Location

Just 30 minutes from the beaches of Santa Barbara, two hours from Los Angeles and four hours from San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley is between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains in Santa Barbara County, California.

Getting Here

The region is easily accessible by car via U.S. Highway 101 and State Highways 154 & 246, by Amtrak’s connecting bus service to Solvang, and by private aircraft to Santa Ynez Airport (IZA) and by commercial air service to the nearby Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) or any of the Los Angeles World Airports.

Population

The Santa Ynez Valley is home to approximately 20,000 people spread throughout six communities: Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang.

Climate

Praised as one of the finest climates in the State of California, the Santa Ynez Valley owes much to the prevailing breezes that keep the valley sunny and mild. Winter highs average 55, while summer nights are delightful due to ocean breezes and cooling fogs. Summer daytime temperatures usually range in the 70s and 80s, and average annual rainfall ranges from 9 to 17 inches, primarily in the winter months.

Economy

The economy of the Valley is primarily driven by agriculture and ranching, the equine industry, and tourism.

• Agriculture and ranching: Since the first Western settlers in the 1850s the Santa Ynez Valley has been renowned for its vast ranchlands and farms. Today, the Valley ranches continue to produce fine quality beef, while area farms grow such crops as tomatoes, beans, walnuts and wine grapes. More than a hundred wineries produce hundreds of thousands of cases a year while attracting visitors with wine-tasting rooms and events.
• Equine industry: The center of California’s multi-billion dollar horse industry, the Valley is noted for its more than 50 different privately owned breeds, as well as the home to hundreds of champion horses and some of the top training grounds in the country, including the original Horse Whisperer, Monty Roberts.
  - Tourism: In addition to wine tasting, visitors come to the Valley for its history, eclectic dining, art galleries, special events, the authentic Danish experience found in Solvang, and exceptional biking, hiking, golf and horseback riding.

Geography

The Santa Ynez Valley is set in an unusual mountain configuration that backs up against the coast, rather than running parallel to it. In fact, it’s the longest transverse (east-west) valley found on the west coast from Alaska to the southernmost part of South America.

In Popular Culture

The Oscar-winning 2004 film Sideways was set and shot almost entirely in the Santa Ynez Valley, shining a spotlight on the region’s wine scene and inspiring visitors to recreate the trip of Miles and Jack for themselves.

For more information, please visit visitsyv.com.