Travel & Enjoy
Welcome to Santa Ynez, one of our favorite places in the world. Below you'll find everything you need to know about getting here, as well as some of our top recommendations for making the most of your stay.
We hope you love it as much as we do!
Getting to Santa Ynez
Flying In.
You can fly into either Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Regardless of which airport you choose, you'll need access to a car to drive over the San Marcos pass to reach the Santa Ynez Valley. Santa Ynez is only about 45 minutes away from the Santa Barbara Airport, while LAX is approximately 2.5 hours (but may offer more flight options and potentially better rates).
Car Rentals.
Since you'll need a car to explore the beautiful wine country and get around the valley, we highly recommend renting a vehicle for the duration of your stay, especially since Ubers and Lyfts are hard to come by in the valley.
Renting a car will give you the freedom to visit local attractions at your own pace.
Wedding Day Transportation.
On Saturday, we'll be providing complimentary shuttle service to and from La Tarantella (our wedding venue) from two convenient pickup locations:
Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos
Hotel Ynez in Santa Ynez
If you're staying at other accommodations, please be prepared to arrange your own transportation to one of the shuttle locations.
Explore Santa Barbara’s Wine Country
The Santa Ynez Valley is home to the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County, nestled in a stunning east-west corridor formed by mountain ranges to the north and south. The valley creates very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland, with the Santa Ynez River flowing east to west on the valley floor toward the Pacific Ocean. This diverse terroir encompasses five distinct sub-appellations including Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon, where Chardonnay thrives in the cooler, western portion while Rhône varieties flourish in the eastern locales – creating an extraordinary wine destination that offers something magical for every palate.
Some of our favorite wineries to visit include Stolpman Vineyards, Grimm’s Bluff, and of course, Grassini Family Vineyards. We’ve also enjoyed our time driving through Los Olivos and Santa Ynez with Sustainable Wine Tours.
If you choose to go wine tasting, please ensure you arrange safe transportation, or visit the tasting rooms in Los Olivos on foot.
Beyond the vineyards…
While wine may be the main draw, Santa Ynez and Los Olivos offer plenty of delightful diversions beyond the tasting rooms. Los Olivos's signature mix of local ingredients and culinary savoir-faire is epitomized by Bar Le Côte, James Beard Award nominee Daisy Ryan's love letter to fresh Californian seafood, prepared with a soupçon of Spanish and Portuguese influence. The Ryans also opened the Michelin-starred Bell's in nearby Los Alamos and earned a cult following in the area and beyond.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the four-mile Lovers Loop on the Grass Mountain Trail offers stunning canyon views, stream crossings, and an awe-inspiring panoramic vista of the Santa Ynez Valley from 2,000 feet up.
Browse the charming Los Olivos General Store for take-home trinkets and apothecary goods or channel your inner cowboy at Jedlicka's for authentic western hats, riding gear, and boots. Coffee lovers shouldn't miss Lefty's in Los Olivos or Pony Espresso in Santa Ynez, while foodies can grab soups, salads and sandwiches at Panino, the family-owned Santa Barbara County favorite with locations throughout the valley.
Whether you're tasting olive oil and balsamic vinegar, visiting with Zaca Creek Ranch’s heard of alpacas, or taking a peaceful hike through oak forests and meadows, the valley offers the perfect blend of rural charm and sophisticated pleasures.