We've been meaning to plan a horseback riding excursion for the past five years during our…read moreThanksgiving weekends at Cachuma Lake Campground. This year, we finally made it happen--and it was everything we hoped for and more. After searching Yelp for nearby stables, this ranch stood out with the best reviews by far, (now I see why), so our hopes were high. I'm so glad we decided to trust the reviews and drive the extra 15-20 minutes to this place. I was tempted by the value of the half-day ride, but since it had been several years since either of us had been on horseback, we decided to go conservative and chose the 1.5-hour trail ride instead. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Jack, who checked us in and handled the paperwork. He was funny, friendly, and efficient--such a great start to the experience. I grew up riding English, with all the rules drilled into me from childhood, so being told (for only the second time in my life!) that I didn't have to wear a helmet felt almost rebellious. Yes, I know safety matters, and yes, my daughter was smart enough to wear one--but I have to admit, it felt wonderfully freeing. Russell was fantastic as well. Our horses were fully tacked and waiting, ready for us to hop on. As someone accustomed to doing much of the prep work myself, it felt strange--and a bit indulgent--to have mounting steps and a completely ready-to-go horse. My old riding instructors would be ashamed and shaking their heads at me. Though I felt a little "spoonfed," I know this is a huge perk for beginners or anyone unfamiliar with horses. Personally, I would've enjoyed grooming or prepping my horse, but that's not the norm for organized trail rides like this. After the ride, Russell was right there to help us dismount, cracking jokes and keeping us laughing the whole time. I had to laugh when he said, "You're just like me--good looking and short on legs!" Our trail guide, Elrich (Elrick?6, was excellent. Our group was small--just my daughter and me, plus one other couple. My daughter and I are both experienced English riders, while the other couple had never ridden before. Elrich struck the perfect balance, giving the beginners enough guidance without making the ride dull for the rest of us. While I always love a bit more trotting and cantering, I know that's not typical for these types of outings, and honestly, I had an absolute blast just being on a horse again. I've missed it so much. My daughter and I are already planning to return next year for the 2.5-hour ride. The trail itself? Absolutely breathtaking. I've been riding since childhood--now over 60--and have been on countless trail rides. This is, truly the most beautiful trail I've ever experienced. Waterfalls, streams, a few ocean views and stunning mountain scenery... it was spectacular from start to finish. If you're choosing between this ranch and nearby stables, I highly recommend trying this one first. You won't be disappointed, It's a wonderful experience, a gorgeous trail, and a fantastic way to spend the day.

This Ranch is so beautiful the pictures don't do justice! I've been on many horse back rides all…read moreover the US and the guide from Montana that does the tours is phenomenal! He loves what he does, is very knowledgeable, pleasant to talk to and shared a lot of nice stories about the outdoors. He is definitely an asset to Circle Bar Stables. For anyone booking try to go on his tour!! The nice gentleman that answers the phones is very sweet, I had to call several times to change my tour and he was so helpful I can tell he has been with the Stables a long time and loves being there. When I arrived I was the only one and he told me to go walk around while I was waiting I guess he read my mind. I had to take off 2 stars because of the Gentleman from Texas that works there. He honestly seems like he hates his job, he asked me several times if I was on a horse before and I told him give me any horse I'll be fine. He chose AXE and while he was bringing him over to me AXE was being a little stubborn and didn't want to come not because he didn't go on the trail but he was uncomfortable with the Texan. What bothered me most was he said "AXE STOP BEING A JERK" which made me really upset and uncomfortable. I don't like it when people wok with animals and call them derogatory names.

Had a fantastic time at LOV. The owners were great and the wine was too. Enjoyed it so much we…read morejoined the wine club.

Wonderful wines and lavender essential oil. Owner very nice and made sure we had a wonderful…read moreexperience. Became members and looking forward to many trips there. Small winery and quality wines.

Great experience!!! Liz was a doll and great guide, thanks again! Early morning ride was the best!!!read more

Stay away from the buellton location. Don't spend your money here. The trail is not maintained ,…read morenor is the guide of any help. She is extremely rude, makes you feel extremely unwanted almost like you're bothering her. Bob responded that it was a false review here's a photo of the tour guide we had.

Amazing time here!! Jeff (owner) took his time explaining wines and its process. Beautiful…read moreranch/winery. Wines are amazing.

Excellent grounds and very very good wines. Owner and wine maker Jeff has done an amazing job with…read morethis property. Enjoyed talking with Jeff not only about wines but his horses and his passion to have a top notch experience while visiting his property I give it a 5 star rating

Stopping at Ostrichland USA on our way home from Solvang a few weeks ago was a must on our…read moreitinerary! Pricing was $7 for adults and $3 for kids under 12 plus $1 for each person wanting to feed the Ostrich and Emu. You enter through a gift shop and then out to where all of the birds are - they even had a couple of bunnies and a cat. There were so many Ostrich and Emu spread out everywhere. They come right up to you and just start pecking away! Tip: if you walk down further where the Emu are, there is more room to move around and plus there are lots of birds to feed. I think the Ostrich at the front of the entrance get most of the food - we felt bad not going to where the others were. The whole area was pretty cool - it kind of felt like we were on a safari with how picturesque the mountains and land were. The lady running the gift shop who also explained the rules was very nice! I highly recommend if you have small kids or just need a place to stop and stretch your legs! They offer bathrooms as well! Check them out!

We came to Solvang for the day and our friend's suggested we visit Ostrichland USA so our son can…read moresee the giant birds. It was actually a fun place and a lot bigger than I anticipated. My son was me mesmerized by the amount of ostrich and emus that were at farm. One thing that you have to be careful, specially if you have little ones, some of the birds can be quiet aggressive when feeding them and I saw some people get pecked. We were there for less than an hour and that was enough time for us to walk around the entire farm and feed the ostrich and emus. We had a great experience overall and recommended for families to try at least once and worth the memories.

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.

We had a really nice time at Vino Vaqueros. Our group did the 9am ride, which ended up being a…read moregreat call as the weather was cool and comfortable, and it made the whole experience more enjoyable. Char was our guide, and she struck a good balance of keeping things relaxed while still making sure everyone felt comfortable, especially since a few people in our group hadn't been horseback riding before. I rode Boomer, who was steady and easy to ride, and we appreciated that they gave a simple safety overview before heading out. After the ride, we did a casual tasting of both a red and white wine and then chose a glass of our favorite to hang with. The setting was quiet and pretty, and it felt low-key in the best possible way. One of the dogs Nana even joined us for the ride. Overall, it was a calm, well-paced outing that felt thoughtfully run without being overly structured.

Had a lovely time on our trail ride! Some of the horses were a bit stubborn at times, but whatcha…read moregonna do? Just added some amusement and laughs to the experience hahaha. Our two guides were great and one took plenty of pictures during the ride, which was really nice because we got to have those memories documented without worrying about having our phones out while on horseback. The trail itself was a beautiful view of the springtime flower blooms on the hills. I'd recommend bringing a hat or sunglasses because it can be a bit bright, and there's room for a water bottle in the saddle bags.

In my day…read more. I have been to so many Vineyards & even a few Farms too. But this place.. Is a twofer! Yeah, baby! A Vineyard AND a Farm! Beat that Napa Valley! Ok, Ok.. I know Napa Valley is like THE Mecca of Wineries, at least in California, & going there once before, I kinda understand, kinda. But is it really that much better? In my humble opinion.. Ehh. It was whatever Sure, I'm down dropping a nice crispy Benjamin to get that aged, vintage 2013 Cab.. But will I really care, or even notice once that bottle is depleted & I'm now ordering the 2nd least expensive Chenin Blanc on the menu just to wash away all my worries. (Suddenly, Every wine snob, wine aficionado & novice sommelier enters the chat) But, But Lance, it's Napa, How dare you speak against this Holy Land of all Superior Wine. And to that I say, I get it. I truly understand that not all wine is created equally, but also that not all of us have the BIG BUCKS to continuously drop $100 big ones on that prized Napa Cab. Hey, call me crazy, but to me, it's not just ALL about the wine that is produced, but more about the overall experience. It's the vibe. It's the way you are treated. & it's definitely about how they made you feel. Anyone else getting Maya Angelou vibes?? IYKYK ;) **All Wine Snobs have left the Chat** *Vega Vineyard and Farm has entered the chat* Alright team Vega, sit back, kick your feet up, & just listen while I brag a little about you. It was a BEAUTIFUL November afternoon just 4 days prior to Thanksgiving. We were heading back south from Paso Robles & decided to make a little pit stop before getting all the way back home. So my wife looked up wineries in the area that were kid friendly & Vega was at the top of the list. Walking in, we noticed that they had a little restaurant right at the entrance, so we went to put our name down for a table. Unfortunately, the wait time was a little longer than we wanted to wait, only because we had the kids with us, but the hostess suggested if we didn't want to wait, that they had more food on the other end of the farm in "Pops Place". Other than the wine itself, eating the food in "Pops Place" was probably the best move we could have unintentionally made that day. (I'll explain in a bit) So we slowly made our way towards the other side of the farm/vineyard & all I can say is, what a gorgeous property it was. The farm life, the outdoors, the weather, & I was with my Fam. It couldn't have been a better day! Once we got to Pops Place, it was like we entered into a whole new world. A huge area for kids with a jungle gym, stations for outdoor games & activities, benches to sit, even private cabanas you can reserve (not sure if there is a cost) & of course a little shack to order food and wine! So remember earlier when I said eating in Pops Place was probably the best move we could have made that day, Well here are 3 reasons why! 1) We ordered the George's Greek Gyro Pita w/fries (a beef gyro with lettuce, tomato, onions & tzatziki wrapped in a pita) and.. OH. MY. GAWDDD It was so flippin' GOOD! It was so good, that I didn't even have time to snap a pic, let alone set it down after taking that 1st bite. It was complete perfection! 2) Chicken Strips & Fries from the kids menu w/a side of ranch.. Let's just say, The kids loved 'em. 3) We washed it all down w/a beautiful, crisp, perfect for a fall day, 2024 bottle of their finest ALBARIÑO. & it was, EXCELLENT!! After we sat & ate, let the kids get out all of their energy, the fun at Vega continued. From there, we headed to feed the livestock on the property (lettuce sold onsite for a few bucks). There were Chickens, Goats, Pigs, Emu's & Sheep, and the kids and myself had a blast feeding 'em. After that, we stopped off at one of their gift shops to browse all of the fun stuff. Of course, we got the kids their requested candy! The staff we interacted with while at Vega were all so kind, welcoming & made us feel apart of the extended Vega family. Because of this, we will definitely be coming back next time we pass through. So, & this is where YOU come in! The next time you are passing through Buellton, do yourself, your spouse and your kids, if you've got them, a HUGE favor: Come check out Vega Vineyard & Farm and tell me that I was right!

Had a great family brunch at Vega Vineyard and Farm in Buellton and it checked all the boxes. The…read morewine was solid across the board, easy to sip and perfect for a slow brunch vibe. Best part was they actually make it fun for families. Plenty of space for the kids to run around and entertainment to keep them busy while the adults relax and enjoy a glass. Good wine, happy kids, zero stress. That's a win.

We stopped at Kaena at the Ranch after a visiting Ostrichland and we're so glad we did! I'm so…read morehappy we saw their name and logo while we were driving into Solvang because we immediately knew there was some kind of tie to Hawaii! We truly felt at home just like Ohana (family)! Sally took wonderful care of us with our tasting while she told us more about Kaena's history. Although the weather wasn't cooperating with our vacation schedule very well we still managed to get out to enjoy all that we could. The cold and wet rain we maneuvered around seemed to bring a lot of people indoors for drier activities so it was so nice to see all the traffic many of the places we visited buzzing! Kaena had a steady stream of people coming and going during our visit so we were very happy to see them doing well! Their tasting room was welcoming and very spacious! I don't remember seeing that there were any food items for sale, but we had just eaten lunch so we weren't looking for anything to eat... There's lots of parking out front. There are a few cats roaming around the property in case you have allergies but they didn't come near us. We loved our visit with Kaena at the Ranch and hope you will love it just as much as we did! Mahalo for supporting them!

Kaena at the Ranch is a beautiful winery located in Solvang. If you want Hawaiian vibes, friendly…read morehospitality and some great tasting wines then come here! The owner is a Hawaiian native who's been crowned "The King of Grenache" and I can see why! I enjoyed the standard tasting flight, which included Grenache Rosé, Hapa Blanc, Tierra Alta Grenache, Ronin and Hapa Red. I can honestly say every single one was good. Normally there's at least one wine that I don't care for, but this tasting flight was probably the best I've tried. The location of this winery is on a ranch. It's beautiful, spacious and located next to a horse ranch. What a bonus! I wandered over to the horses and they let me pet them. I absolutely adored them. Chiquita the cat is also onsite ready to greet you at the parking lot. They offer a small batch of snacks, beverages and charcuterie. You are also allowed to bring your own food. Customer service here is outstanding! Unfortunately, I can't remember the lady that tended to us on our visit, but she was friendly and helpful at explaining each pour. Overall, a gem of a place to check out!

This was our third stay with Dare 2 Dream Farms. We love the peace and tranquility of the property…read moreand the kindness of the staff and ownership. It is like staying with family. Loved it and will be back again!

I wish I'd read the plethora of negative reviews before buying chicks from this farm. It would have…read moresaved me from a total nightmare. I paid $50-$60 per bird for 5 chickens from Dare 2 Dream Farms because I believed I was buying healthy, responsibly raised animals from a higher-standard, "organic" operation. What arrived was the opposite. The transport box itself already contained bloody stool. Before the birds were even out, there was visible evidence of serious illness. Once inside, it became clear how severe it was. These chickens were emaciated to the point of feeling skeletal, weak, huddling, and not drinking. Within hours they were deteriorating and continuing to pass blood. This was not stress. These were critically ill animals on arrival. For comparison, I also bought 3 new chicks from a different source the day before (costing ~$20 per bird). Those birds were active, chirping, eating, and thriving immediately. The contrast was stark. An independent poultry specialist confirmed what was evident: these birds were severely compromised and had been for some time. This condition does not develop during transport. Beyond the condition of the birds themselves, this created a serious biosecurity risk. I have an established, healthy, happy flock of 13 hens and 3 chicks. Introducing visibly sick birds -- with active bloody stool -- put my entire flock at risk of infection. I had to immediately isolate, treat, and manage the situation as a potential contamination event, spending the next 9 days in intensive, around-the-clock care trying to keep the new birds alive while protecting the rest of my flock. Nightmare and ethical dilemma. The response from the farm made the situation worse. The condition was initially minimized as "normal", then explanations shifted. At the same time, I was repeatedly encouraged to return the birds. I refused. Given their state, I believe they would have died if they had been sent back. They required constant intervention just to stabilize. A partial "goodwill" refund was offered while I was actively managing a severe medical situation, then a full refund was made contingent on returning the birds, and ultimately any refund was revoked. To be clear: 1. Premium price charged for supposedly high-quality birds 2. Birds arrived visibly sick, emaciated, and passing blood 3. Biohazard risk introduced to a healthy flock 4. Condition minimized rather than addressed 5. Pressure to return animals in critical condition 6. Refund offered, then withdrawn This is not a minor issue or bad luck. This is a failure of basic animal welfare and responsible husbandry. I cannot recommend this farm under any circumstances.