FriAug 28
Shuck & Sip in Santa Ynez with live music from Jimmy Becker
4 PM·Brander Winery & Vineyard, Santa Ynez
Valley Guide
Things to Do in the Santa Ynez Valley
The Santa Ynez Valley is a 20-mile stretch of Central Coast California — wine country, a Danish village, two craft breweries, the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, and one of the best barbecue destinations on the coast. Here's what to do and where to go.
Top Things to Do
Wine Tasting in Solvang
More than 20 walk-in tasting rooms on Mission Drive and Copenhagen Drive. No reservations needed for most downtown rooms. Open daily, most 10 AM–5 PM.
Wine Tasting in Los Olivos
12+ tasting rooms on Grand Avenue, all walkable. Los Olivos is the most concentrated wine tasting village in the county. Most rooms open 11 AM–5 PM, walk-ins welcome.
Solvang Day Trip
Danish village with windmills, bakeries, HCA Museum, Old Mission Santa Inés. Compact and walkable. Aebleskiver for breakfast, wine tasting by noon.
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
30-mile wine trail from Los Olivos to Santa Maria passing Zaca Mesa, Foxen Winery, and a dozen estate producers. Best driven in fall during harvest season.
Danish Days Festival
Solvang's largest annual festival — Sept 18–20, 2026. Free outdoor event with aebleskiver breakfasts, folk dancers, parades, Viking Beer Garden. Since 1936.
Ostrichland USA
Feed ostriches and emus from raised platforms. On Highway 246 between Solvang and Buellton. Open daily, small admission. 30–45 min; surprises everyone.
Hitching Post II
Santa Maria-style oak-smoked BBQ and estate Pinot Noir. The restaurant from Sideways. Book ahead for Friday/Saturday dinner. In Buellton (5 miles west of Solvang).
Firestone Walker Barrelworks
Wild and barrel-aged ales in a spacious Buellton taproom. One of the most serious craft beer programs in California. No reservation needed; open daily.
By Town
The valley's most-visited town. Danish architecture, four windmills, 20+ wine tasting rooms, Old Mission Santa Inés, Elverhøj Museum, and the famous Solvang Festival Theater. Compact and walkable — park on Copenhagen Drive and cover most of it on foot.
The wine-focused village five miles north of Solvang. Grand Avenue has 12+ tasting rooms within three walkable blocks, plus The Inn at Mattei's Tavern (Auberge Resorts), art galleries, and R-Country Market's weekend tri-tip.
The western gateway to the valley. Home to Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Figueroa Mountain Brewing, Hitching Post II, and the hub of the Sta. Rita Hills wine appellation. Less visited than Solvang but rewards a stop.
A small agricultural town 4 miles east of Solvang. Chumash Casino Resort, the Chumash Museum, boutique shops, and a downtown that hasn't been built for tourists — which is part of its appeal.
By Season
Spring (Mar–May)
Wildflowers along Foxen Canyon, Santa Barbara Vintners Festival (April), comfortable temperatures, smallest crowds. Best for cycling the wine trails.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Solvang Festival Theater opens (late June). Busy season with the most tourists. Hot inland (85–95°F), cooler near Buellton. Book hotels early.
Fall (Sept–Nov)
Best overall season: Danish Days (Sept 18–20), wine harvest (Sept–Oct), Festival Theater final weeks. 70–80°F, golden vineyards, thin crowds after Labor Day.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Julefest in Solvang (late Nov–Jan) — Danish holiday decorations, aebleskiver, mulled wine. Smallest crowds, cooler temps (55–65°F), some rain. Hotels are cheapest.
Upcoming Events
FriAug 28
Live music in Los Olivos with Jayden Secor
5 PM·Carhartt Family Wines, Los Olivos
FriAug 28
Live music in Santa Ynez with Natalie Espinoza
5:30 PM·Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Santa Ynez
FriAug 28
Live music in Santa Ynez with 33 Thunder
8:30 PM·Maverick Saloon, Santa Ynez
SatAug 29
Live music in Buellton with Jared Nels
12 PM·Vega Vineyard & Farm, Buellton
SatAug 29
Live music in Los Olivos with the Ray Jaurique Trio
12 PM·Firestone Vineyard, Los Olivos
SatAug 29
Live music in Solvang with Jez Blacker
1 PM·Kaena at the Ranch, Solvang
SatAug 29
Kaena's Live Music By Jez Blacker
1 PM·Kaena 800 E. Hwy 246, Solvang·Free
Santa Ynez Valley FAQ
What is the Santa Ynez Valley known for?
The Santa Ynez Valley is known for wine — specifically Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Rhône blends, and Sauvignon Blanc from several distinct AVAs including Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, and Happy Canyon. It is also known for Solvang (a Danish-American village), Danish Days (the region's largest annual festival), and for being the setting of the 2004 film Sideways.
How many wineries are in the Santa Ynez Valley?
Santa Barbara County has over 200 wineries, with the majority in the Santa Ynez Valley. Los Olivos alone has more than 20 walkable tasting rooms on Grand Avenue. Solvang has 20+ downtown tasting rooms. Estate wineries are spread along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, Ballard Canyon Road, and Foxen Canyon Road.
When is the best time to visit the Santa Ynez Valley?
Fall (September–November) is widely considered the best time — wine harvest season, Danish Days (Sept 18–20), ideal temperatures (70–80°F), and thinning summer crowds. Spring (March–May) is a strong second choice: wildflowers, comfortable weather, and the valley's agricultural character is most visible. Summer is busier and hotter (85–95°F inland).
Is the Santa Ynez Valley worth visiting?
Yes. The valley offers a concentration of experiences — wine tasting, Danish village architecture, outdoor recreation, and genuinely good food — within a compact 20-mile corridor. It works as a day trip from Santa Barbara (45 min) or Los Angeles (2.5 hrs), or as a weekend base for exploring the Central Coast. Fall harvest season or Danish Days weekend are the peak experiences.
What is Sideways and why is it associated with the Santa Ynez Valley?
Sideways (2004, directed by Alexander Payne) is a road trip film set almost entirely in the Santa Ynez Valley, following two friends on a wine-tasting trip the week before one's wedding. The film significantly increased tourism to the valley and has been credited with boosting Pinot Noir sales nationally. Filming locations include the Hitching Post II in Buellton, Los Olivos, and several estate wineries on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
Plan Your Visit
Full Visitor Guide
Getting here, where to stay, and full planning
Solvang Day Trip Plan
One-day itinerary: bakeries → windmills → wine
Solvang Weekend Trip
Two-day itinerary with Los Olivos wine Day 2
Wine Harvest 2026
Best time to visit: crush season Sept–Oct
Danish Days Sept 18–20
The biggest event of the year — free festival
This Weekend
Live events calendar for the whole valley