Visit Santa Ynez Valley

Six distinctive communities - Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang - are located in the Santa Ynez Valley, encircled by the Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountain ranges. The anglicized name "Santa Ynez" (Saint Agnes) derives from the 1804 Old Mission Santa In, the first Spanish settlement in the Valley. Prior to the arrival of Spanish and European settlers, Native Americans resided in the Santa Ynez Valley for thousands of years. Today, members of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians have a Federally recognized reservation featuring the Chumash Casino Resort adjoining the township of Santa Ynez.

The Santa Ynez Valley's communities are all known for genuine old-world hospitality and friendliness; each offering distinctive character and amenities.

* Charming rural Ballard, located between Santa Ynez and Los Olivos on Baseline Road, is home to a little red schoolhouse holding classes since 1883, as well as churches, studios and an award-winning inn, restaurant and wine-tasting room.

* The bustling gateway city of Buellton conveniently located at the intersection of US Highway 101 and State Highway 246 has "everything for the traveler"-from a full-service hotel to inns, motels, tasting rooms, a variety of shops, service stations and dining spots. It is known as the "Home of Split Pea Soup" courtesy of Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant established in 1924. In 1949, Buellton was named "Service Town USA" and travelers can discover more in the Buellton Historical Society History Room located upstairs in Andersen's Restaurant.

* Los Alamos (Spanish for "the cottonwoods") is located at the northern entry to the Santa Ynez Valley at the junction of US Highway 101 and State Highway 135, surrounded by vineyards and ranches; the town has an old-time rustic sensibility. The seven-block-long main thoroughfare has a large antique mall in the historic train depot, quaint shops, a cafin an art gallery, several restaurants and wine tasting, a 1880s hotel, Victorian bed & breakfast and two motels. Each September, Los Alamos Old Days honors the town's 1876 founding with a weekend-long celebration.

* The community of Los Olivos at the intersection of State Highway 154 and Grand Avenue offers an authentic slice of Victorian-style with art galleries, boutiques, more than two dozen wine-tasting rooms and wine stores, historic stagecoach stop housing a gourmet restaurant, a top-notch inn and caf from casual to elegant. Los Olivos (Spanish for "the olives") celebrates its namesake fruit each June with the Olive & Jazz Festival.

* The township of Santa Ynez, situated just a mile from the intersection of State Highways 154 and 246, celebrates its western heritage with Old Santa Ynez Day each June including a street fair, a parade and country-western entertainment. Santa Ynez's turn-of-the-20th-century architectural facades still boast plenty of conveniences for modern trail riders including a historic saloon, a variety of restaurants from gourmet to Italian to steakhouse, a luxury AAA 4-diamond rated inn and a charming bed & breakfast.

* Solvang was named by Orbitz Worldwide Travel as one of the "Top 5 US Domestic Destinations with International Flair." Solvang feels like northern Europe, yet in the center of California. Solvang's rich heritage dates back to 1911 when adventurous Danish-Americans from the Midwest traversed the plains to establish a settlement in the golden state of California. They purchased 9,000 sundrenched acres of the former Rancho San Carlos de Jonata and situated their new community adjacent to the historic 1804 Old Mission Santa In. To preserve and promote Danish culture, the founders constructed a Danish folk school and church. The Danish Days annual festival commemorates Solvang's heritage during the third weekend of every September; as well as Taste of Solvang Food & Wine Festival every March to the Old Mission Santa Ines Fiesta each August and Julefest during December. Be drawn into Scandinavian culture strolling the flower-lined streets or stepping into authentic bakeries, more than 150 unique shops and art galleries, restaurants, a dozen wine tasting rooms and 14 hotels and inns.

In the Santa Ynez Valley, tour and taste acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and other grape varietals at more than 75 world-class wineries and tasting rooms. Satisfy every shopping desire in art galleries, clothing boutiques to specialty gift and antique stores. Savor delicious meals-from gourmet wine-country cuisine to Danish specialties as well as international and classic American favorites-perfect for any palate. Pick apples, walnuts and berries direct from the branch. Discover the area's rich multi-cultural heritage at prominent Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Danish museums and the 1804 Old Mission Santa In, a national historic landmark.

Bicycle, golf, hike, fish and see wildlife. Tour a lavender farm or horse ranch, an ostrich or alpaca farm. Take a horseback ride or soar over it all in a glider. Enjoy a picnic lunch in a vineyard or waterside at Cachuma Lake or Nojoqui Falls parks. Refresh and rejuvenate at a day spa. Experience year-round 24/7/365 gaming and live entertainment at Chumash Casino Resort. At night, do some dancing, take in a live concert or see PCPA Theaterfest's professional summer performances under the stars. At the end of the day, check into one of 34 comfortable inns, lodges, luxury resorts or full-service hotels-each offering rates, amenities and seasonal or themed packages for every budget. More than two million visitors annually are welcomed here. Any time is the perfect time to discover and visit Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley.