Getting there

Qantas and Virgin Australia fly direct to Los Angeles from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. United flies direct from Sydney and Melbourne.

To u r i n g t h e r e

Santa Barbara Farmers Market (Downtown) See why Julia Child chose to retire in Santa Barbara; the city’s colourful farmers’ market opens twice

a week. Tuesdays at 500 and 600 blocks of State St, and Saturdays at the corner of Cota St and Santa Barbara St, Santa Barbara, sbfarmersmarket.org Stepladder Ranch Visit the goats, tour the creamery and taste the cheeses at this picturesque ranch. 4450 San Simeon-Monterey Creek Rd, Cambria, entry $US25 per person, bookings essential, stepladdercreamery.com Tablas Creek Vineyard Drop in to taste Tablas Creek’s Rhône-style wines, or book in for a collector’s tasting experience or vineyard tour (twice daily). Tastings from $US15, 9339 Adelaida Rd, Paso Robles, open daily 10am-5pm, tablascreek.com

Morro Bay Oyster Company Taste Morro Bay’s Pacific Gold and Pacific Gold Reserve oysters dockside, with views of Morro Rock. 1287 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, morrobayoysters.com

Sea Stephanie Fish Stephanie Mutz sells her California Gold urchins at markets from Santa Barbara to Orange County and Los Angeles. See @seastephfish on Twitter for locations and availability. seastephaniefish.com

Eating there

Maude The Californian Central Coast menu runs from 1 July to 30 September. Maude, 212 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, mauderestaurant.com

More

visitcalifornia.com, santabarbaraca.com, slocal.com Above: Maude. Opposite from top: Stone at Stepladder Ranch with co-owner Michelle Rudolph; Handlebar Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara; Stone in the Stepladder Ranch cheese rooms with co-owner Jack Rudolph.