Things to do & places to visit in Santa Ynez, California, United States

Santa Ynez city in California, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 8:59.

Top things to do (16)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Stagecoach Wine Tours Santa Ynez (441 reviews)
- Phenomenal Wine Tour
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Wine Tours & Tastings

Phenomenal tour and wine experience! The three wineries we experienced were each unique and different. They really showcased the variety of grapes and wine offerings of SYV. Our guide, Tyler, was very knowledgeable about the region and the growing wine industry. We learned so many new facts along the way while enjoying great wine, properties, and hosts. I would recommend Stagecoach hands down and will take a tour with them again. See more..
5.0 Sky's the Limit Ballooning Adventures (91 reviews)
- Great sunset ride to celebrate my 60th bday.
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Balloon Rides

James, Kristin and team were awesome. We did the sunset ride to celebrate my 60th birthday. Both are very are committed to making sure everyone is safe, explaining every step of the balloon riding event, what to expect and safety rules one must follow to ride. They have worked hard to build this business and are committed to your safety. James and Kristin provided narrative on what we were seeing, how the balloon is controlled and any questions we may have had. I would 100% recommend them!! See more..
5.0 Sky's the Limit Ballooning (64 reviews)
- Incredible Experience
Balloon Rides

We had a great time ballooning with James - an experience like no other. The route was beautiful - wine country and the sunset in the background. James timed the trip perfectly to account for sunset time and the changing wind conditions - with an exciting but smooth takeoff and landing. See more..
5.0 Vino Vaqueros Horseback Riding (40 reviews)
- 1001 Acres of Heaven
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Horseback Riding Tours

Enjoy a private, guided 75-90 horseback ride through Estelle Ranch in Santa Ynez. The mountain, valley, and vineyard views set the stage for a perfect ride. After your ride, we offer complementary wine tasting with a full glass of your favorite at the barn. Kids 8 years old and up welcome! All rides are by reservation-no walk ins please :) Call or book online! *Please note that due to CO-VID same day rides may not be possible. See more..
5.0 Art Spot on Wheels (23 reviews)
- A Relaxing, Creative Change of Pace!
Friday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Paint & Pottery Studios

Paint the landscape with us while enjoying the out-of-doors and divine wines from the valley. Sign up for a weekend event or book a private one for your group! We're inviting you to grab a glass of wine and a paintbrush and meet us at your favorite vineyard. Bring your friends and capture the scenery on canvas. The winery provides a perfect, stress-free environment that will both inspire your creative spirit and indulge the wine-lover in you. Painting events are a unique way to celebrate birthdays, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, anniversaries, girls trips, corporate team-building events and more. No painting experience necessary--a trained, local artist will walk you through the entire painting process step-by-step. You'll even walk away with a landscape painting of your own to commemorate your trip to wine country. So, check our calendar and grab your friends to join us at your favorite winery for a creative twist on your wine country excursion! Ask about our private events! See more..
5.0 Spa Elan (5 reviews)
- Make-up and Hair
Spas

I had my make-up and hair done at this salon for my son's wedding. Their make-up artist is awesome and I looked very natural but more formal than normal (I don't wear a lot of make-up in my everyday life). My hair, although a simple partial up-do, looked good all night and stayed in place without a ton of hairspray (I hate hairspray) and even looked good after all the swing dancing! Thanks team at Spa Elan! See more..
5.0 Compass Wine Tours and Transportation (5 reviews)
- Bill is the Best!!!!
Spent More than 3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Compass Wine Tours & Luxury Transition. Here to help you plan your next escape. Enjoy the picturesque beauty of The Santa Ynez Valley and its world class wines and destinations. Providing Luxury Transportation for your next Wine Tour, Special Event, Private Charter or a special evening out. See more..
5.0 Sedgwick Reserve (3 reviews)
- Inspiring stroll through the wilderness
Nature & Wildlife Areas

We went on the "moderate hike" on May 10. Staff and volunteers were very knowledgeable and we saw a lot of terrain and some innovative projects in progress. Great for botany, geology, ecology, and birding buffs. Now I've got to get one of those "water boxes". Check out the buffalo herd near Baseline and Mora roads. The reserve is a bit out of the way but fortunately just down the road from some winery tasting rooms. See more..
5.0 Terra Massage (1 review)
- a most excellent massage
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spas
At Terra Massage we recognize that everybody is unique. We do not believe in a “one size fits all” approach. We take the time to hear about you and evaluate your body’s needs so that we may match the best body work technique & specialist to you.We are committed to providing a massage experience as unique as you. See more..
5.0 Silver Cloud Transportation (1 review)
- Ideal wine tour
Spent More than 3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Low cost touring in the Santa Ynez Valley. We provide private wine tours in Limousines as well as wedding shuttles. See more..
5.0 McKinney Family Vineyards (1 review)
- Great tour and tasting
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Exclusive tour and tasting experience by appointment only. We are a family-owned, boutique winery specializing in hand-crafted wines in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley. McKinney Family Vineyards began with a passion for fine wine, optimism for the potential of Santa Barbara County Viticulture, a deep appreciation for family & friends, and living the highest quality of life imaginable. See more..
5.0 Crown Point Vineyards (1 review)
- Incredible Wine
Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Crown Point is a true vanguard in the region, crafting premium wines that rival the best throughout the world. With a focus on discovery, excellence, and quality, we have the extraordinary opportunity to produce world-class Cabernet-based wines just like wineries in Bordeaux and Napa Valley. Make an appointment to visit our estate and experience what makes this winery so distinct. See more..
4.5 Sunstone Winery (246 reviews)
- Wine tasting outdoors
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Sunstone Winery is an organic vineyard retreat, located just 35-minutes north of Santa Barbara, in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy Sunstone wines in our Provençal French courtyards, stone barrel-aging caves or picnic grounds, and enjoy our flight of 6 wines for $20 per person. We are open from 11am - 5pm daily, with last seating at 4:00pm. Reservations are highly recommended on weekends. See more..
4.5 Santa Ynez Valley (137 reviews)
- Beautiful Valley, the small city of Santa Ynez is lovely.
Valleys

This burgeoning wine region is located just north of Santa Barbara and is home to more than 60 vineyards. See more..
4.5 Roblar Winery & Vineyards (107 reviews)
- Thank you Nancy for a great afternoon of tasting!
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wineries & Vineyards

Nestled in an oak tree-studded 40-acre vineyard located in the heart of Santa Barbara County, Roblar Winery & Vineyards reflects the spirit of Santa Ynez Valley- rustic, authentic, and bold. Our philosophy is to foster a unique visitor experience of bringing together great wine, great food, and great friends. We encourage guests to explore the estate—from our stunning 5,000 sq. ft. tasting room complete with an indoor-outdoor stone fireplace, to the trellis-covered patio, looking out over our expansive gardens. See more..
4.5 The Brander Vineyard (52 reviews)
- Excellent wines, great outdoor tasting area.
Wineries & Vineyards

Their tasting room is a shaded, outdoor courtyard. The tasting is very leisurely, forcing you to not hurry through the tasting, and giving time to connect with your fellow travelers. This is much better than the bar-like tasting rooms, where they hover over you and keep the pace going. The wines are very good; I note that some other reviews felt the wine was served too warm. They are served cool but not chilled. This enhances the flavor. Brander Vineyards is across the street from Rancho Olivos, the olive oil farm and tasting area. Do both in the same trip. A bonus for me was that I learned the owner is also an alumnus of the same small college I attended. Go Stags! See more..
4.5 Rancho Olivos (43 reviews)
- Delicious, organic olive oil, and cute dogs.
Friday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Farms

Rancho Olivos is an olive farm with daily olive oil tastings. We are Open Mon through Thurs 12 pm to 4pm. Fri through Sun we are open 11 am to 4 pm. We are open year round. Rancho Olivos Artisan Extra Virgin Olive oil is made from olives grown on our. We offer the opportunity to see the olive trees which produce our fruit. See more..
4.5 Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and Janeway-Parks Carriage House (41 reviews)
- Wagons ho!
Friday: Speciality Museums

The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum is home to the an impressive collection of Horse drawn conveyances and Western Saddles as well additional rooms of exhibits depicting western life, art and fashion. The Valley Room houses the history of the Santa Ynez Valley with artifacts of the pioneer life as well as a working scale model of the train which ran through the Santa Ynez Valley. A new Exhibit called Art of the Western Saddle, highlights saddles and the people who rode in them. Opening late Spring 2020. The Museum is open to scheduled tours on Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 12-4, with consideration given to other times if available. See more..
4.5 Vincent Vineyards (32 reviews)
- Wine Tasting Birthday Event
Friday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Estate Grown - Estate Bottled, The Vincent Vineyards and Winery was planted in 2007 to 16 acres of vineyard. As a dedicated boutique producer of the finest Bordeaux varietals. Our micro climate, soil and meticulous farming has already started producing exceptional results. The estate's first vintage was harvested in 2010 and already possesses great promise by continuing the tradition of producing ultra premium handcrafted wines from the Santa Ynez Valley A.V.A. Our current estate varietals in production are: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and our Meritage blend, V Cuvee. We are also one of the few wineries in the Valley where you can sit and enjoy table service on our expansive outdoor vineyard terrace or enjoy this repast in a less formal venue, at our well appointed bar in the main salon. Either way, you'll be immersed in the exquisite views of our vineyard covered estate and the majestic Santa Ynez mountains. See more..
4.5 Santa Ynez Wine Trail (20 reviews)
- Very scenic drive, excellent boutique wineries
Wineries & Vineyards • Scenic Drives

Scenic driving route through Santa Barbara wine country that offers opportunities to tour major wineries along the way. See more..
4.5 Imagine Wine (7 reviews)
- Awesome wines and an education to boot!
Speciality & Gift Shops
We've visited Imagine Wine's tasting room many times over the years, both when it was in Santa Ynez, and now in Buellton. Every time we go, we leave with excellent wines (the zinfandel is simply amazing) but also with a deep respect for the owner/wine maker Ross Rankin. Ross's knowledge of wine is phenomenal, and he happily shares it with a quick wit and enthusiasm. We always look forward to his pouring of wine and tolling us more about it. What a great combo: fine wines and great insights! See more..
4.5 CrossHatch Winery (4 reviews)
- A GREAT find....
Friday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards • Wine Bars

All of the wines produced by CrossHatch Winery are co-fermented blends sourced from Santa Barbara County vineyards. CrossHatch is a winery created in 2011 by winemaker Ryan Carr that focuses on co-fermented blends from Santa Barbara County vineyards. After making only single varietal wines for eleven years, winemaker Ryan Carr wanted to try something different. He and his wife Jessica came up with the idea for CrossHatch, inspired by the classic form of art. Cross hatching is an artistic technique that uses closely spaced intersecting lines to create shading, definition, and form in a drawing. Carr took this technique and adapted it into the winemaking process by harvesting multiple varietals on the same day then crushing and fermenting them together. Co-fermentation brings out and creates flavors in the wine that would not have existed otherwise. This makes the CrossHatch wine truly one of a kind. Visit the tasting room in Santa Ynez, CA for wine tasting and wines by the glass. See more..
4.5 Santa Ynez Canyon (4 reviews)
- What can I say - this is a gorgeous ride! Take a picnic lunch or stop at a market for cheese, salami, bread & wine!
Geologic Formations

Roads can be curvey and you will likely encounter motorcycles enjoying the day. Its usually sunny & beautiful. See more..
4.5 Central California Wines (3 reviews)
- Santa Ynez Valley for wines, NAPA for auto parts
Speciality & Gift Shops
Visited several vineyards over time, we have visited Gainey many times, I believe that they are the best. See more..
4.0 Gainey Vineyard (176 reviews)
- Enjoyable
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wineries & Vineyards

This was such a great way to experience wine and at such a beautiful setting. Even the bathrooms are gorgeous! Best to make a reservation. They do seated, personal wine tastings in the beautiful barrel room. They produce in small quantities to create premium wine. The servers are very personable and knowledgeable and really take time to share with you about the wines and what makes it special. They also have a nice little gift shop. They do have an area in front on a grassy area where you can even enjoy your own picnic lunch. They also offer tours of the winery. See more..
4.0 Kalyra Winery (101 reviews)
- Gorgeous view, friendly staff
Friday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wineries & Vineyards

Winery featured in the film "Sideways." See more..
4.0 Brave & Maiden Estate (5 reviews)
- Gorgeous setting with wine
Friday: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wineries & Vineyards

Discover an elevated experience when you join us for an intimate and unforgettable wine tasting by appointment. We are a sustainable vineyard and winery that handcrafts Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. To learn more and book your appointment, visit our website at braveandmaiden.com/visit See more..
4.0 Valerie’s Vintage (1 review)
- Antiquário muito interessante!
Speciality & Gift Shops

Loja de antiguidades bem no centro de Santa Ynez. Móveis, objetos de decoração, cartazes, cartões postais e uma infinidade de outros artigos estão dispostos em vários cômodos de um casarão. Muitos remetem à cavalos, já que a cultura equina é bem forte na cidade. Vale a pena uma visita! See more..
3.5 Chumash Casino (220 reviews)
- Fun...usually!
Spent More than 3 hours Casinos

My wife and I go to the Chumash Casino about once every couple of months...it is the closest casino to our home. We have sometimes won big and sometimes lost our shirts but usually walk out even or maybe with a small loss which is reasonable for several hours of entertainment. There is a wide variety of slots and table games, and they have bingo periodically. They have frequent shows and concerts though the venue itself is pretty rudimentary. The buffet is adequate and they also have a cafe and food court. The players club gives you $5 free play every month. There are also regular car giveaways and other such promotions. This is a nice good-sized local casino that draws from the Ventura-Paso Robles area with buses available from several towns. As of this writing (3/18/20) they are closed due to the coronavirus thing but should re-open soon then we will be back! See more..
3.0 Fontes and Phillips Wines (1 review)
- Good Sparkling Wine
Spent < 1 hour Wineries & Vineyards
Good Sparkling Wine. Disappointed with the Pinot Noir. Purchased a bottle of the Champanky for $34 ($6 less than the listed price of $40). Tasting fee was waived with purchase. Nice tasting room in the picturesque little town of Santa Ynez, a few miles east of Solvang. Crowded on the weekend. Hours are 11 am to 5 pm Thursday thru Monday. See more..