sbcountywines.com/wine-tasting-routes.html) rather than just the tasting rooms in Santa Barbara (www.urban wine trails.com), although that's an option. A lot of the wineries themselves will be north of Santa Barbara itself.

Thanks. I booked a place in solvang which looked cute. I'll go on the web site u recommended. Have u been to any of the wineries? Any one you can recommend?

Not margo, but have been to many of the wineries a number of times. One of my favorites although a bit out of the way is Rancho Sisquoc, you drive through beautiful pastoral countryside through a working ranch to reach their tasting room which is in a little red barnlike building.

Don't book anything in Solvang that's on the main drag..."MissionDrive" unless they'll guarantee you a quiet room in the back...weekend traffic going back and forth to the nearby casino is very annoying day and night.

Not familiar with the wine tasting rooms in Solvang as it's not my favorite place. But just up the road in Los Olivos, there are tasting rooms galore. My personal favorites are Coquelicot and Carhartt - both on Grand Ave in Los Olivos.

Also amazing is Stolpman Vineyards -
2434 Alamo Pintado Ave
Los Olivos

There is also great tasting at the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, but that is a longer drive to the west from Solvang. Here is the website for info in case you are interested:

http://www.lompoctrail.com/index.php...oc-wine-ghetto

Diane, I think you'll like Solvang. Be sure to try some aebleskivers - they're like tasty little donuts with jam. I also love the outdoor theater in Solvang (http://www.pcpa.org/about/page58/), if you are interested in that sort of thing.

As far as tasting rooms go, my favorites are probably Andrew Murray, Foxen, Rancho Sisquoc, and Riverbench.

If you'd like a delicious steak dinner right down the road from Solvang, I'd recommend the Hitching Post in Buellton. They also have a pretty good local wine list, and they make their own wines as well. Try the grilled artichokes!