suggested donation $3; h1-
4pm Wed & Thu, noon-4pm
Fri-Sun) uncovers the real
roots of Danish life in
Solvang. Tranquil today,
Mission Santa Inés (www.
missionsantaines.org; 1760
Mission Dr; adult/child $5/free;
h9am-4:30pm) witnessed
an 1824 Chumash revolt
against Spanish colonial
cruelty.54 p 193
The Drive » Continue west
on Hwy 246 past equestrian
ranches and the famous ostrich
farm (as seen during Jack’s
predawn run in Sideways) for
just a few miles to Buellton.
Continue across Hwy 101 and
drive west toward Lompoc.44 Santa Rita Hills
When it comes to rolling
scenery, ecoconscious
farming practices and
top-notch pinot noirs
and chardonnays kissed
by coastal fog, the Santa
Rita Hills (www.staritahills.
com) undoubtedly hold
their own. Almost a
dozen tasting rooms
open their doors daily
along this 36-mile scenic
loop west of Hwy 101.
Be prepared to share
these slow-moving roads
with sweaty cyclists,
Harley Davidson bikers
and an occasional John
Deere tractor. Heading
west of Buellton into the
countryside, Babcock
Winery (www.babcockwinery.
com; 5175 E Hwy 146,
Lompoc; tasting fee $10-15;
h10:30am-4pm Nov-Feb, to5pm Mar-Oct) and Melville
Vineyards and Winery
(www.melvillewinery.com;
5185 E Hwy 146, Lompoc;
tasting fee $10; h11am-4pm)
are neighboring small-
lot estate winemakers
who talk about pounds
per plant, not tons per
acre. Turn left onto
Hwy 1 south, then left
again on Santa Rosa
Rd. Follow the cacti
and cobblestones into
organic-certifi ed Alma
Rosa Winery & Vineyards
(www.almarosawinery.
com; 7250 Santa Rosa Rd,
Buellton; tastings fee $10-15;
h11am-4:30pm), whose
tasting room cameoed in
Sideways.The Drive » At the eastern
end of Santa Rosa Rd, merge
onto fast-tracked Hwy 101
northbound. After 6 miles, take
the Hwy 154 exit for Los Olivos,
driving another 3 miles further
east past more rolling vineyards.55 Los Olivos
Strutting in cowboy
hats and high heels, the
ranching town of ‘The
Olives’ has a four-block-
long main street lined
with wine bars and
restaurants, art galleries,
cafes and fashionable
shops seemingly airlifted
straight out of Napa
Valley. To make it all
the more perfect, you
can easily walk between
downtown’s inviting
wine-tasting rooms on
a long, lazy afternoon.
Qupé Wines (www.qupe.
com; 2963 Grand Ave;
tastings $10; h11am-5pm)ranks among the most
respected syrah and
chardonnay producers
on California’s Central
Coast. Or chat with
the family winemakers
inside the wooden-
shack tasting room
at Carhartt Vineyard
(www.carharttvineyard.com;
2990A Grand Ave; tasting fee
$10; h11am-5pm). For a
break from the grapes,
the pint-sized Wildling
Art Museum (www.
wildlingmuseum.org; 2928
San Marcos Ave; admission
by donation; h11am-5pm
Wed-Sun) exhibits nature-
themed California and
American Western art.5 p 193
The Drive » From Los Olivos,
drive west on Hwy 154 for 3
miles. Before reaching Hwy 101,
turn right onto Zaca Station
Rd, then follow it for 3 winding
miles northwest onto Foxen
Canyon Rd.66 Foxen Canyon
On the celebrated
wine trail through
Foxen Canyon (www.
foxencanyonwinetrail.com),
tidy rows of grapevines
border some of Santa
Barbara County’s
prettiest wineries. This
country lane meanders
north all the way to the
Santa Maria Valley before
fi nally reaching the 1875
San Ramon Chapel (www.
sanramonchapel.org), a good
turnaround point after
13 miles.TRIP HIGHLIGHTTRIP HIGHLIGHT190
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA17
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