Vacations Blog

This year, why not take the kids to Santa Barbara Wine Country?

Zoe and me, Los Olivos, just prior to getting my Father of The Year Award

Oh, yeah. Right. There are dozens of reasons why. (”Daddy, what’s a hangover?”) Nevertheless, when we travel northward, we always take a detour when we reach Santa Barbara. For starters, it’s a timesaver: the 101 through Santa Barbara can be one of the slowest stretches of freeway in the state. Traffic can slow to a crawl at any time, and this is never fun after one has spent two hours grinding one’s teeth in the morass of motor vehicles that is the L.A. County freeway system. But! Take the 154 north, through Los Olivos, and you may save some time. You’ll certainly get to see some pretty scenery. And believe it or not, there’s some family-friendly stuff amidst all of the wineries, though you probably won’t meet Paul Giamatti or Thomas Haden-Church.

Los Olivos and the surrounding area, of course, were the settings for the movie Sideways. Some of the best wines in the country are produced here – if you like Pinot Noir and Syrah, you’ll be in heaven. But the area is a haven for weary travelers; there’s lots of great ways to unwind before hitting the road to central and northern California. A few of my favorite stops:

Cold Spring Tavern. Near the summit of the 154, you’ll hang a left on Stagecoach Road (blink and you’ll miss it). Cold Spring Tavern is a marvel, a quaint little restaurant that looks like something out of Disney’s Frontierland. Built in 1865, it’s a great place for the kids – although you may have to explain the various animal heads mounted on the walls inside the restaurant. The food’s terrific (I highly recommend the venison sausage burger), and the place gets crowded around lunchtime.

Cachuma Lake Recreation Area. A few miles before Los Olivos, you’ll pass the Cachuma Lake recreation area. It’s a great place to picnic, stretch your legs (and your dog’s – dogs are allowed on a leash), even go for a dip in the lake. If you didn’t pack your own lunch, the park’s Family Fun Center has a general store and grill.

Los Olivos. Again, blink and you’ll drive right past the town. While the town does boast its share of wine tasting rooms (my in-town favorites: Andrew Murray and Consilience), there’s picnic and park space. For lunch, swing by the general store located on Grand Avenue; their tri-tip sandwiches, served on weekends and on select weekdays during the summertime, are excellent. (For non-Californians who don’t know what tri-tip is, go here.)

Homegrown Garlic stand, Los Olivos - a must for garlic lovers.

Of course, if you do find yourself here without the kids, grab yourself a guide to the local wineries (they’re available at any of the stores in Los Olivos) and try a few. The drive through the local wine country is lovely, but give yourself plenty of time as the road is a windy, two-lane blacktop and can get busy (watch for bikers, both motor and pedal) during the summer months and on weekends. Cheers!