Los Olivos is one of several tiny communities making up the Santa Ynez Valley. A small town reached via a beautiful scenic road from Santa Barbara over the San Marcos Pass and through the lovely Santa Ynez Mountains, it was originally connected by railroad to San Luis Obispo. The southern railway station was right in front of Mattei's Tavern, which is still open and one of the region's historic highlights.
Foodies walk this way... Los Olivos is a haven of fabulous cuisine.
Los Olivos is famed for its excellent wineries and numerous tasting rooms. Reflecting this, the brilliant Foxen Canyon Wine Trail is a must for lovers of the stuff, kicking off in Los Olivos before heading north.
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Michael Jackson's magical property Neverland Ranch is just five miles from town
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You'll find almost forty wineries and tasting rooms in town to whet your appetite for fine California-bred wines
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Downtown is stuffed with excellent art and craft galleries
The annual Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest and Contest takes place every year, a colourful and vibrant event held in early October.
Want a small-town wine country adventure? You can't beat this lovely little place. The same goes for local beers, with plenty of craft brews to sample. There's excellent independent shopping too, no surprise in such an upscale place.
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Tour lavender farms, orchards, ranches and horse trails
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Visit historical Mattei’s Tavern
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Experience the town's annual Jazz and Olive Festival which takes place every June
This is a town where most locals wear jeans and cowboy hats, a taste of the real California. The Quick Draw Artists Festival takes place every August. There's a special Day in the Country celebration each October and the Olde Fashioned Christmas event in December is popular with toursists and locals alike.
Enjoy cupcakes and wine at the excellent SARLOO Sons winery, and spend time browsing top class wine-related gift shops.
The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail incorporates some of the very finest wineries in the region, offering a huge variety of world class tipples. You'll find everything from rich, full bodied Rhone-style quaffs and Burgundies, to pinot noirs and chardonnays, plus gorgeous sauvignon blancs, tasty negrettes, sylvaners, sangioveses and cabernet francs. That's the wine bit. But there's so much more to do in and around Los Olivos. Explore this super-scenic wine valley from end to end on horseback, thanks to a wide choice of horse ranches. Visit the Hans Christian Andersen museum in nearby Solvang. Visit the pretty Mission Santa Ines, the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum and the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum.
Love theatre? The Solvang Festival Theater is an outdoor venue open between June and October providing quality stage entertainment for locals and visitors. There's the Rancho San Marcos Golf Course, just one of several in the area, and plenty of wine country cycling tours to enjoy. Then there's the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, who focus on the stunning landscapes and coastline to create unforgettable adventures, complete with knowledgeable and friendly guides. You can also hire a bike and do your own thing, courtesy of Dr J's Bicycle Shop in Solvang.