Buellton Is One of the Most Underrated Small Towns in California

As a California resident of 20 years, and a person who never says no to a road trip, I’ve crisscrossed the state many times in search of places that surprise me. Buellton is one of those spots that started as a quick pit stop and quickly became one of my family’s favorite destinations. 

Snuggled in the Santa Ynez Valley, between the Pacific Ocean and the gentle hills of wine country, Buellton has small-town charm—quiet backroads where you can grab coffee before wandering into a quirky quilt shop, offbeat roadside attractions, and folks who actually remember your name.

“I discover new things all the time,” says Kristin Neperud Merz, a coordinator for Buellton’s community art projects. “When people drive through on the main streets, they don’t know that so many hidden gems are just a turn away.”

Best Hotels & Resorts

Sideways Inn

Once known as the Windmill Inn—immortalized in the 2004 Academy Award-winning film “Sideways,” when Miles and Jack crashed in room 234 between tastings—this revamped motel has been overhauled into a boutique hideaway. Stylish rooms, fire pits, and a laid-back lounge with craft beers and a delectable wine list make it the best stay in town.

Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn 

Established in 1969 next door to the renowned Pea Soup Andersen’s restaurant (but owned and operated independently), this Buellton inn has grown from a roadside stop into a 98-room hotel. The decor is bright and inviting, the heated pool is perfect for a lazy afternoon, and patios offer quiet spots to sip coffee or a local wine. Don’t miss out on the complimentary Danish, which arrives fresh from a bakery in nearby Solvang. 

Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground

This is a camping experience with a serious glow-up, featuring vintage Airstreams, safari tents, and storybook cottages mixed in with full-hookup RV sites. Guests can enjoy a sizable pool, a fully stocked camp store, and food trucks under fairy lights. “There are so many family-friendly events at the campground; the calendar is always full,” says Kathy Vreeland, executive director at the Buellton Chamber of Commerce. Guest-favorite activities include bike light parades, karaoke, and paint nights. 

Best Things To Do

Ride the longest, fastest zip line in California. 

At Highline Adventures, the longest and fastest zip lines in California send riders soaring at more than 50 mph. The panoramic view from the first launch point is unbeatable, though eight acres of dazzling protea blooms unfurl below, nearly stealing the show. (For those who’d rather keep two feet on the ground, guided strolls through the flower fields are equally enchanting.) Kids and thrill-seeking adults can also climb, bounce, and crawl through the treetop ropes and tunnels at the adjoining Skynet Playground and adventure park.

Get out on horseback.

Saddling up with Santa Ynez Valley Horseback Rides means getting up close and personal with the Santa Ynez River, with up to four water crossings, as the horses step sure-footed through the shallows. Wildlife is abundant, including active beaver dams and eagles overhead. For families, younger kids with no riding experience can participate in gentle, one-hour pony encounters. (A “unicorn” is even available by request.)

Visit ostriches, emus, llamas, pigs, and more. 

When was the last time you locked eyes with a seven-foot bird? At Ostrichland USA, more than 150 ostriches and emus strut across the farm like they own the place (because they do), craning their long necks over the fence to gobble up your bowl of food. I recommend arriving early in the morning before any tour buses roll in—you’ll have more space and more birds vying for your attention. For even more hands-on fun, hop over to the Zaca Creek Ranch, where a 50-minute tour lets you wander past llamas and alpacas, peek into a pigsty, cuddle goats, and get a feel for life on a working Central Coast ranch.

Go back in time at Mendenhall’s Museum.

Mendenhall’s Museum of Gasoline Pumps & Petroliana is like a neon-lit time warp, with one of the West Coast’s largest collections of gas pumps, alongside racing memorabilia, license plates, and antique road signs. Started more than 50 years ago by Jack Mendenhall, the museum is now curated by his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Vickie. “It’s a hoot. At night, it’s especially amazing when all the lights come on,” Vreeland says. “If you’re lucky, you might even get invited to the second floor to see Vickie’s retro kitchen.” 

Stroll through a botanic garden.

Back in 2006, this spot was a roadside waste dump. Today, thanks to community volunteers, the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden is a thriving sanctuary for native plants and wildlife, showcasing the region’s diverse landscapes while honoring the Indigenous people of the area. Explore the Chumash village, wander beneath sun-dappled oaks, and lose yourself in a willow maze.

Best Shopping

The Creation Station Fabric & Quilt Shop 

If paradise for quilters exists, this is it. Housed inside a former bowling alley, this colorful cavern of cottons and bolts has become a destination for crafters everywhere. You’ll find whimsical prints, craft kits, and imaginatively repurposed items that’ll make you want to drop everything and start making something fabulous. 

Motley Crew Marketplace and Ranch 

Imagine a shop that feels like your favorite auntie’s kitchen. Packed with pasture-raised meats, housemade sausages, fresh eggs, local seafood, spices, and an array of homemade goodies, every corner of Motley Crew Marketplace and Ranch reflects Cassidy and Markos Alexandrou’s passion for sustainable, thoughtful food.

Best Restaurants

Industrial Eats 

What started as a catering company is now a farm-to-table restaurant and craft butcher shop in a converted warehouse on Industrial Way in Buellton. The Industrial Eats menu includes wood-fired pizzas, gourmet sandwiches, and inventive mains. “The latest thing I can’t get enough of is the salmon carpaccio,” Merz says. “That dish alone is worth a stop.”

The Hitching Post II

Like a well-balanced wine, The Hitching Post II marries Santa Maria-style barbecue with classic sides and its own handcrafted wines, all served in a warm, rustic setting. Fans of “Sideways” might remember this as the spot where Miles meets Maya, played by Virginia Madsen. If you’re planning to savor a glass of pinot noir in Buellton, this is the place to do it.

Giorgio’s at Parkway 

Blink and you might miss Giorgio’s at Parkway, tucked incongruously inside a liquor store on the Avenue of Flags. “I call it ‘speakeasy Italian,’” Vreeland says. Behind the unassuming doors, you’ll find a cozy eatery serving everything from wood-fired pizza to cioppino to spaghetti carbonara. Most passersby never notice it, which only adds to the thrill of discovering Buellton’s best-kept foodie secret.

Vega Vineyard & Farm 

Established on the historic Rancho de Vega, this family-run estate offers a full farm-to-table, wine country experience. While many of Buellton’s wineries offer excellent tastings, only Vega has Pop’s Place, an expansive, separate area with a casual eatery, a family-friendly petting zoo, and tractor-pulled wagon rides. 

Best Time to Visit

The sweet spot for visiting Buellton is late spring or early fall, when days are warm and drenched in sunlight, and evenings cool just enough to curl up with a glass of local wine under the stars. This is also when the vineyards come alive, either with the first green shoots of spring or the golden glow of harvest. But Buellton benefits from ocean breezes through the Transverse Ranges, giving the town a near-Mediterranean climate. For space enthusiasts, Buellton offers prime views of launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Plan your visit around a night launch to see rockets streak through the sky.

How to Get There

Reaching Buellton is straightforward. Set right off Highway 101 in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, it’s an easy 2.5-hour drive north from Los Angeles or a scenic five-hour trip south from San Francisco. Travelers from farther locales often fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), which is just 40 minutes away, and rental cars make that last stretch a breeze. For those who prefer public transit, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner stops in nearby Goleta and Santa Barbara, with connecting shuttles or ride-shares to Buellton. 

How to Get Around

The optimum way to see Buellton is by car, giving you the flexibility to slip between neighborhood breweries, tucked-away restaurants, and the wineries that sprawl across the Santa Ynez Valley’s rolling hills. Still, the town’s compact grid invites a slower pace for those moments you don’t want to get behind the wheel. Ride-share services like Uber and Lyft, along with local taxis, are readily available, while Santa Barbara County wine tour shuttles and the Santa Ynez Valley Transit bus connect Buellton to nearby Solvang, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos.