Just 45 minutes northeast of Santa Barbara over the San Marcos Pass you will find the bucolic wine country of the Santa Ynez Valley. Once a Chumash Indian trading route, then a stagecoach route, this area is now a stellar wine-producing region thanks to an ideal growing climate and high quality producers. Offering vast sweeping panoramas of vineyards, horse farms and peaceful streets, the Valley has also gained a reputation among cyclists. Former champion, Lance Armstrong, and his team trained in the hills and countryside for the Tour De France event.

Danish-themed Solvang is the most commercial town in the small region, while Santa Ynez itself has a slight “Wild West” feel to it. Nearby, the village of Los Olivos is a popular peaceful diversion, populated with galleries, shops, restaurants and wine tasting rooms.

The ride is based at the charming Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa, and is near numerous lovely vineyard roads. Head out each day and enjoy the scenery and the long open roads; you determine the distance and challenge of each day’s ride based on your stamina! Your forecast is for mostly sunny skies, no rain, and a temperature range of 43-83°F.

Day One. Upon landing in Santa Maria at Central Coast Jet Center, our professional bike team will greet you. Transfer 30 minutes to the award winning Wine Merchant Café in Los Olivos for a casual sit-down lunch. Following lunch, cross the street to arrive at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa—your base for the next few nights.

Embark on a 14-mile warm-up ride up and back along Figueroa Road. Go for an extra 11-mile spin up Foxen Canyon to Zaca Station and back if you’re twitching for more. The sweeping ranch land is peppered with ancient black oak Valley Oak trees, rolling hills and breathtaking vistas. Early evening, gather for cocktails or wine tasting at Petros, before sauntering to Sides Café for a divine dinner.

Day Two. 41 miles – Los Alamos and back. After breakfast, head out in the glorious sunshine for a 22 mile ride along Foxen Canyon and Alisos Canyon Road. Foxen Canyon Road is known as the “Wine Trail” as it passes near the better-known boutique vineyards, including Fess Parker, Zaca Mesa, Koehler, Daniel Gehrs in Los Olivos and Foxen. You’ll transfer the last bit into the historic town of Los Alamos for lunch at Bell Street Farm Eatery and Market. Menu suggestion, the small farm market is known for its tasty Huntsinger free range Tamarind Chicken, laden with curry, currants and apples.

After lunch, bike or transfer back to Los Olivos in time for spa appointments, pool, shopping in nearby communities, sightseeing or wine tasting. Santa Barbara is 45 minutes drive; their local museum has a small collection of American and French art. Superb restaurants and hidden wine shops can be discovered on the side streets of Santa Barbara. The city buildings and main avenues are designed in the iconic red tile roof style of Spanish Colonial revival architecture.

Day Three. 38 or 50 miles – Buellton Loop 
After breakfast pedal via Ballard Canyon for Buellton, the infamous pea soup capital of the region. Enjoy a scenic ride amid the Santa Rita hills, recognized for producing exceptional pinot noir grapes. Once you reach Highway 1, you’ll backtrack to the Alma Rosa vineyard for a total of 38 miles, or continue on for another 12 miles back to the hotel. You can enjoy a decadent picnic at a vineyard or a more casual lunch back in Santa Ynez or Los Olivos. Afternoon options include more pool time or local explorations of art galleries in the small communities.

Day Four. 30 miles – Santa Ynez Loop After a healthy breakfast at Petros, meet your friends and bike through the horse farms of Happy Canyon. This is where the training scenes for the movie Sea Biscuit were filmed. It’s also the start of the famous “Fig” route, the arduous 40-mile ride over Figueroa Mountain that Lance Armstrong trained on three times a day. You’ll only head to the base of the 10-mile climb before turning around, looping to Santa Ynez and back for a total of 30 miles. After a quick lunch a Paninos Café, begin the process of departing for home; invigorated, fit and satisfied by your biking prowess!

Great corporate off-site or an escape with friends!