Buellton Is One of the Most Underrated Small Towns in California

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

Smuggled in the Santa Ynez Valley between the Pacific Ocean and the gentle hills of wine country, Bevelton has small-town charm.

“I discover new things all the time,” says Kristen Naperd Merz, Boylton’s community art projects coordinator. “When people walk the main streets, they don’t know that so many hidden gems are just a turn away.”

Best hotels and resorts

Sideways Inn

Once known as the Windmill Inn—it inspired the 2004 Academy Award-winning film “Sideways,” when Miles and Jack crash in room 234 between tastings—the renovated motel has been turned into a storefront hideout. Stylish rooms, fire pits, and a laid-back lounge with craft beers and a decent wine list make this the best stay in town.

Pea Soup Anderson’s Inn

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

Flying Flags RV Resort and Campground

It’s a camping experience with a serious twist, featuring vintage airstreams, safari tents, and storybook cottages mixed with full hookup RV sites. Guests can enjoy a massive pool, a fully stocked camp store, and a food truck under fairy lights. “There are so many family-friendly events at the campground. The calendar is always full,” says Cathy Vreeland, executive director of the Beulton Chamber of Commerce. Guest favorite activities include motorcycle light parades, karaoke and paint nights.

Great job to do

Ride the longest, fastest zip line in California.

At High Line Adventures, the longest and fastest zip lines in California send riders soaring at more than 50 mph. The view from the first launch point is unbeatable, though eight acres of stunning protea bloom below, almost stealing the show. (For those with two feet on the ground, guided walks through the flower fields are equally enticing.) Kids and adventurous adults can also climb, bounce, and crawl through the treetop ropes and tunnels at the adjacent Skynt Playground and Adventure Park.

Get out on horseback.

Cutting through the Santa Ynez Valley horseback riding means getting up close and personal with the Santa Ynez River, with up to four water crossings, as the horses step sure through the shallows. Wildlife is abundant, including active beaver dams and eagles overhead. For families, young children with no riding experience can participate in gentle, one-hour pony competitions. (A “unicorn” is also available by request.)

See 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 flock across the farm like they own the place (because they do), craning their long necks over the fence to gobble up your food bowl. I recommend arriving early in the morning before getting on any of the tour buses – you’ll have more space and more birds ready for your attention. For even more fun, head to Zacca Creek Ranch, where a 50-minute tour lets you wander past llamas and alpacas, take a tour, see goats, and get a feel for life on a working Central Coast ranch.

Step back in time at the Museum of Mendenhall.

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

Stroll through the botanic garden.

Back in 2006, this place was a roadside waste dump. Today, thanks to community volunteers, the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden is a thriving sanctuary for native plant and wildlife, showcasing the region’s diverse landscape while honoring the region’s indigenous people. Explore the Chumash Village, wander under the sunlit oaks, and lose yourself in the Willow Maze.

Best buy

Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop

If there is a paradise for quilters, this is it. Located inside a former bowling alley, this colorful cave of cotton and bolts has become a destination for craftspeople everywhere. You’ll find whimsical prints, craft kits, and imaginatively repurposed items that will make you want to drop everything and start creating something wonderful.

Motley Fool’s Market and Farm

Imagine a store that feels like your favorite aunt’s kitchen. Filled with pasture-raised meats, house-made sausages, fresh eggs, local seafood, spices, and an array of homemade goods, every corner of Motley’s staffed market and ranch reflects Cassidy and Marcos Alexandru’s passion for sustainable, thoughtful food.

Best restaurant

Industrial eats

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

Hitching Post II

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

on Giorgio’s Parkway

Blink and you might miss Giorgio on the Parkway, bumped uncontrollably inside a liquor store on the Avenue of Flags. “I call it ‘Speakeasy Italian,'” Vreeland says. “Behind the unassuming doors, you’ll find a casual eatery serving everything from wood-fired pizza to cappino to spaghetti carbonara. Most passers-by never notice it, which only adds to the thrill of discovering Boylton’s best-kept foodie secret.”

Vega Vineyard and Farm

Located on historic Rancho de Vega, this family-run estate offers a complete farm-to-table, wine country experience. While Beulton’s many wineries offer great tastings, only Vega has Pop’s Place, a spacious, secluded area with casual dining, a family-friendly petting zoo, and tractor-pulled wagon rides.

Best time to visit

The sweet spot to visit Boylton is in late spring or early fall, when the days are warm and drenched in sunlight, and the evenings are cool enough to hang out under the stars with a glass of local wine. It’s also when the vineyard comes alive, either with the first green shoots of spring or the golden glow of harvest. But Boylton benefits from sea breezes through the Transverse Ranges, giving the city a nearly Mediterranean climate. For space enthusiasts, Bevelton offers prime views of launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Plan your visit around a night launch to see the rocket stream from the sky.

How to get there

Getting to Beulton is straightforward. Set right off Highway 101 in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, it’s an easy 2.5-hour drive north of Los Angeles or five hours south of San Francisco. Travelers from further afield often fly into Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), which is only 40 minutes away, and rental cars make the distance a breeze. For those who prefer public transit, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfer stops in nearby Goleta and Santa Barbara, with shuttles or ride shares connecting Boyleton.

How to get around

Most of the way to see Beulton is by method, giving you the flexibility to slip between neighborhood breweries, bumpy restaurants, and wineries spread across the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. Still, the town’s compact grid invites a slower pace for those moments you don’t want to get behind the wheel. Local taxis as well as ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft are readily available, while Santa Barbara County wine tour shuttles and the Santa Ynez Valley Transit bus connect Bevelton to nearby Solvang, Santa Ynez and Los Olivos.