Page 86 - 2018 Travel Guide to California

SANTA MARIA
VALLEY
Wine, wilderness and barbecue
»WINE, DINE,
MEANDER,
RELAX!
Santa Maria Valley
Visitor & Convention
Bureau
santamariavalley.com
RESIDENTS OF THE SANTA MARIA
Valley know how to enjoy the best of the
land, whether it’s food, drink, outdoor
activities or simply taking in the stunning
views. Many of California’s top qualities—
coastal climate, intriguing outdoor spaces
for adventure or relaxation, famous bar-
becue and sensational wine—all combine
here to make Santa Maria Valley an ideal
destination for adopting a few of the locals’
best habits in pursuit of the relaxed Cali-
fornia lifestyle.
CYCLING THROUGH THE VINEYARDS in
Santa Maria Valley, above; on a winetasting
trolley tour, below.
Wine Ways
Grapes produced here in one of the six fed-
erally recognized American Viticultural
Areas (AVAs) within Santa Barbara County
are often a little more complex, balanced
and flavorful. A transverse valley (which
runs west to east), the orientation of the
Santa Maria Valley channels cool ocean air
directly into the valley, resulting in one of
the state’s longest growing seasons for
vineyards. Get a taste for yourself while on
a tour with the Santa Maria Wine Trolley,
which runs from late May through early
October, or any time of year at 34 winery
tasting rooms, bars and restaurants.
Famous Barbecue
If you’re a fan of barbecue, you don’t have
to go to the South to get it. In the mid 1800s,
local rancheros were known for hosting
day-long Spanish-style barbecues, and this
84 2018 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
B Y J I L L K . R O B I N S O N
California specialty continues today. Santa
Maria-style barbecue is focused on beef tri-
tip seasoned only with salt, pepper and
garlic salt. The meat is cooked directly over
the coals of local red oak, on a grill that
raises and lowers the meat to flame. Tradi-
tional accompaniments include grilled
French bread, green salad, salsa and locally
grown pinquito beans. Taste it at The
Hitching Post, Shaw’s Steakhouse, Jocko’s
Steakhouse and Far Western Tavern.
Trails and Beaches
Get outside in the Santa Maria Valley and
find your favorite way to be active. Mean-
dering roads, beautiful scenery and
tucked-away vineyards are features of the
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, connecting Los
Olivos and Santa Maria Valley. The 30-mile
road is ideal for a great bicycle ride, or even
a slow drive in a convertible, and 16
wineries along the way mean that you can
stop whenever you like. Spanning 22,000
acres and 18 miles, the Rancho Guadalupe
Dunes Preserve features towering 550-foot-
high sand dunes. Birders add to their life
lists here, as well as at the Santa Maria River
Estuary, and enjoy sights of migrating birds
along the Pacific Flyway. Each year, thou-
sands of monarch butterflies seek shelter in
the eucalyptus grove of Monarch Dunes
Butterfly Habitat, and visitors get up close
to branches dripping with the elegant crea-
tures from late October to February.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY CVB