Coast Into the New Year
Head north and kick off 2018 in California’s beachy center
T V has gotten good, food delivery has gone gourmet, and the nightly news is downright riveting. It’s no wonder you hardly left the house in 2017. But it’s a new year, with new opportunity to actually live life by exploring the bountiful offerings on California’s stunning Central Coast, just a short shot by plane, train or automobile for lucky Southern California residents. OUI, DU VIN IN LOS OLIVOS Right now, someone in France is reading wistfully about California’s acclaimed wineries and adding a California Central Coast trip to la list du bucket (or a better-translated version thereof). You, however, could be sipping the world’s best vintages in a matter of hours.
You can’t swing a grape vine in these parts without hitting an award-winning vintner, so plot your trip carefully. Los Olivos, about 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara, is a favorite destination for in-the-know oenophiles. The world-famous Fess Parker Winery and Tasting Room is here, situated on spacious grounds offering sweeping views of the mountain scenery you can drink in as you sample the celebrated pinot noir. But don’t stop there: Alta Maria Vineyards, Kaena Wine Co., Beckmen Vineyards and Larner Vineyard and Winery are just a few of the highly rated winemakers with tasting rooms in the area. A FAIRYTALE ENDING IN SOLVANG Sadly, you will never get a chance to see Solvang in 2017. That ship has sailed, the opportunity gone forever. Are you starting to see why 2018 is such a blessing? First-time visitors to this charming Danish village will be wowed by the Old World architecture, iconic windmills, charming boutiques and only-in-Solvang fun like the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and the kid favorite Solvang Trolley and Little Mermaid Fountain.
Plan a trip around events like the annual Taste of Solvang festival, March 14 through 18 this year. Farmers, chefs, bakers, vintners and even distillers show off their skills with samples and scheduled highlights like the Friday night Sip and Savor event and the Solvang “Tasting Trail” excursion on March 17. Whatever you do, don’t head home without a tub of traditional Danish butter cookies. THE MOST OF THE COAST IN BIG SUR After 365 days of Los Angeles freeways and hazy skies, it’s easy to forget why California is considered one of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world. Your 2018 reminder awaits in Big Sur. Here, white-capped waves crash along rocky shorelines that shoot upward toward a breathtaking expanse of hills and horizon. Pack your hiking boots, as the best of Big Sur is experienced on foot, with coastal trails ranging from the easy McWay Waterfall Trail to the “OMG” challenge of the Bluff Trail loop.
When you’re ready to relax, check in to opulent oceanside accommodations at the luxe Post Ranch Inn. Soak tired muscles in the 104-degree waters of one of the resort’s infinity-edge “hot basking spas,” perched along cliffs where the water meets the sky. In addition to world class-spa services and dining, there are complimentary morning yoga sessions or nighttime stargazing aided by the resort’s powerful telescope and a hobbyist astronomer.
ENTER THE FUNK ZONE IN SANTA BARBARA
Santa Barbara is a picturesque town known for red-tiled roofs contrasting with gorgeous coastline that boasts the famous Mission Santa Barbara and El Presidio State Historic Park. But locals know that the city’s beating heart is its arts scene.
Creations by cutting-edge artists greet you before you leave the car with murals throughout the city and galleries galore. Arrive on a Sunday and catch the beachfront Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show, a bonanza of original drawings, paintings, graphics, sculpture, crafts and photography.
A must-stop for art lovers is the Museum of Contemporary Art, especially Jan. 28 through June 3, when “Cecily Brown: Rehearsal” marks the artist’s first museum show on the West Coast. Then, explore the 10 blocks that make up the Funk Zone, home to edgy galleries, colorful murals, artists’ studios, quaint shops and eateries.