Getting There
To reach the Santa Ynez Valley from the north, take Hwy. 101 to Hwy. 154 at Los Olivos. Tiny Ballard lies 3 miles south off Baseline Road. The turnoff for Solvang is just beyond, west on Hwy. 246, while a straight jaunt on Hwy. 154 will take you through the spectacular San Marcos Pass and onto Hwy. 101 toward Santa Barbara.
From the south, take Hwy. 154 off Hwy. 101 at Goleta (just north of Santa Barbara), up through the San Marcos Pass. A left turn heading west on Hwy. 246 takes you into Solvang; continuing straight along Hwy. 154 takes you through Los Olivos and onto Hwy. 101 toward San Luis Obispo.
Visitor Information
Contact the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association, P.O. Box 1918, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 (tel. 800/742-2843; www.syvva.com), for general visitors' information. The local and comprehensive website www.solvangca.com also carries information about the entire valley, as well as Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. Always a definitive authority for activity in the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys is the Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association, 3669 Sagunto St., Unit 101 (P.O. Box 1558), Santa Ynez, CA 93460 (tel. 800/218-0881 or 805/688-0881; www.sbcountywines.com), which also publishes a Winery Touring Map. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. The Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, 1511 Mission Dr., at Fifth Street (P.O. Box 70), Solvang, CA 93464 (tel. 800/468-6765 or 805/688-6144; www.solvangusa.com), has additional information on the Santa Ynez Valley, including maps and brochures. It's open daily from 9am to 5pm (a satellite visitor information office is at 1639 Copenhagen Dr.).
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
