The small town of Buellton, CA is nestled between the Danish village of Solvang, and Lompoc. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Santa Barbara and two and a half hours from Los Angeles. If you love wine, you’ll love Buellton, it’s home to many wineries and tasting rooms. The town offers a little something for everyone to enjoy! the town also hosts a plethora of annual events centered around wine, beer, food, art, and more. Here are some of the best things to do in Buellton, California.
I partnered with Discover Buellton on this hosted trip to Buellton, California. This is my experience and all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click my link, I make a small percentage (at no extra cost to you). This helps me keep the travel blog running.
Things to Do in Buellton, California
Wondering what to do in Buellton? The town may be small but has so much to offer. From outdoor activities to a pottery studio where you can create your own art, you’ll find it all in Buellton. Here are some of the best things to do in Buellton CA.
Horseback Riding with Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides in Buellton, California
Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides, is located at River View Park and has a stunning backdrop of the Santa Rita Hills. During my ride, I crossed the Santa Ynez River and saw wildlife. All the horses are retired champion show, rodeo, or ranch horses.
You can book in advance online or call. Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides accommodates horse lovers of all ages and riding abilities.
And don’t forget to see the other animals! There were these adorable baby goats that were only weeks old.
Take a Pottery Class at Community Clayworks
Let your inner artist out with a pottery class at Community Clayworks. Founder, Veronica is AMAZING and helped us create our pieces. You can sign up for a BYOB Sip-n-Spin which is a 2-hour session. This is so much fun! Bring your own bottle of wine, sip, and get behind the potter’s wheel. You can create a unique piece of pottery, then choose one of 2 glaze options. Your fired (finished) piece can be picked up at a later date or shipped to you for an additional fee.
Take a Stroll Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden
The Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden is a picturesque community garden with a willow maze, butterfly garden, and wishing tree. Take a morning stroll or have a picnic. There are plenty of tables and benches outside the main entrance.
The garden is truly special and a great place for solo travelers, couples, small groups, and families. And keep your eye out for wildlife, the Western Willow Fly Catcher bird is known to nest along the nearby Santa Ynez River.
Tour the Mendenhall Museum in Buellton, California
The Mendenhall Museum is a must-stop for anyone who loves cars, racing memorabilia, or loves a fun road trip-inspired stop. It’s a personal collection of cool gas station and automobile memorabilia mixed with other antiques. The collection was started over fifty years ago by the late Jack Mendenhall and is now carried on by his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Vickie.
Vickie gave us a private tour and you can tour the grounds as well with advance reservations. There is a $15 donation per person for tours. And you must call in advance to schedule your tour.
Feed Ostriches & Emus at Ostrichland USA
In Solvang, on the border of Buellton is OstrichLand USA, an ostrich and emu farm where you can feed these huge birds (or watch). Check out how big their eggs are and learn more about them.
This is a cool experience for anyone from kids to adults to enjoy. And it’s rare that you’ll see these types of birds on this side of the world. Fresh ostrich eggs are also available for purchase most of the year and fresh emu eggs during the winter/spring season.
Enjoy a Tasting at DorWood Distillery
DorWood Distillery is a grain-to-bottle, hands-on distillery making small batches of hand-crafted spirits. What makes DorWood Distillery truly unique is that it uses locally grown Chardonnay wine grapes to create vodka. DorWood has even expanded beyond vodka and distills an agave spirit, gin, limoncello, and more. You can come in for a tasting or enjoy a cocktail!
Buellton Wineries
What is one thing you probably don’t want to miss out on in Buellton, California? Wine tasting! Buellton is in the heart of Santa Ynez Wine Country and home to plenty of wineries and tasting rooms. Here are just some places to head to if you want to visit some Buellton wineries or tasting rooms.
Tierra y Vino
Tierra Y Vino’s is a family-owned winery founded by Andres Ibarra and Caren Rideau in 2012. Andres started working in local vineyards at age 16, sacrificing his teenage life to help his family. Years later he met his wife and the two would later start Tierra Y Vino together.
The tasting room is located on Industrial Way and you’ll find a few other tasting rooms in this area. It is a perfect place to taste wine in Buellton.
The Hitching Post II
The Hitching Post II is a restaurant, tasting room, and a Buellton must-visit! Made famous by the award-winning film Sideways, The Hitching Post II offers different tasting options. Choose between their traditional tasting and reserve tasting, or you can opt for a customized Private Winemaker Tasting with the owners.
And if you’re hungry be sure to dine there! The Hitching Post offers delicious traditional Santa Maria Barbecue. It’s a must-try!
Brick Barn Wine Estate
Brick Barn Wine Estate is special because you can actually see the vineyards while sipping on your wine. It’s a gorgeous 35-acre that lies north of the Santa Ynez River. There’s a beautiful oak tree with picnic tables, fire pits, and more
Brick Barn Wine Estate has weekly events such as Food Truck Friday with live music and
live music on the weekends.
Buellton Restaurants & Eats
There is no shortage of awesome Buellton, California restaurants. For a small town, there are some great places to check out!
Enjoy Bagels
Start your morning with bagels from Enjoy Bagels. For a quick bite or breakfast on the go head to Enjoy Bagels. Enjoy Bagels offers eight unique bagel flavors, eight cream cheese schmears, 10 bagel sandwiches, and a full sweets line at their original bakery facility in Buellton.
Janeen’s Coffee @ The Cabin
Starting your day early and need a coffee or an afternoon “pick me up?” Located off Highway 246 in O’Reilly’s parking lot is Janeen’s Coffee @ The Cabin. This coffee drive-thru is a great stop for local coffee on the go!
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co.
For those who want a good meal and craft beer, the taproom at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. is a must! The taproom features a full menu of gastropub offerings and is located inside Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company. There is both indoor and outdoor table seating plus a brew deck overlooking the brewing facility. You can choose from a rotating list of specialty and cask beers found only in the taprooms.
There are currently six taprooms along California’s Central Coast and Buellton is the original. Stop by for a meal and a beer or grab a 6-pack to-go!
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
If there’s one brewery that’s a Central Coast classic it’s Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Known for its 805 beer, Firestone Walker is a California fave! The Buellton brewery includes the taproom restaurant which serves up delicious food to pair alongside the wide variety of beers and hard seltzers. The taproom also has its own Barrelworks Tasting Room and Blending Center.
Enjoy lunch or dinner, and don’t forget to order a flight of beer!
Industrial Eats
For a quality-centered dining experience, head to Industrial Eats! This restaurant is tucked away in a re-purposed warehouse on Industrial Way in Buellton, California. Owners, Jeff and Janet Olsson, along with their expert crew, deliver an incredible menu of delicious dishes. They have two wood-fired ovens that churn out thousands of seasonal dishes every year, all sourced from sustainable farms.
Buellton, California Hotels
Staying for the weekend? Here’s some information on Buellton, CA hotels.
Hampton Inn & Suites Buellton/Santa Ynez Valley
The Hampton Inn & Suites is not your typical Hampton Inn! This hotel is a 99-room property set on the foothills of Santa Barbara Wine Country. Some of the rooms have a gorgeous view of the rolling hills directly behind the property. It’s in a great location, a short distance from there 101 freeway and you’re within minutes of popular local eateries and wine tasting rooms.
After a day of exploring the city of Buellton, you can relax in front of the fire pit or soak in the hot tub (or in the pool if the Buellton weather permits). You can even play a game of bocce ball! And there’s a fitness center inside. Wi-Fi, a daily breakfast buffet, and parking are all included. This is one of the best Buellton hotels.
Book the Hampton Inn & Suites Buellton/Santa Ynez Valley here.
Other hotels in the area include the Buellton Marriott and Sideways Inn, made famous from the movie, Sideways.
I hope this helps you with planning your next trip to Buellton, California!
Special thanks to Discover Buellton. Please visit Discover Buellton online or in person at the Buellton Visitor Center & Buellton Chamber of Commerce. They’re located at 597 Ave Of The Flags Suite 101 for more information about Buellton.
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