Wine, Horses, and Everything Danish - 48 Hours in the Santa Ynez Valley
For some reason (aka: COVID, people losing their minds on planes, LAX in general), I’m pretty okay with staying on the ground at the moment. Mixed with the fact that Southern California has about a zillion pockets of heaven to explore that are each infinitely different than the last, Staycations are my new favorite pastime.
So pack up the family, call your girl crew, or head north for a solo me-time weekend, because the Santa Ynez Valley is next on the agenda.
A 3.5 hour drive north of Laguna, the SYV is home to six unique towns: Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and everyone’s favorite dash of Old World Denmark: the adorable Solvang.
Dubbed wine country for good reason, Santa Ynez Valley plays host to more than 100 wineries, chef-driven cuisine, festive events (Jazz & Olive Festival, anyone?), and a colorful mesh of Victorian-era / Old West / Mid Century backdrops.
I recently spent 48 hours exploring the Central Coast and it was just what I needed for a refresh... no airports involved.
DAY ONE
Make Yourself at Home
12pm: Check in to your suite at The Landsby, a boutique hotel right smack in the middle of Solvang. It’s the epitome of picture-perfect small town vibes (which makes sense because the name means “The Village” in Danish). The Landsby is thee place to stay and will be the first recommendation you’ll get when you tell people you’re headed to the SYV. The hotel structure itself, as well as each of their 51 rooms, is influenced by traditional Scandinavian design, featuring blonde woods, hand-crafted furnishings, and a courtyard with firepits you’ll happily find yourself cozied up at each night.
(Another good option is Hotel Ynez, a roadside boutique hotel built in 1952 that was completely renovated this year. It has everything you need for a quick trip including a rustic outdoor pavilion, fire pits, a hammock at every room, Linus bikes to trek into town, a delicious continental breakfast, and even EV charging.)
Lunch, Family Style
1pm: After dropping off your luggage in your room, head next door to peasants FEAST for lunch. Farm-to-table comfort food, it’s the perfect introduction to the Valley and feels like family, because it is run by a family. (Literally, their 13-year-old daughter, Reina, makes the ice cream!) Try the Copenhagen Caesar and the Solvang Hot Chicken Sandwich, and pair it with a glass of Grenache and you’re officially on your way to becoming a local in this town of just 6,000. (Fun fact: While it may be small, Solvang sees around 1.5 million tourists each year!)
Wine Time (& Bubbles)
3pm: Next, head to neighboring Los Olivos (about a 15 minute drive) for a tasting at Epiphany Wine Co and The Bubble Shack. Part of SYV’s well-respected Fess Parker Family Portfolio, the two share a garden courtyard and guests can choose between Epiphany’s Rhône-based varietals by the glass or flight, or The Bubble Shack’s Fesstivity sparkling wines. (My personal favorite was their Sibling Bubblery Sparkling Grenache, which I will be — quite hilariously, I might add — gifting to my brother this Holiday season.)
The downtown area of Los Olivos has become the central hub for Santa Ynez Valley’s winemakers, and you will love hopping from tasting room to tasting room to round out the afternoon.
Dinner, with a Side of Fancy
7pm: Once you’ve had your fill of wine, head back to The Landsby for your dinner reservation at The Landsby’s signature restaurant Mad & Vin. Sit inside the modern-with-a-dash-of-rustic dining room, cozy up at the bar, or enjoy the fresh Central Coast air on a patio seat facing the courtyard. Each dish is inspired by wine country cuisine and made with fresh and seasonal local ingredients. Cheddar Cheese Curds and the Pork Tomahawk are delicious choices and their craft cocktails are famous for a reason (hi, Blood Orange Sour, ILY!). When you’re good and full, say “Skål!” to your server and retreat to the firepit for the end of your night.
DAY TWO
Danish Pastries for Breakfast
8am: You’ve slept like a baby (was it all the drinks, or was it that heavenly king size bed). Either way, you are refreshed and hungry! Take a brisk morning walk to Solvang’s famous bakery, The Solvang Bakery, located under the iconic windmill. Prepare to take a million photos because everything is just so CUTE and absolutely authentic. A town staple for 30 years, the Bakery is known for its legit Scandinavian pastries — we’re talking almond butter rings, hand-iced short-dough cookies, and custom gingerbread houses. Did we mention you’re going to want to take pics?
Yeehaw, It’s Horse Country
11am: Head back through the Danish streets to The Landsby where you’ll change out of your cozy croissants-and-crumpets clothes and into some good ol’ horseback riding duds… because y'all, the Santa Ynez Valley is not just wine country — it’s also horse country! Vino Vaqueros offers a unique and unforgettable experience, taking you on a horseback ride through the gorgeous Estelle Ranch and Vineyards, followed by a picnic lunch and wine tasting with the Ranch’s very own selection of wines. It was definitely one of the highlights of the trip (and not just because I went all out on my horseback riding getup).
A Different Kind of Tasting
2pm: Because you can’t eat pastries and drink wine ALL vacation, stop by Global Gardens (located at the junction of Los Olivos and Solvang) for a history lesson on all things organic olive oil and natural fruit vinegars. Think wine tasting, but for the whole family. The kids will love getting to sample all of the different varieties at their Tasting Bar, while Theo, the lovely owner, gives you a rundown of the pairings and textures that will have your tastebuds doing a happy dance. A fixture in Los Olivos for 16 years, the Gardens are beautiful so be sure to roam around the 3-acre farm, check out their Farm Stand for home-grown oils and vinegars and organic snacks and beauty products, and definitely say hello to the farm’s 20-year-old cat, Zack, who will surely make his presence known and will demand at least a few cuddles.
Wine with a View
4pm: All that bread and olive oil, and surely you’re thirsty again. Pop into Beckmen Vineyards, just a short jaunt down the road. One of North America’s premier producers of Rhône varietal wines, it has been family owned and operated since its founding in 1994. They source their fruit from their own Beckmen Estate Vineyard, located in the Los Olivos District AVA, and from their certified Biodynamic Purisima Mountain Vineyard, located in the limestone laden hills of the Ballard Canyon AVA. You’ll love sipping wine on the deck with other passersby and will especially enjoy the view.
After a tasting, head back into the downtown area of Los Olivos to pop into whatever wineries you missed yesterday, or head back home for a quick cat nap before dinner.
Farm-to-Table Dinner
7pm: You can’t do the SYV without a visit to the Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe. A mainstay in town, it is famous for its Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and also its appearance in the film Sideways where Miles refuses to drink merlot (for all you foodie and movie buffs). Priding itself on being farm-to-table, they source their ingredients from their own farm, and have an impressive wine collection that also serves as a backdrop for some very Instagrammable / SYV-vibey pics.
Head back into town for a nightcap at Mad & Vin (I hear the Espresso Martini calling) and a fireside chat in the courtyard before retreating to that oh-so-comfortable bed of yours.
GO HOME DAY
Coffee Fit for a Queen
8am: While you may want to stay forever, a Staycation is only meant to be for a few days. (You can always come back next weekend!) Start your journey home with a caffeine fix at Queen Cup Coffee before heading back down the canyon. Owned by local couple Skyler and Alyce Barrick, the two moved from LA back to the Central Coast with a desire to bring their love for great coffee, bold branding, and all-inclusivity to the Valley. Newly opened in January of 2021, they aim to be thee place for locals to come to share their life experiences. Try their Queen Bee coffee, complete with a honeycomb-inspired foam design, because why not? After this weekend, you’re Queen of this Valley.
Lindsay DeLong is the Editor-in-Chief of Laguna Beach Living. A brand strategist and web designer who specializes in a quick 2-week start-to-finish process, she is well-versed at building brands from the ground up, establishing online identity, and finding fluffy farm cats. Reach out to her at lindsay@lagunabeachliving.com or on her personal site, iLikeLindsay.com.
Global Gardens’ famous Zack.