A 25-30 minute drive up north from Santa Barbara on the winding and picturesque Hwy 154 will take you to the quaint western village of Los Olivos. Do not let its simplicity deceive you, Los Olivos may look rustic but it is expensive and although at first glimpse it might seem there isn’t much to do the area offers quite a few activities.
this is the post office in Los Olivos, my favorite building of the town, it has so much character; and right next to it Coquelicot tasting boutique, they have an amazing Cabarnet Sauvignon
All the shops, restaurants and cafes are on or right off of Grand Ave. The Los Olivos Cafe and Wine Merchant was featured in the movie Sideways and it’s by far one of the best restaurants in the entire Santa Ynez Valley with an amazing selection of wines. The atmosphere inside is very cozy and they also have patio sitting for those wanting to be seen and see ;)
If you drive along Grand Avenue and continue as it winds to the left and becomes Roblar Ave, you will find an organic lavender farm –Clairmont Farms– and a small shop that sells lavender products. The flowers usually bloom in late June and if you are lucky enough to be in Los Olivos at that time make sure to stop by, it is such a gorgeous view and the smell of lavenders is soothing and relaxing. You also get a stunning view of the mountains from here. Even if you choose not to shop you should still stop by for a walk on the grounds and the view.
Los Olivos has changed tremendously from the first time I visited, back when it was much quieter, and the main attractions were art galleries. These days it is abuzz with visitors on weekends and all summer. Most businesses lining Grand Avenue were not there 10 years ago. Slowly, most of the galleries have closed and in their places wine tasting shops have moved in. The soil and climate are advantageous for growing grapes, especially for Pinot Noir, and the wine industry has seen a tremendous growth within the last decade in this area. Visiting the wine tasting shops in town can be fun, but for a much more authentic experience and to really get a feel for the beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley I’d recommend driving up on Foxen Canyon Road, across the hills, and visiting the wineries. They are also very popular places for weddings. If you don’t have time to drive out on the hills though there are several wine boutiques in Los Olivos, and also as you drive out of the center of the town, along Alamo Pintado Rd.
If you don’t have a designated driver you are better off hiring a car service for your wine tasting tour. Since the wine business is a leading component of the local economy there are several choices for limo and car services who specialize in wine tasting tours, both private and group tours. Even if you are only tasting all those sips add up, they tend to be quite generous with the portions of tastings in most places, so you want to make sure you are safe on the road at the end of the day.
To reduce accidents and inebriated people on the road the local police is almost always patrolling highway 154 and they frequently set up check points on the roads connecting Los Olivos and Solvang. Also wine tasting shops close around 5PM, this way people stop drinking without eating and head to restaurants instead.
Although highway 154 offers amazing vistas, it also has the names “highway of death” and “highway of suicide”. The first one because of the frequent accidents on this road, it is very serpentine and for a good portion of it has only 2 lanes, the second nick name comes from the high number of people who have jumped to their death from the bridge which is part of the highway crossing a canyon. They have built tall fences on the sides of the bridge now.
Los Olivos is a good destination for foodies and wine lovers and those who want to unwind for a couple of days. Shops close by 5PM and restaurants by 9 or 10PM and so you are left to entertain yourself unless you drive over to the village of Santa Ynez a few miles away where there is a cowboy bar, The Maverick and the Chumash Casino, the only two places in the Santa Ynez Valley that stay open late.
It is also a great place for outdoorsy activities. Foxen Canyon Road and Figueroa Mountain Road are very popular with professional bikers, many of them come here to train and also a couple of races are held in the area each year. But you don’t have to be a pro to bike or hike across the hills, I’ve done it many times and it was a lot of fun, the views from the top are magnificent. You can also take a picnic basket and drive to the top of the mountain, enjoy a good selection of cheeses and fresh local breads while taking in the amazing views.
The neighboring town Solvang, just a few miles away has a Farmers Market on 1st Street every Wednesday; in the spring and early summer you can find the best strawberries here, grown on the nearby hills.
Cachuma Lake is only about 5 minutes outside of the town of Los Olivos, you can camp there and take boats out on the lake; or you can spend a warm summer day on the banks of the Santa Ynez River, a very popular spot with the local youth. While you are driving along Hwy 154 you might also want to stop at Bradburry Dam, it offers quite a scenic view.
Before you leave Los Olivos make time to catch the sunset from one of the hilltops!
