Top Things to do in Santa Ynez Valley
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Top 10 Sights & Landmarks in Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Ynez Valley
Discover the best top things to do in Santa Ynez Valley, United States including Global Gardens, Labyrinth at St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, Flag Is Up Farms, Old Mission Santa Ines, Santa Ynez Wine Trail, Clairmont Farms, Seein' Spots Farm, Rancho Olivos, Bethania Lutheran Church, Visitor Center.
Restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley
1. Global Gardens
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
Santa Barbara county's 1st Certified Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Producer 3 acre mini farm featuring a family-friendly tasting bar where you'll taste over 12 products for $5. Our knowledgeable family business will make you an olive oil expert in less than 15 minutes! You'll also taste hand-crafted fruit Balsamic Vinegars. We also make organic snacks, spice blends and glazes. Soaps and lotions are made with our olive oil too. Our property is part of an 1800's Wells Fargo Stage Coach stop, surrounded by the original stone wall which housed a black smith who repaired carriages and horse shoes. Now, our contemporary farm and green house has a picnic garden adjacent to our Farm Stand where you can take in the sights, smells and sounds of sweet Los Olivos country air as you experience fresh Extra Virgin Olive Oils and foodie fun flavors unique to your taste buds. Join our Olive Revolution and get 20% off! We love what we do and promise you'll love it too.
Reviewed By danamitetv
We tasted olive oils and vinegar at this cute little stop near Los Olivos, CA. There is nothing like freshly harvested olive oil. Lucky for us some of their oil was only harvested last week! Yum! Plus we loved their fig and strawberry vinegars, among others! Real taste treats! We also enjoyed seeing their caper plants they just planted! I love capers but I had never seen the plants! Can't wait for that harvest. We will be back!
2. Labyrinth at St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
3. Flag Is Up Farms
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By Billd90 - Saint Louis, United States
I was on a company incentive trip and this was listed as one of the options for an excursion. I always like to pick things that I normally wouldn't pay for if I was on vacation and this was a place I would have put in that category. The bus ride was about an hour from Santa Barbara which was a beautiful ride. When you pull into the facility you're pulling right into wash the barns and the horses and the round pens. Basically what you would consider a large but typical kind of horse farm. This farm is owned by Monty Roberts who has been training horses for a long long time. What he does is train unbroke horses to be able to have a rider get on within a very short amount of time by using techniques that make the horse trust what you're doing. Today we were there the owner of a horse was there at the facility videotaping the process. Within 22 minutes he had one of his writers on that horse without a single buck. The owner of the horse was nearly in tears. This visit wasn't about him training a horse, it was about life in general and how getting people to perform at their highest level without forcing anything out of them. This really was a life lesson not a horse lesson. After this was over he allowed us up to his house where they had cooked an unbelievable lunch for us and set in his backyard overlooking the entire valley and his ranch. The entire experience was unbelievable and something I will never forget and I would encourage anyone to see what it's like.
4. Old Mission Santa Ines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 520 reviews
Reviewed By CleopatraBunny - Flagstaff, United States
This active Catholic Church has a well-curated collection of old mission tools, vestments, furnishings and other items from the 1800s mission life. Cemetery has over 1000 people buried here but most graves are not marked. What’s worthwhile is the self-guided audio tour. You push little buttons on the wall in seven areas to hear the history and backstory on each room and the church itself. Plenty of free parking and charming gift shop staff.
5. Santa Ynez Wine Trail
6. Clairmont Farms
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56 reviews
Clairmont Farms is a family owned and operated, working lavender farm. Come and see 12,000 Grosso lavender plants, the lavender distillery which operates daily and enjoy learning how lavender farming is done and how the products are made. Bring a picnic and eat by the field. The gift shop has all sorts of lavender products from soaps, shampoos, essential oils to even dog shampoo. Open 10-6 daylight savings time and 10-5 standard time.
Reviewed By leight148 - Medina, United States
My sister and I were visiting vineyards in the area and a lady suggested we go to this lavender farm. We are so glad we did. We had a wonderful visit with the owners and bought some of their lavender products. Great visit and I highly suggest a visit, you’ll be glad you did.
7. Seein' Spots Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Another great farm to stop at while touring the Santa Ynez Valley...home to miniature donkeys.
Reviewed By mintchip17 - Beverly Hills, United States
This was truly the highlight of my weekend in Los Olivos! It's a wonderful little farm/animal rescue sanctuary that has a charming variety of animals - mini donkeys, sheep, goats, a turkey, chickens, a tortoise...I could go on. I am absolutely obsessed with a 2 week old baby donkey that I bonded with - he is insanely adorable, so sweet and if I could have taken him home to Los Angeles I would have! We enjoyed speaking with the owner who gave us the back stories on some of their animals. If you love interacting with animals, this is a must visit sanctuary. There's no charge but you can make a donation so please consider doing the same to help them care for all these little creatures. We visited during their open Saturday hours but check in advance as it's mostly by appointment.
8. Rancho Olivos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
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.
Reviewed By danamitetv
So fun to taste olive oil at Rancho Olivos! You get to taste at their super cute "farm stand" right in the middle of the olive trees! John & Shannon are so nice and knowledgeable! You will learn so much about extra virgin olive oil. I love the Italian, and the garlic! Also I loved seeing the horses and their friendly dogs! Great experience!
9. Bethania Lutheran Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By WHS-Eagle - Prescott, United States
The church is designed to resemble a small rural Danish village church. The wood carvings, originally intended for a church in Denmark, are worth the visit. Traditions, for example, the ship hanging from the ceiling, are explained.
10. Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By mini - Fremont, United States
While we were in Solvang, we visited the Visitor center. its in the heart of the downtown area. There is a walking map of Solvang, plus brochures for Solvang and the surroundung area. The staff is very helpful.The visitor center was welcoming with its decor and holiday decorations.
