Country store fronts, horseshoe crosswalks and no stop lights give Santa Ynez that country feeling. Its one downtown street belies its modern excitement. Home to some of Santa Ynez Valley's most popular restuarants, it's a great mix of the historic and contemporary Santa Ynez Valley lifestyle. This unique mix of old and new permeates all of Santa Ynez, where you can find a mix of quaint homes to large ranches, stretch your legs, and get away from city life. 

The stage was set for the founding of Santa Ynez in 1881, when Bishop Francis Mora received Congressional approval to sell the College Ranch, land that had been granted to the Catholic Church by the Mexican government in 1843. Settlers who were interested in putting down roots were allowed to purchase tracts of land selling for between $6 and $15 per acre. In late 1882, Bishop Mora gave each settler one free lot in the town if the settler purchased an additional lot for $15. The bishop, historians say, felt it more desirable for the farmers to live in a town rather than on their far-flung holdings.

The new settlement was originally to be named “Sagunto”, in honor of Bishop Mora’s birthplace in Spain, and a town bearing the name of Santa Inés (Saint Agnes) was to be built around Old Mission Santa Inés. Because this latter development did not materialize, the new town founded east of the Mission came to be called “Santa Ynez.” The settlers did not know Spanish, so they spelled “Inés” as “Ynez.”

Based on the hope that the Southern Pacific Railroad would come through the Valley via the Gaviota Pass, the Santa Ynez Valley Land and Development Company anticipated a population boom in Santa Ynez. As part of its promotion to sell lots in and around the Santa Ynez Township, the Company built the landmark College Hotel in 1889. The large and imposing hotel was located at the site of the present day “Santa Ynez Feed and Mill.” Many well-known entertainers of the day such as W. C. Fields and Charles Chaplin appeared at the College Hotel, as did some of the old-time medicine shows. The hotel burned to the ground in 1935, bringing an era to an end.

Santa Ynez did boom for a time in the 1880’s with a number of businesses in operation, ranging from saloons (some insist there were 11 at one time) and blacksmith shops to general mercantile stores, a pharmacy, a feed store, millinery and barber shops, and real estate agents. But when the Southern Pacific made its fateful decision, the town dropped back into a peaceful existence rather than the urban center it was hoped to become.

For the history of the entire Santa Ynez Valley, go to:http://www.santaynezmuseum.org/

1.https://santaynezchamber.org/history-of-santa-ynez/

The small town of Los Olivos began its journey in the 1860s as a stage coach stop. Starting in San Francisco, heading to Los Angeles, the journey was long and rough, the stage coach stop was a welcome sight.

Around 1885, a young New Yorker by the name of Alden March Boyd purchased 157 acres of farmland on a bluff overlooking Alamo Pintado Creek. He constructed a two-story farm house and planted over 5,000 olive trees. He named his new ranch 'Rancho de los Olivos'. Two years later, the narrow gauge railway between Los Alamos and the new small town was finished.  The growing stage coach and now narrow gauge railway stop was eventually named Los Olivos, after Boyd's nearby ranch. 

Nearly 150 years later, although the railway line is gone, Los Olivos still retains the charm and appearance of those bygone eras.  Many of the buildings are still there, although expanded and updated, now they house wine tasting rooms, specialty shops and upscale restaurants.  Still home to less than 2000 inhabitants, it has kept its small town charm and quaint atmosphere. In recent years, Los Olivos has become a must-see destination, surrounded by green rolling hills, wineries and farmland as well as its nearly perfect weather it is now known as a wedding and vacation destination.  Throngs of visitors can be seen relaxing and wine tasting on any given day on one of its two main streets.  Despite its growing reputation and many visitors year round, a streetlight is still nary to be seen.   This little piece of Santa Barbara County history is a gem not to be missed.

Encompassing almost two million acres, Los Padres National Forest spans some of the most ruggedly beautiful landscapes to be found anywhere in California. Los Padres includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,847 feet (2,697 m).[1]  Los Padres National forest ranks fourth largest out of 20 National Forests in the State of California.

The Los Padres National Forest has hiking, camping and hunting, views in nearly every direction and an amazing range of wildlife.  Many species of birds, fish and mammals call this massive forest home.

For more information click here: Los Padres Forest Information

[1]"Mount Pinos". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved June 29, 2009.