Things To Do in Buellton, California

It might seem counterintuitive that a small city in the middle of California's premier wine country hosts two of the state's most respected craft breweries — but Buellton makes it work. Firestone Walker Barrelworks and Figueroa Mountain Brewing anchor an increasingly vibrant beer scene along Industrial Way and McMurray Road, drawing beer enthusiasts who might otherwise bypass the valley entirely.

Firestone Walker's Buellton facility focuses on wild and barrel-aged ales — think blended farmhouse beers, sour ales, and experimental barrelworks releases that have won international acclaim. Figueroa Mountain, meanwhile, built its name on approachable, well-made California craft lagers, IPAs, and wheat beers. Together they give Buellton a craft beer identity that complements rather than competes with the surrounding wine culture.

Buellton sits at the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, one of California's most consistently acclaimed appellations for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The appellation runs west from Buellton toward the Pacific Ocean, where marine fog rolls through the transverse gaps in the coastal mountains and keeps daytime temperatures surprisingly mild.

The Sta. Rita Hills produce leaner, more mineral-driven Pinot Noir than the warmer Santa Ynez Valley AVA to the east. Several member wineries have tasting rooms in or near Buellton, and the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance organizes trail events and tastings throughout the year. Buellton functions as the eastern anchor for wine trail routes that extend westward through the fog-belt toward Lompoc.

Buellton's position on the highway makes it a natural launching point for a pair of outdoor stops that most visitors miss. Ostrichland USA — halfway between Buellton and Solvang on Highway 246 — is a working farm where ostriches and emus are fed by visitors from raised platforms. The birds stand 7–9 feet tall, weigh up to 300 pounds, and have a tendency to make grown adults back up involuntarily. It's a 30-minute stop that sticks with you; kids and adults alike find it genuinely surprising. The gift shop sells ostrich eggs by the pair.

Seven miles south of downtown via Alisal Road, Nojoqui Falls County Park protects a 164-foot tiered limestone waterfall tucked into a shaded canyon. The access trail is short and flat (0.4 miles round trip), and the park has picnic facilities under oaks. The falls are most dramatic November through May; by August they slow to a trickle. Free admission. It's a quick detour off the highway that rewards the drive.