2 minute read
Trip Planner
Do more, for less in Santa Maria Valley
Wine, food, and fun await on the Central Coast
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» MAKE THE MOST OF THE CENTRAL COAST SAFELY
AND AFFORDABLY IN SANTA MARIA VALLEY. When you use Santa Maria Valley as your Central Coast home base, you get more for less. Experience more world-class wine tasting opportunities, more iconic Santa Maria Style barbecue and more outdoor adventures in a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere.
Spring and summer in Santa Maria Valley are the perfect times to take advantage of the gorgeous coastal climate and get outdoors. Santa Maria Valley is wellknown for its juicy, delicious strawberries that bloom beginning in March and April. Local favorite attractions like U-Pick Blueberries allow you to get into the fields and pick your own delicious strawberries and blueberries while staying safe and socially distanced. U-Pick Blueberries never uses harsh chemical sprays on their plants, ensuring the safest berry-picking experience for everyone.
If you don’t want to pick your berries yourself, you can find berries at local farmers markets and supermarkets throughout the valley. You might even be able to find Santa Maria Valley strawberries in your local supermarket!
What’s a trip to the Central Coast without wine tasting? Hop in the car, on the motorcycle or on a bike to cruise the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. This 30-mile stretch of road is home to 13 winery tasting rooms that serve a wide array of varietals, from cool-climate to Rhône-style wines and more.
Stop by Cambria Winery to sample pinot noir and chardonnay that are sustainably farmed and passionately tended on the family-owned estate’s 1,600 acres of vineyards. Each wine Cambria produces is 100 percent estate-grown, fully revealing the essence of northern Santa Barbara County and the Santa Maria Bench.
The beautiful Rancho Sisquoc Winery is another can’t-miss stop on the trail. Rancho Sisquoc’s vineyards grow some of the most sought-after grapes on the Central Coast. Only their estate-grown grapes are used in crafting their award-winning cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, malbec, merlot, pinot noir, syrah and more.
On your way to Rancho Sisquoc, you’ll likely pass by the San Ramon Chapel and Cemetery. This beautiful church is on the California Historical Landmarks list and is also the first historic landmark listed by Santa Barbara County. The chapel is still an active parish, but visitors are welcome for tours through the church or cemetery.
La Purisima Mission State Historic Park is another historic site located just 20 minutes from Santa Maria. Founded in 1812, La Purisima Mission is one of the oldest original Spanish missions in the region. It is also considered the most extensively restored missions in the state. The mission is open nearly every day for guided tours and features an extensive trail system guests can embark on.
No matter how you spend your Central Coast getaway, you’ll get more when you make Santa Maria Valley your home base. More wine, food and fun for less.
