We happen to be in town for the wifey's birthday weekend. After doing some research, I knew this…read moreOlive + Lavender farm would be a great spot to check out. Glad we added it to the itinerary. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon. The olive oil tasting farm is located in a nice neighborhood area in downtown Los Olivos. There is parking accessible in the back parking lot and limited parking next to the olive oil tasting area and boutique shop. As soon as we parked and headed to the olive oil tasting area, we were greeted by a very friendly and hospitable staff member. I appreciated all the information she told us about the property and instructions about the olive oil tasting experience. Their complimentary olive oil tasting was unique and unlike any other olive oil tasting I had ever done before. There were 10 different olive oils to taste from. You are given a freshly made sourdough bread slice to go along with a tray with a menu sheet of all the olive oils. Some of the olive oils that stood out to me were the white truffle, garlic, and Italian honey. We were then encouraged to explore the rest of the property where there was a charcuterie cart, pottery vendor, and complimentary wine tasting on the other side of the premises. This enhanced our olive oil tasting experience even more. The rest of the property was beautiful as there were a lot of tables and chairs for guests to enjoy. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Olive + Lavender Farms. The staff were nice and accommodating. The vibe was relaxing and inviting. The boutique shop were selling a lot of wonderful and distinctive local products in the area. The olive oils price point are in the higher end. Next time we are in the area we would love to come back.

Such a gem of a place. Popped in to hopefully buy some lavender plants in pots. And while they…read moredon't sell lavender to plant (why not!?), they had a lovely selection of other things. We did a free olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting, and both my friend and I bought a bottle of habanero olive oil, so yummy! They sell bundles of lavender, soaps, cute kitchen things, candles etc etc. A great stop to pick up some gifts and great way to support local businesses.

After reading Monty's book we knew we wanted to visit his ranch. We were met by his son-in-law who…read moreintroduced us to Debbie (Monty & Pat's daughter). We didn't know what to expect but she is so kind and took time to show us around the ranch and explain how the incoming wild mustangs and other horses are "gentled" into a loving and trusting relationship with their handlers. After meeting several horses on the property it was clear how effective their methods are. Each horse was so at peace and comfortable with us. The atmosphere on the ranch is serene and inviting and makes a horse lover want to linger. It truly is a wonderful place and all credit goes to Monty and Pat and their amazing lives and perseverance. They've built something beautiful and are so kind to share it with the world.

I was on a company incentive trip and this was listed as one of the options for an excursion. I…read morealways 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.

I really enjoyed my visit here ! The prices are a great value at this lavender farm. I really…read moreappreciate the whole experience: you pick up your basket, clippers, gloves, and come inside to wrap the bundle. I really enjoyed the candles scent and price point. The service was great, friendly and helpful recommendations. You can actually buy lavender plants here. Must make stop if you are in the area

Stopped by here a couple of weekends ago and had a lovely time picking lavender with the kids…read more There aren't any big signs but you'll see the fields of lavender with the open gate and a couple pop-up tents with lavender plants and products. The lady running the stall is very friendly and provides baskets and snippers for picking. We bought a few soaps as well and then picnicked under a beautiful oak tree on the property. Definitely recommend!

Super cute and quaint looking winery! There is plenty of seating, including both indoor and outdoor…read morepicnic tables. They do not require a reservation for smaller groups which is great for those traveling from further away. It is located about 10 minutes away from Copenhagen Drive, so it is addition to the Solvang day trip itinerary. My party of 3 enjoyed a Signature Flight ($35), Adobe Flight ($30), Charcuterie Board ($28), and Margherita Pizza ($20). We enjoyed both flights as well as everything on the Charcuterie Board, besides the wine jam as it was a little too strong for us. We also surprisingly enjoyed the Margherita Pizza, which was flavorful and the ingredients tasted very fresh. The staff were all very sweet and patient with us when walking us through the menu. Overall, we absolutely loved the experience and the ambiance, felt like we were in a fairytale with all the greenery!

Just visited Rideau Winery and we had great time. Beautiful property, the outdoor patio is huge and…read morepet friendly too. Plentiful seating options, especially for large groups and family. Services is personable and very friendly. My favorite from their Signature flight, is the Grenache which is delicious and smooth, followed by the Chateau Duplantier. For Adobe flight, the Zotovich and Sangiovese are terrific. Gorgeous on the palette indeed! Definitely will come back on my next visit to Santa Ynez.

The property is absolutely breathtaking!…read more The owners: The owners are generous and lovely people. There was a minor setback during my wedding reception. The owners generously offered to rescue the day. If it wasn't for their kindness, my wedding guests would have been eating dinner in the rain. I am forever thankful. The owners are wine club members. They offered us private wine tastings, and surely enough, we became club members. The wines are very good. Jerry and Liz did the hard work of finding the terrific wine makers and we were able to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor. As club members, our third night in the cabana was free ; a perk we surely appreciated! The Cabana: Larger than I had expected. The bed is perfectly cozy. The bathroom is modern with classic Italian touches. There are two cabanas on the property, one on each side of the pool. This worked out perfectly because my sister rented the smaller cabana. Having morning coffee with my family surrounded by a magnificent vineyard backdrop seemed like a dream. The living room opens into the beautiful grounds. One of the double doors leads to the pool and the other double doors lead to an outdoor seating area with an adjacent fire pit. The double doors create an illusion of an extended living space, uniting the cabana with the beautiful vineyard. My husband discovered that we could watch television while sitting in the outdoor seating area. This was a true treat for him, he could enjoy the beautiful grounds without missing Sunday night football. The Amenities: The kitchen has a full fridge which was really nice, especially because I had quite a bit of wedding cake leftover. There is a large country style sink which adds a classic feel to the living area. There is a dishwasher, microwave and ice maker; all of which came in handy during our stay. My family and I took advantage of the grill and bar area as well. The men did a little grilling while the gals relaxed by the fire pit with our glasses of wine. The weather was a too cold for swimming, but we can't wait to come back in the summer to take advantage of the pool as well. The Grounds: Absolutely breathtaking. I woke up to a crisp clean morning after a night of rain; brewed a cup of aromatic coffee and took a walk amongst the beautiful vines. The rose bushes were blooming with fragrant flowers. Basil blossomed from the herb planters and the birds were chirping near the beautiful trees. I can hear the distant pitter patter of horses in the adjacent property. My wedding morning seemed like a dream. The grounds are gorgeous. The Surrounding Area: Santa Ynez houses several terrific vineyards which also have beautiful tasting rooms and picnic areas. Several of these vineyards are within a five minute drive of the property. The quaint town of Solvang is about a ten minute drive. Solvang has many terrific wine tasting rooms, bake shops with amazing pastries, and plenty of sight-seeing possibilities. The road leading up to the property is picturesque, so don't miss out on the photo opportunities. I consider myself lucky for discovering such a gem. If you are reading this review, I encourage you to come and stay amongst the vines in this Italian casa. And don't forget to become wine club members! My family and I can't wait to come back!

My husband and I booked a wine tour (Artisan Excursion) and our first stop was here. Jerry greeted…read moreus as soon as we stepped off the van. He was so warm and inviting. We were the only ones on the tour and he made us feel like family. He was very informative and gave us the history and knowledge to make the whole experience amazing! A great family history and overall fantastic time! A definite must!

I loved this cozy hotel. Front desk staff were awesome and very helpful. The bar seemed cool but…read moredidn't offer dining options other than small bites. The pool and hot tub looked very inviting but were always busy so we didn't use it . Our room was a nice size and offered a small fridge, microwave and Keurig. No bath tub but nice shower. I liked that the shower/toilet were separated from the sink and mirror to get ready and wash up. The best thing about this place is the location and how it's walking distance to lots of restaurants, bakeries, wine tasting and shopping.

We booked two nights the weekend of July 31 for a little end of summer girl's trip. The hotel is in…read morea good location. Upon checking in, we were told that the lounge & bar would be closed all weekend. This was a bummer, it is one of the reasons we booked the hotel originally. When we got to the room, the smell was awful. It smelled musty and moldy. We opened the window and turned on the air, that helped not one bit. So, we asked for a different room. They accommodated this request quickly, which was great. The hotel advertises electric vehicle charging stations. While this is true, they are NOT the fast charging ones, rather they are the type you install at your house. This means charging can take several hours. Thiscreates an annoying backlog situation - no one is going to sit around for hours while their vehicle charges. Inevitably, you go into town and return when you're ready, at which point your car is either still charging OR it has finished charging, but is now taking up a charger that might be needed. No one is going to run back to the hotel to unplug and move their car. Also, there are only two chargers and they are in the tightest, most inconvenient location in the parking lot. When I opened my trunk to put my bags in, the trunk lid HIT a large pipe running above the parking spot. They need far more chargers installed if they're going to advertise this amenity. When we returned to the hotel on our first evening, we got ZERO sleep. For one, the AC is very, very loud and goes off and on all night. On top of that, and this is what spoiled things actually, a dog in an adjoining room barked loudly ALL NIGHT LONG. It was unbearable. I called the front desk several times, and they didn't really seem to understand the gravity of the situation. They just said yea, it's very frustrating, we're trying to contact the owners, but nothing really resolved. We got no sleep and it was so frustrating. Operating on no sleep, we went out the next day to explore the town. When it got hot in the afternoon hours, we returned to the hotel to relax and get a nap in before dinner. But guess what? MORE DOG BARKING. For hours. And the same spiel from the front desk and management. So, no naps for us. It was beyond frustrating. After all that, the management offered no compensation or anything. They really didn't even address the dog barking except when I made the phone call to the front desk. It was all empty apologies and no action. All in all, it was a frustrating experience and I would hesitate to book there again.

Searched up things to do with kids in Solvang and Ostrichland USA was at the top of the results…read more This is a must visit for all ages, frankly. We spent maybe an hour to an hour and a half here, but could have stretched it to two hours tops. You get a chance to feed the emus and ostriches, just be mindful of the tips and tricks that the staff give you to avoid any errant pecking or biting. Lots of photo opportunities to be had. We even saw a little cat mascot napping away outside the gift shop. There is a penny stamping machine and lots of other great gift options available as well. We got a little ostrich marionette that our son loves, as well as some faux ostrich leather pieces. The staff person in the store was very friendly and informative. The ostrich eggs that they sell are pretty cool and they do sell some ostrich jerky, but it is not from the ostriches on this farm, so no worries there :) Prices in 2026 were $10 per adult and $5 per child + $1 to feed the ostriches. Parking is easy and ample. Restrooms are available.

Super cute place for kids! $10 enterance adult…read more $5 kids $1 feeding There's a lot of ostriches to feed and emos Pretty clean and well kept They had ostrich beef jerky at the gift shop!

Wow, it's like staying in a castle! This place has history - restored with care by the current…read moreowners Stephen and Chelsea, who are hands on and care about every detail. We stayed in Room 1, with a sitting room and separate king bedroom, plus a big bathtub and a shower that fans of the Madonna Inn will appreciate (rock walls and a massive rainfall shower head). Mattress was one of the best ever. Beautiful established flower gardens all around the property. Great A/C. Nespresso coffee maker is always fun and yummy. Nice amenities all around. Check in at the Tavern after 4pm. GM/Owners were very responsive to texts and calls. Can order breakfast to your room by 9pm night before. Tavern restaurant and bar is excellent (see separate review).

It's a beautiful property the rooms were clean and nice but definitely felt more a venue. We…read morechecked into our room inside the restaurant which felt off. My husband ran out of coffee cups and they seemed annoyed to bring it. Also the pool wasn't working which was stated on their website but unfortunately not on the website we booked through (booking.com) I also asked for clean sheets and they said that I would've had to let them know at check-in ?

For all you craft beer lovers, this is the place to visit! It's also a great spot for people…read morewatching and the kind of place where everyone knows your name. They have so many different options to choose from, and the customer service is always great. You can even order food from nearby places, and don't miss their amazing smash burgers on Thursdays! If you're someone who prefers a nice glass of wine instead, this place has you covered too. A great spot to relax, enjoy a drink, and have a good time.

Would love to come back and try other beers. Space is very airy and chill. Perfect day for a…read morecold beer.

If you have ever been curious, my dear Yelp Review Reader, in visiting a "California Spanish…read moreMission" then the Old Mission Santa Ines might be just "the ticket" you're looking for. It is listed as the 19th of 21 Spanish Missions in CA...founded in 1804 , completed in 1807. The mission contains a working Catholic Church, a chapel (closed on the weekends), beautiful gardens, cemetery, museum and gift shop. There is plenty of parking available. To take the self guided tour...enter the Gift Shop and pay the fee. Once paid, the Attendant will present you with a map and general directions and off you go! If you're there when there is a "service" in the Church, the museum door to the Church is locked so you'll need to enter the Church from its main entrance. The museum has lots of interesting items, but the collection of 15th century Vestments is stunning (a must see). The beautiful gardens have walking paths along which there are several small stone structures (Shrines) that are very picturesque and worth visiting. We spent at least 2.5 hours "taking it all in" and enjoyed this visit and the conversations it inspires tremendously. On this occasion...in this Yelper's opinion, the Old Mission Santa Ines surpassed expectations and delivered a powerful look in history past...truly earning this "if you have an interest, then take the time to see this" 5 Star Review.

Unfortunately, we were there too late to do a tour or visit the gift shop but that was okay too. We…read morewalked around the property to make the most of our time. The garden and grounds are pretty and well maintained. Since everything was closed, we weren't able to see inside any of the buildings. We'll plan a visit the next time we're there. I look forward to seeing and learning more about the mission and it's history.