Weekender AAA Travel
Exploring Santa Ynez Valley, continued
NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Attractions

A picture of Santa Ynez Valley
  • Cachuma Nature Center, Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, SR 154 (San Marcos Pass). (805) 686-5055. Open Wed 10 am-2 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 10 am-2 pm. Free.
  • Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave, Los Olivos. (805) 688-7517 Open daily 10 am-5 pm.
  • Old Mission Santa Inés, 1760 Mission Dr, Solvang. (805) 688-4815. Open daily 9 am-5:30 pm. Admission $3; ages 65 and older, $2.50; ages 15 and younger, free.
  • Tatiana Maria, 2920 Grand Ave, Los Olivos. (805) 688-9622. Open Wed-Sun 11:30 am-5 pm and by appointment.
  • Wildling Art Museum, Keenan Hartley House, 2329 Jonata St, Los Olivos. (805) 688-1082. Open Wed-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Donation.

Outdoor Fun

  • Cachuma Lake Wildlife Cruise, Cachuma Lake Recreation Area, SR 154 (San Marcos Pass), 25 miles north of Santa Barbara. (805) 686-5050. Cruises offered Mar through Oct, Fri 3 pm, Sat 10 am and 3 pm, Sun 10 am; Eagle Cruise, Nov through Feb, Wed-Sun 10 am, also Fri-Sat 2 pm. Fare $15; ages 12 and younger, $7. Reservations recommended.

Nightlife

  • PCPA Theaterfest, Solvang Festival Theatre, 420 2nd St, Solvang. (805) 922-8313. Season runs Jun through Oct; dates and times of performances vary. Admission $20.50-28.50; discounts for children, students and seniors.

Food and Drink

  • Café Provence, the Inn at Petersen Village, 1576 Mission Dr, Solvang. (800) 321-8985. Dinner only, for hotel guests. $12-21.
  • Ingeborg's World Famous Danish Chocolates, 1679 Copenhagen Dr, Solvang. (805) 688-5612. Chocolates, gourmet import items.
  • Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant, 2879 Grand Ave, Los Olivos. (805) 688-7265. Open daily. Lunch and dinner, $9-18.
  • Olsen's Village Bakery and Coffee Shop, 1529 Mission Dr, Solvang. (805) 688-6314. Pastries, cakes, breads.
A picture of tranquil water on Cachuma Lake Lodging Suggested AAA Maps, Publications and AAA BookStore Titles
  • AAA California's Central Coast book
  • AAA Santa Barbara County map
  • AAA Santa Barbara County Cities map
  • Quick Escapes from Southern California*
  • Touring the California Wine Country*

Maps and publications are available at any AAA Travel office. *AAA members save 20% or more on retail publications.

For More Information
  • Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association, (800) 742-2843.
  • Solvang Convention & Visitors Bureau, 1511A Mission Dr at 5th St, Solvang. (800) 468-6765. Open daily 10 am-4 pm.

To plan a trip to Santa Ynez Valley or for any other travel needs, visit a AAA Travel office or call 888-874-7222.

Sideways Through Santa Ynez
by Jordan R. Young

Tourism is booming in Santa Ynez Valley, turned head over heels by the Academy Award-winning movie Sideways, which celebrates the Wine Country of California's Central Coast. There are guided tours and bicycle rides to the film's bucolic locations, free maps for self-guided tours, hotel packages, special menus at restaurants featured in the film, and even a wine club offering selections from the wineries showcased.

"With Sideways, this area has truly arrived. We saw an immediate 30% increase in tours thanks to the film," observed David Echolf of Personal Tours Ltd., one of several tour operators escorting patrons who want to follow in the footsteps of the movie's adventurous, wine-tasting foursome. Do-it-yourself visitors will find 18 filming locations on the free map produced by the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission; most of the locales are also included in the self-guided routes outlined by the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition.

Sanford Winery, whose tasting-room manager played himself in the movie, and Fess Parker Winery — where failed novelist Miles (Paul Giamatti) goes berserk in one of the film's funniest scenes — are among the vintners whose business has taken an upswing. The Hitching Post II Restaurant, which served as a hangout for Rex Pickett while he wrote the novel the film is based upon — and where Maya (Virginia Madsen) works as a waitress — serves a Sideways menu at the bar or table 11, both seen in the picture.

Sideways Wine Club spotlights the wine producers of the region through three clubs, including one devoted to pinot noir, which has enjoyed a huge spurt in nationwide popularity since it was singled out for praise in the movie. Sales of merlot, memorably maligned in the film, have conversely taken a plunge.

Sideways Essentials:

SPECIALTY MAPS

  • AAA Explore! Southern & Central California Wineries Guide Map Available in Auto Club offices; free to members.
  • Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition, P.O. Box 92047, Santa Barbara 93190. Visit online at www.sbbike.org. Sideways film location rides. Free.
  • Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau, (805) 966-9222. Sideways, The Map. Free. Available online at www.santabarbaraca.com/pdf/sideways-map.pdf.

TOURS

  • American International Transportation Services & Wine Tours, (805) 643-5466.
  • Breakaway Tours & Event Planning, (805) 783-2929.
  • Cloud Climbers Jeep & Wine Tours, (805) 965-6654.
  • Personal Tours Ltd., (805) 685-0552.
  • Wine Edventures, (805) 965-9463.

FOOD & DRINK

  • Fess Parker Winery, 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd, Los Olivos. (805) 688-1545.
  • Hitching Post II Restaurant, 406 E Hwy 246, Buellton. (805) 688-0676. Sideways menu, $47 per person.
  • Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant, 2879 Grand Ave, Los Olivos. (805) 688-7265. Sideways menu, $29 per person.
  • Sanford Winery, 7250 Santa Rosa Rd, Buellton. (805) 688-3300.
  • Sideways Wine Club, 2310 S Westgate Rd #15, Santa Maria. (805) 922-4011. Costs vary.
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