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Los Olivos: Things to Do, Eat and Drink

This post highlights things to do, see, eat and drink in the beautiful town of Los Olivos, California (Santa Barbara County).

Cities. Cities. Cities.  Oh, how we love cities.  Itineraries such as Rome-Florence-Venice, Prague-Budapest-Vienna, or San Francisco-Los Angeles-San Diego can send mass excitement shivers to hardcore explorers and good life lovers.

I am guilty of being a city devotee (the bigger the better).  I have thought about moving to a place with a slower pace but, ironically, this thought gives me an inexplicable sense of anguish.  Maybe that is why I have chosen chaotic, out-of-control Los Angeles as my home base.

But one thing I know: never underestimate a town or place for being small, remote, hidden.

Every time I comment about my visits to the Santa Ynez Valley (or Santa Barbara), a necessary question arises.

“Did you go to Los Olivos?”

Yes, at last, I visited the tiny town of Los Olivos.  So tiny that in fact, I almost missed it because I got distracted looking at some maps while my husband was driving around.  The centrally located flagpole got his attention.

“Have we arrived?” he asked while scanning the streets.

“Ewww,” I murmured while taking a look at the flagpole, “Yes. Pull out here.”

A few hours walking around was enough to discover how this town is small only in physical terms.  There are a lot of factors contributing to the star status of Los Olivos.

Please note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link. Of course, this comes at no extra cost to you and helps me to keep offering solid information to readers.

Los Olivos, Santa Barbara, California

Some History

Everything started during the 1880s when a young, rich man bought several acres close to the Alamo Pintado Creek.  He planted five thousand olive trees and called the property Rancho De Los Olivos.  The state of California was booming during those years (people moved to the state during the Gold Rush) and the Pacific Coast Railway extended the train lines to the area.  The town was later called Los Olivos (The Olive Trees) because of the nearby ranch.

Victorian Structure, Los Olivos, California

Rising Fame

Today, the Victorian-styled town is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County.  With about 1,000 residents, the town has been featured in the award-winning movie Sideways, episodes of The Bachelor, and wine-related documentaries and shows.

Various celebrities including Steven Segal, David Hasselhoff, and Bo Derek, call or have called this area home.  The ranches of President Regan and Michael Jackson were located in the vicinity.

All this indicates the allure of town (and of the surrounding rolling hills) with the rich and famous.

Victorian Structure, Los Olivos, California
Victorian Structure, Los Olivos, California

How to Reach Los Olivos

Los Olivos is located on CA-154.  The town can be reached in 40 minutes (34 miles) from Santa Barbara, 12 minutes (6 miles) from Solvang, and 2 hours (128 miles) from Los Angeles.  I encourage you to make Los Olivos part of a Santa Ynez Valley weekend trip.

The closest major airport is located in Santa Barbara.  There are ways to reach the town using public transportation but renting a car is recommendable.

Sightseeing Gear

Get ready for a day of sightseeing by bringing the right gear.  Here is a list of the items I pack to explore cities and towns in California.

Things to Do in Los Olivos

Well, as I have mentioned, Los Olivos is very small.  However, in this case, small is not a synonym for boring.  There is a lot to do in town.  But, let me warn you.  This is a wine-tasting town.  The focus is going to be on that aspect.  I have tried to provide as much detail as possible about other activities available to visitors.

Wine, Wine, WIne – It is the Center of Everything

Los Olivos is in the middle of wine country and the town takes its surroundings very seriously.  It is not necessary to get out of town to get a taste of the valley’s most famous product.

Nobody seems to know how many wine tasting rooms are in town (this number doesn’t include the nearby wineries).  Some number them at two dozen and others at more than thirty.  But, who really cares about the exact number?  The important thing is that there is something for every taste.  Plus, you can spend days in town with the excuse of wanting to visit yet another tasting room.

Victorian Structure / Wine Tasting Room, Los Olivos, California
Victorian Structure, Los Olivos, California

Some of the best tasting rooms in town include:

Carhartt – this wine tasting room is one of the most popular in town because of its variety of wines and super friendly staff.  Recently, they moved from their cozy (but small) tasting room to a bigger one in front of the street

Epiphany – this is one of the most expansive properties in town with indoor and outdoor tasting spaces.  You can drink full bodies (and super sophisticated) red wines in a place that feel like your backyard.  Plus, they have a Bubble Shack, a space dedicated to bubbly wine

E11ven by Andrew Murray – Andrew Murray creates some of the most highly-acclaimed Rhone varietals in the Sant Ynez Valley.  You cannot leave without tasting his stuff.  He has another wine tasting room at Foxen Canyon

Dragonette Cellars – This is another must for red wine lovers

Coquelicot – This is another place with a great outdoor tasting room.  You are allowed to bring a picnic or snacks

Solminer – I am fascinated with this place.  This is for those who are looking to try something different since they have several wines from Austrian grapes, a rarity in the Valley. You can add cheese, nuts, and bread to your tasting

Story of Soil – I have asked several locals about their favorite tasting room in Los Olivos and most of them point me to Story of Soil.  Locals know best! Follow their advice.

This is just a sample of what can be found in Los Olivos. If you do not know where to begin, do some online research, visit Solvang’s visitor center, ask a local for a recommendation or jump right in into the experience.

Tastings are, in general, $15 per person.  Check local visitor’s center for discounts (ex. 2 for 1).

 Tip: Visit during the week or early during the weekends if you want a more intimate wine tasting experience.

Victorian Structure / Wine Tasting Room, Los Olivos, California

More Tasting: This Time Beer

If you or somebody in your party is not a fan of wine, well, Los Olivos has beer too.  Figueroa Mountain Brewing started operations about 8 years ago in Buellton (another town in the Santa Ynez Valley).

For some time, it was only that taproom, and then, they started to spread around like fire.  The Los Olivos location has added diversity (and a fun vibe) to the town.  Stop by to check out what they have on tap.  Tasting flights are available on request.

Yet More Tasting: Olive Oil

Sounds bizarre? Maybe a little.  But tasting olive oil, balsamic vinegar, wine vinegar, and truffle oil is a thing.  And, let me tell you, it is a delicious thing.  If you have never experienced this, head to Olive Hill Farm in Downtown Los Olivos.  I am sure you will be enchanted by one or more products.

Corner House Coffee, Los Olivos, California
Back Patio of Corner House Coffee, Los Olivos, California
Water Tower, Los Olivos, California

Beautiful Things to Buy and Admire

Los Olivos has some of the most beautiful stores I have visited.

Make sure to visit J.W. Oeste.  A big outdoor patio is filled with fountains, statues, bushes, flowers, and too many more objects.  You can spend hours trying to see every offering in the store.  The personnel is very nice and two cute dogs welcome you upon arrival.

J.W. Oeste, Los Olivos, California
J.W. Oeste Collage, Los Olivos, California
J.W. Oeste, Los Olivos, California
J.W. Oeste Collage, Los Olivos, California

Artisans Gallery is another cute shop (they even have a pine tree created with horseshoes). The recently restored old silversmith workshop is now a quaint retail store offering handmade leather designs by a local artist.

The Artist Gallery, Los Olivos, California
The Artist Gallery, Los Olivos, California

For fine and funky home décor, olive oils, soaps, cosmetics, skin and hair products, kitchen utensils, cookbooks, jewelry, and gifts, visit Los Olivos General Store.  Plus, everything on sale is made by local artisans or with local products.

For gorgeous cards and stationery, visit Honey Paper.  For clothes and accessories, Wildflower Women is a good option.

Los Olivos General Store, Los Olivos, California
Los Olivos General Store, Los Olivos, California

Just a little bit outside of town (2450 Alamo Pintado Road), Global Gardens, a self-proclaimed farm stand, sells olive oil, balsamic vinegar, creams, soaps, lip balms, and more.  Not that far away (2480 Roblar Avenue), Clairmont Farms sells all things lavender.

Explore Wine Country by Bike

Pedego Electric Bikes have set up shop in town and offer a 2-hour guided bike tour with stops at local vendors and an estate (for wine tasting).  Group (6 or more) and VIP tours can be arranged too.

Find more info here.

Get a Massage or Beauty Treatment

If you feel like getting pampered on your day trip or weekend visit, you can book 30, 60, or 90 minutes at A Sante (they operate by appointments).

The Spa at Fess Parker Wine Country Inn offers facials, massages, hot stone therapy, and other beauty treatments.  You need to call to reserve.

Festivals

Each June, the town celebrates the Olive and Jazz Festival.  July sees the celebration of Bastille Day with tons of food. Other celebrations are the Quickdraw and Artwalk and the Annual Day in the Country.

Art in Los Olivos, California
Wooden Sculpture / Art, Los Olivos, California

Natural Surroundings

If you want to wine taste among vineyards, I get you.  Some are in search of a more rural experience.  For that, you can visit one of the nearby states offering tastings among their gardens, orchards, and vines.

Check Lincourt, Blackjack Ranch, Roblar, or Bridlewood Estate. Or, less than a mile from Downtown Los Olivos, you can take the Zaca Mesa Station Road to start the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.

My post highlighting The Backroads of the Santa Ynez Valley has many pictures showing the beautiful hills and mountains surrounding Los Olivos.

Last but not Least: The People

“From where are you visiting us?” asked a shop owner.

“From Los Angeles,” I replied

“Oh, please. Los Angeles is so general. From where are you visiting us?”

Well, I get it.  People living and working in Los Olivos are not interested in the broad and superficial stuff.  In a friendly way, they are genuinely interested in knowing you.  They make conversation, give recommendations and talk about their own lives.  You feel like you are surrounded by old friends.  I find this refreshing since people there are actually interested in giving you some of their time.  The human factor increases my desire to revisit this town over and over again.

Kids playing at old car, Los Olivos, California

Los Olivos Restaurants

For a small town, Los Olivos has a nice variety of eateries offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Here is a sample of where you can try scrumptious dishes:

Corner House Coffee – This is the perfect place to relax on comfy sofas.  For what I experienced, locals seem to be crazy about the place.  Besides coffee, you can get sandwiches, wood fire pizza, and ice cream.  There are magazines to read and art for sale.

Los Olivos Wine Merchant Café – This is the place to get fresh salads, artisanal cheeses, and hearty entrees.

Panino – This small Santa Barbara County chain serves soups, sandwiches, and salads.  There are locations in Solvang and Santa Ynez too.

Bear & Star – Specialize in ranch cuisine prepared with fresh California ingredients

R Country Market – this shop sells all sorts of picnic supplies, snacks, soft drinks, and wine.  It has a deli counter serving sandwiches and salads.  Check out their daily specials

To satisfy your sweet tooth, visit Stafford’s Famous Chocolates (they even have lavender-infused flavors).

Corner House Coffee, Los Olivos, California

Nearby Destinations

The Santa Ynez Valley is full of beautiful towns and fun attractions.  There is plenty to do in the area.  Below are some ideas on how to extend your stay in Los Olivos and the surrounding areas.

Solvang – this is California’s Little Denmark.  Visit to discover all sorts of Danish treats (architecture, food, sweets).  Solvang is located about 6 miles from Los Olivos and has a considerably larger selection of services (restaurants, hotels, etc.)

If you are spending some time in Solvang or visiting for a day, I recommend you take a look at my detailed article on Things to Do in Solvang.

Keep exploring by checking out the following posts:

Solvang Pictures: The Danish Village of my Dreams

Solvang Images: A Piece of Denmark Close to Home

Solvang Bakeries and Sweet Treats

Solvang Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Ostrichland USA (10 miles) – a fun spot where you can feed ostriches and emus

Quicksilver Ranch (3 miles) – ranch breeding miniature horses.  The public is welcome to stop by to take a look at the horses for free

Chumash Casino Resort (5 miles) – this is a spot for those who enjoy gambling and buffets

Santa Ynez (5 miles)– this is the cowboy town of the valley

Buellton (10 miles) – another small town with good restaurants and several tasting rooms

Read More: Things to do in Buellton

Lompoc (27 miles) – this town is known for its flower fields, downtown murals, wine ghetto, and beaches

Read More: Things to do in Lompoc

Travel Planning Resources

Plane Tickets: Travel aggregators like Kayak, Skyscanner, CheapOAir, and Momondo save you money by extracting the best route prices from different airlines.  You can also use these to see what places have the most affordable flight prices for a particular date.

Book a Hotel: Booking.com is my go-to place to book accommodations. It is hard to beat them when it comes to prices.  Plus, once you achieve the Genius level, you will be entitled to discounts. HotelsCombined is another great alternative (if you want to compare prices).

Vacation Homes: Vrbo allows you to book houses, condos, cottages, and cabins.  

Rental Cars: Booking.com works well for car rentals. Holiday Autos is good too.  This website has given me the best last-minute or high season prices.

Short-Term Car Rentals: Zipcar, a car-sharing service, allows you to rent a car for a period of minutes, hours, or day.  After renting with an app, you proceed to pick up the car in a designated spot.  In this way, you avoid going to a rental office and filling tons of paperwork.

Airport Parking: Airport Parking Reservations allows you to find the parking lot with the lowest price. Park Sleep Fly specializes in packages including hotel (the day before or after the trip), parking, and shuttle to the airport.

Insurance: Travelex offers policies covering trip cancellation/interruption, medical assistance, evacuation, and 24/7 assistance.  They tend to pay claims faster than the industry standard.

Day Tours: GetYourGuide has an extensive offering of day tours or day trips.  As an independent traveler, I book day tours to get insight into a destination or do fun activities.

Sightseeing Discounts: If you want to check out a city or area’s hottest attraction, you can save some money with the CityPass, Sightseeing Pass, or City Sightseeing.

More of Southern California

Find out how to spend one fun-filled day in Los Angeles

Get inspiration by reading my Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List

Ultimate San Diego Bucket List

150+ Places to Go in Orange County

What are recommendations for things to do in Los Olivos? Have you been to the area?

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Things to do in Santa Barbara County - Los Olivos, a tiny town on the Santa Ynez Valley, is a must visit for those who are searching for a beautiful country escape. Its wine tasting rooms, restaurants, shops, gardens and charming architecture will delight visitors. #SantaBarbara #California #SantaYnezValley #Solvang
Things to do in Santa Barbara County - Los Olivos, a tiny town on the Santa Ynez Valley, is a must visit for those who are searching for a beautiful country escape. Its wine tasting rooms, restaurants, shops, gardens and charming architecture will delight visitors. #SantaBarbara #California #SantaYnezValley #Solvang

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From the parking lot, you can see an elevated wooden walkway. A short walk of around 0.32 km through the beautiful backdrop of mountains is an amazing experience. The walkway slopes slightly downward and ends almost abruptly by the pools. It is about 10 feet wide and 3 feet deep, and you can easily take a dip in it! This hot spring contains one small and one large pool. The temperature in these pools can vary from 95 to 105 degrees. The bigger pool can accommodate a dozen of people but the small pool can accommodate some. The area surrounding the pool is stunning with mountains and grasslands in the backdrop. There are few option for camping in the surrounding area. These hot springs are in a fragile ecosystem so all should follow leave no trace behind policy to keep them clean. Things to Do in California - Central California Here are some of the things you can do around California’s Central area. If you ask me, this is one of the most thrilling parts of the state. Drive Around Big Sur By Dhara from It's Not About the Miles Driving the Big Sur stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway between Carmel and Ragged Point should be high on your list of things to do in California. Considered one of the most scenic coastlines on the planet, the drive gives you the opportunity to enjoy magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and the rugged Central California coastline. Just a little over 75 miles in length, Highway One hugs the water for most of this route. Where it does not, for short stretches, you will drive through towering redwoods or bucolic countryside. There are numerous pullouts where you can park and enjoy the views at leisure, and take lots of photos. Some of the best places to stop on the Big Sur Coast drive include Point Lobos State park, just south of the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the very wild Garrapata State Park, with hiking trails if you want to stretch your legs, and the historic Bixby Creek Bridge, considered an engineering marvel. Drive the road in late spring after the rains are over, and you will see gorgeous wildflowers along the road. The hills are green at this time as well, and look gorgeous against the blue of the ocean. Ride a Buggy at the Oceano Dunes By Sharon from Daily Dream 360 If you are looking for a little adventure on the beach, you may want to consider a dune buggy ride at Oceano Dunes State Park, which is located 3 miles from Pismo Beach. This activity is a great add-on when visiting the San Luis Obispo region of California. You will find plenty of Dune Buggy rental companies just outside the state park entrance. Once you complete a vehicle orientation, you'll be driven to the site within the state park and get set up with your vehicles. Your tour operator will offer directions, a map and will guide you to the area where you are allowed to drive your buggy. The park has a designated area for off-road vehicles and several restrictions with regards to speed. What I loved about the Dune Buggy ride was that I was able to choose my level of thrill. Some of the Sand Dunes were very high, and there was a high risk from coming down from a dune and getting stuck before moving back up another. For thrill-seekers, there is plenty of challenging dunes to conquer. For those less adventurous, there were some smaller hills and the very scenic ride along the ocean. Photo by Sharon Read More: Things to Do in Pismo Beach Things to Do in Avila Beach Things to Do in California - Southern California This is the part of the state I call home. After more than 15 years living here, I am still discovering new places. Check out the super fun recommendations below! Road Cycle in Santa Barbara County By Clare from Epic Road Rides If you fancy a spot of road cycling, Santa Barbara County in southern California, is a fantastic place to do it. It's a beautiful region that’s warm and sunny for much of the year. Winters tend to be short and mild. Head to the Santa Ynez valley and you’ll find quiet rolling roads that take you through gorgeous vineyards and pretty ranches with wide open fields dotted with well-groomed horses. In the village of Solvang, you’ll find an excellent bike shop that can fit you out with everything you need (you can rent too) and set you off to explore the countryside. There are around 120 wineries in this area, clustered around the pretty towns and villages of Solvang, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez. Many cyclists take the opportunity to combine cycling with a wine tour as many of the wineries open their doors to people who want to come and learn about wine and enjoy some wine tasting. Exploring by bike is the best way to really get to know a region, and I highly recommend the Santa Ynez Valley! Photo by Clare Read More: Things to Do in Solvang Mountain Bike at Snow Summit By Heather from That OC Girl If you thought Big Bear’s Snow Summit was only for winter, you got it wrong. In the summertime, the ski lifts at Snow Summit are transformed into mountain bike lifts, taking you up to an elevation of 8,000 feet and dropping you into the coolest downhill bike park in Southern California. Snow Summit has around 18 miles of mountain bike trails, including trails for the beginner all the way to the most advanced riders. The beginner level trail “Going Green” is the longest in the park at 2.5 miles, and is the most basic of all. It’s a great idea to start with this trail to get warmed up! The blue-rated trails are the most fun; this is where you can really let loose and sharpen your skills. The trails rated as black diamond are the most difficult trails in the park. You will find built-in features like jumps and berms, but most of the time you can bypass those features if you are not up for the challenge. Get some practice in at the Base Area to improve your skills before attempting those difficult trails! Day or season passes are available and the park is open to all – kids and adults! Open and closing dates. Photo by Heather Read More: Big Bear Weekend Guide Dive the Channel Islands By James from Travel Collecting One of the top things to do in California is to dive the Channel Islands. There are eight Channel Islands off the coast of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Five of them make up the Channel Islands National Park. The largest, Catalina Island, has places to stay and shore dives as well as boat dives are available. However, you can take day trips straight from just north of LA (Ventura Harbor) to Anacapa Island and just south of LA (San Pedro) to dive sites around Catalina. Dive boats also leave from Santa Barbra to the northern islands, though these are further offshore. The main attraction is diving the Californian giant kelp forests. Kelp stretches from the sea bed up more than forty feet to the surface, creating a magical forest to swim through. Winding your way through a thick screen of golden kelp is an incredible experience. The kelp is home to cheeky seals and sea lions that zoom out of nowhere and right up to your mask, as well as bright orange garibaldi fish. This was one of my favorite dives from the many I have done around the world. It also makes a nice contrast to the other more urban things you can do in Los Angeles. Hike to the Hollywood Sign By Caroline from Pictures and Words Few things scream LA more than the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the movie industry. One of the coolest things to do in California is to hike up to the Hollywood sign, one of the most iconic sights in LA. Technically, the sign itself is blocked off (and don’t even try to jump the fence) so you are hiking to right behind and above the sign. Still, this is the closest you can get to the sign being able to get so up and close to the iconic monument is such a cool experience! The hike starts inside Griffith Park, from where you can take the Brush Canyon trail. It is a 6.5 mile out and back hike, and is rated moderate difficulty with an 1100 foot elevation gain. Allow about 2 1/2-3 hours to complete the hike. Also be aware that there is hardly any shade on the trail and it tends to get really hot, really fast, so be prepared and carry lots of water with you. Read More: One Day in LA: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 2 Days in Los Angeles: Downtown-Based Itinerary Self-Guided Multicultural Tour of Los Angeles By Team Hazard Rides Again LA is incredibly diverse. There are people here from every corner of the Earth and LA is happy to give each culture its due. Tim and I once went to 3 cultural events in a single weekend – and we weren't even trying hard. On Friday night we went to a chamber music concert at the big Downtown Library. On Saturday night we were in Hollywood to see Amadou and Mariam, a blind couple from Mali who rocked the Afro-pop scene at the El Rey Theater. And on Sunday we were in Chinatown for a big cultural celebration. There is no single recipe for doing a cultural tour of Los Angeles. There are just too many options. But here are some places to look so you can put together your own multicultural tour of Los Angeles. There are neighborhoods throughout the city like Little Tokyo, Olvera Street, Little Ethiopia, Little Bangladesh and Chinatown, just to name a few. Some of them are a bit touristy, but still fun and there are also many unnamed enclaves where various cultures flourish. They often hold festivals as well. And Long Beach seems to have a festival for something every other week. Keep an eye on local calendars. There are also exhibits and performances exploring different cultures all over town. The Craft and Folk Art Museum on Wilshire almost always has something culturally unique going on, as does the Fowler Museum on the UCLA Campus. You can also check out the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. Again, to name just a few. Then there are the performances, like Amadou and Mariam we mentioned above, or Prince Diabate whom we saw in some tiny club in Santa Monica. One of the best places to look for these more eclectic events is the LA Weekly. LA's multiculturalism is one of its most awesome features and it's something not to be missed if you're visiting the city. It's easy to stack events that are near you or that suit the dates of your visit. It's LA. There's always something going on! Hike in Joshua Tree National Park By Julie from Family Travel Lifestyle While California is famous for National Parks like Yosemite and the Redwoods, one of our lesser-known parks, Joshua Tree, offers fantastic hiking in a unique desert environment. Located in southern California – just east of Palm Springs, and less than a 3-hour drive from San Diego – Joshua Tree offers numerous trails at every level of hiking. What I love about Joshua Tree is that it isn’t as crowded as many other parks and it’s smaller which means you can do a one-day visit and still get in some great hikes and really feel as though you saw the park. Also, this park offers a lot of loop trails, which I tend to prefer to the ‘out and back’ trails. One of the most popular and can’t-miss trails in Joshua Tree is the Skull Rock loop. It’s pretty easy, good for all levels including children, and you get to see the famous and giant Skull-shaped boulder. There’s a great kids’ nature walk called the Discovery Trail that’s less than a mile if you have really little ones. The bigger hikes offer a great variety of sights. There are several hikes up to different peaks, with outstanding views of the mountains and desert. You can hike out to a palm tree oasis or walk through the boulders and include a little scrambling on your hike. The one thing to watch out for is the heat – it’s no joke at Joshua Tree, so come prepared and enjoy! VIsit the Sunny Jim Sea Caves By April from SoCalFunFamily La Jolla is known for the locals who hang around the beach. And no, I am not talking about the hodads, you know, non-surfers, but the friendly seals lounging right there on the sand. It’s also known as an incredibly fun family area, for its good food, and having the coolest sea caves. However, there is only one cave you can explore without a kayak. And that cave is only accessible through Sunny Jim’s Cave Store. From the exterior it looks just like any other beach themed gift shop, but upon further review you might see the long dark tunnel leading what looks like directly into the ground. This is the access to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, which was dug out in 1902. To reach the bottom you will pay $5 for adults, and $3 for children, walk down 145 dark, narrow stairs and come out on a damp wooden platform to take in the waves and views from below. This hidden gem is a unique experience if you are in the area. But, make sure to mingle with the locals on the shore below and check out the free, smaller caves right there as well. Read More: One Day in San Diego Pedal Boat At Lake Murray By Martina from Stack Your Dollars One of the best and most relaxing things to do in sunny San Diego is to take a ride on the water at Lake Murray. On a hot day, getting on a pedal boat is a great way to get a nice breeze and cool off. You’ll also be putting those leg muscles to work and getting in some fun exercise! Lake Murray is a 171 acre reservoir with a 3.2 mile shoreline; it can be found on the border of San Diego, La Mesa, and Santee. To rent the pedal boat, you have to go into the concession stand by the parking lot. It costs about $15 to rent per hour, with an additional $15 for a deposit. The boat fits about 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. This low-cost activity is a great way to get out and have fun. It allowed my family to stick to our very frugal budget. If you would prefer, there are also kayaks, canoes, row boats, and motor boats. However, the pedal boat is my favorite because it also has a canopy to block the sun! Whale Watch in Newport Beach By Rebecca from KwaFare One of the most thrilling outdoor experiences you can have in California is to get up close and personal with some of the largest animals on earth. Whale watching in Southern California can put you right in the migratory path of humpback, minke, fin and gray whales. Even orcas are spotted from time to time, as well as sperm whales and blue whales, the largest animal to have ever lived. An excellent spot for whale watching is Newport Beach, which is only about an hour from LAX airport or downtown Los Angeles. Newport Beach is a cozy community where you’ll find Balboa Pier and Island and some great beaches. My go to whale watching company here is Davey’s Locker. And for good reason. First, they regularly have sales for their whale watching tours on Groupon. So, for about the price of a movie ticket you can take a front row seat to these magnificent creatures for over a couple of hours. But what I really enjoy is hearing the excitement of the crew every time we get to see a whale out at sea. This testifies to just how electrifying it is to witness these deep sea giants in their natural habitat. Despite how many times they get to see them, every time it’s a thrill. And the thrill is definitely contagious. You just never know what you are going to see when you get out on the boat. However, if you want to up your chances of sighting whales go out during their migration times. In general, winter and spring are great times to see gray whales, humpback and minke whales. And summer and fall are ideal for blue whales, finbacks, orcas and sperm whales. So whether you find yourself in the middle of a pod of hundreds of dolphins or next to an enormous blue whale, this is one of those things to do in California that is not to be missed! Visit the Center of the World By Theresa from The Local Tourist Just inside the border in the southeast corner of the state, you can put your toes on the officially designated Center of the World. Felicity, California, is home to the Museum of History in Granite and the Center of the World and is a destination worth a visit that's a whole lot less kitschy than it sounds. In 1985, Jacques-André wrote a children’s book titled “Coe: The Good Dragon at the Center of the World.” Somehow, this Frenchman and Father of American Parachuting convinced the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Institut Géographique National, the French Mapping Agency, that property he owned in Imperial County should be declared the Center of the World. You can visit this town, population two, and not only make a wish inside a pyramid but also browse granite tablets etched with history. They're designed to last 4,000 years and the goal is that they'll preserve the entirety of humanity for millennia to come. It's a quirky destination with a noble promise, and should definitely be on any southern California itinerary. ATV in the Imperial Sand Dunes By Kay from The Awkard Traveler It isn't general knowledge, but California has sand dunes. Some of the best California sand dunes are found in Southern California. Specifically, the Imperial Sand Dunes State Park right near the border of Mexico. Winter is arguable a better season to visit, especially when summer temperatures can easily reach over 110F. But that also means winter is the most busy time to visit. So, pick your poison. From San Diego, the drive is about 2.5hours, 2 hours from Palm Springs, and 3 hours from Los Angeles, making the Imperial Sand Dunes an easy day trip if you do not want to stay nearby. However, there are camping and RV options at the state park! To enter the park, permits are required from October 1 through April 15 each year. Permits are $35 per week in advance and $50 per week if purchased onsite. Season permits are $150. America the Beautiful National Park pass also counts for this park. Once you are all settled into the park, you're ready to ride! But before you get into your off-highway vehicle (whether it is ATV or a bike, or other), make sure to remember the basics. Wear a protective helmet, pay attention to "closed to vehicle signs," and tall visible red flags are REQUIRED on your vehicle for visibility and safety! There you have it! Tons and tons of ideas on things to do in California. Hope you find this article useful when planning your next getaway! More of California Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles Ultimate San Diego Bucket List 150+ Places to Go in Orange County Places to Visit in Santa Barbara What are your favorite things to do in California? Let me know in the comments section below. Pin “Things to Do in California” for later!, Pigeon Point LighthouseThings to Do in California: Golden State Best

Comments

  5. Kay L. Davies says

    I had no idea such a place existed, and I’ve been to California a whole lot more than once!
    It’s beautiful, from the lush greenery to the wonderful old Victorian houses (my favourite kind).
    Thank you for sharing this lovely place with us.
    Kay
    An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

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  6. Sarah says

    I personally am a fan of smaller or off the radar towns like this, compared to the giant cities! Maybe it’s because I always imagine living in the places I travel to. Glad you finally made it to Los Olivos!

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  9. Patrice Thompson says

    Oh man, I totally hear your plight about big cities vs. small towns. What a beautiful little place, though!! Sign me up for the olive and jazz festival. It sounds like that place just really has a lot of great personality and cool people (who don’t finish their sentences with hanging prepositions, yay!).

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  10. Josy A says

    Like the previous commenters, this is the kind of place I love to visit. I get a little bored and claustrophobic in big cities but I LOVE small towns or villages, especially places with good food and wine! Los Olivos looks delightful!

    Now you know how nice it is, would you go back, or would the larger cities reel you back in!?

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  11. Richa says

    I love reading about such cute little towns around more popular places. So thanks for introducing me to Los Olivos 🙂 I am already in love with Santa Ynez Valley after breifly passing through it on my Hgw 1 roadtrip and definitely plan to return someday to explore more of it. Will make sure to visit this gem then <3

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  13. Sage says

    I would so love to visit! Los Olivos seems to have everything — a beautiful location, quaint buildings, delicious food, and wine.

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  14. Martha says

    What a quaint little town! I laughed so hard when I read that you said “eww” when first seeing the city, ha! I’ve learned to love little towns and their charm, though, I’m like you and love big cities! Great suggestions.

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  16. beatravelling says

    This looks so adorable!! I am planning a US (road)trip within the next couple of years, but I can’t manage to include all the great places you write about! 🙂 #wanderfulwednesday

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  18. Katherine says

    I can’t believe so many famous people have lived in/around Los Olivos. I’d actually never heard of it before reading your post. But I love quaint towns like this, especially when there are bakeries. And the jazz festival sounds great! #FarawayFiles

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  19. Katie Dickinson says

    It looks so cute! I love tiny little places like that because there is so much packed into a small area and it almost feels like a crafted tv stage! The colors and textures in the pictures make it look like a place with really fabulous character 😀

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  20. Angela says

    Nice places to have some coffee and unwind. It also looks nice to have your OOTD with their store designs. 🙂 corner house coffee’s food looks yummy! Great shots.

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  22. Erin Gustafson | Oregon Girl Around the World says

    Rats! I wish I’d had this post when we visited Santa Barbara a couple summers back – looks exactly like a little town I’d love to stroll through! Right now I’m just smitten with that California sunshine. Take me back! Thanks for sharing a bit of the history of this charming town and all the great dining and tasting options. #FarawayFiles

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  23. Katy says

    You had me at wine but Los Olivos looks cute as a button, full of personality and so worth the trip from LA. Thanks for sharing this find on #FarawayFiles

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  27. Melanie says

    You had me at “wine is at the center of everything”! We love exploring wineries wherever we go; the more the better! We also love tiny towns and Los Olivos looks right up our alley!

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  29. Jessica says

    Oh wow, when I saw this post, I got super excited! I’m a California native and I went to University nearby, so every chance I got I would take a weekend excursion up to Los Olivos and Solvang! I’m a huge wine-nerd, so the tastings were a definite motivation. And seeing the locations from the movie Sideways is so awesome! I personally love the restaurant Wine Merchant Cafe, which was also in the movie! And the restaurant Sides Hardware and Shoes (definitely doesn’t sound like a restaurant, but it is!) is a fantastic locals’ favorite, too. And I back up your tasting room recommendations! I love this area, because it also seems that every time I visit now (much less than years ago, unfortunately) there’s something new to see or try! Thanks for the great information, it brought back some great memories 🙂 #FarawayFiles

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  30. jill says

    I have to admit that I am one of those that loved my visit to Los Olivos. It’s been years since my visit – but I’ve included it on my Southern Cal itinerary this spring. Can’t wait to go back!

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  32. Chloe says

    I’ve been here a couple of years ago. After having a brunch, we strolled around the town. Cute, quaint town. I loved it!

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  33. Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) says

    What a great look at Los Olivos! Along with Santa Barbara, my mom loved visiting the area. Somehow, I never seemed to make it out there as often, which is too bad. I had forgotten how quaint it is. We’ll have to make a point of visiting the next time we’re in the area. Thanks for linking up with us for #WeekendWanderlust!

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  34. Lisa says

    What a pretty little town! I agree, somtimes we just need a break from the big cities and this looks like the perfect place to relax a bit 🙂

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  35. Shona says

    How gorgeous. I love visiting places where the locals make you feel right at home. The architecture is so pretty and all of the stores are so unique. Of course, you had me when you mentioned wine! 😉

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  37. Kate and Kris says

    Hang on, David Hasslehoff and Steven Segal live in the same town? That’s worth visiting for that alone! The houses remind me of TV shows like Charmed. Cool place.

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  38. Rhonda Albom says

    This is a very cute town. Do they still have olive trees are has it given way to the wineries. I like the boutique feel and love that tree/stack of horseshoes outside the Artisans Gallery.

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  39. Kelly says

    I popped into Los Olivos while on a CA road trip because I wanted to stop at Dragonette Cellars (love their rose!). Thought the town looked so cute and definitely want to return; it’s charming how all of the places are little cottages!

    Reply

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