Life on the Road Series 2021
To start Life on the Road from the beginning, start here!
Olives Plus – Wine Merchant
Santa Barbara County, California (The Central Coast)
Lake Cachuma
Earth Date: 8/11/21 – 8/16/21
What we visited and did:
Lake Cachuma:
Is a reservoir nestled in the Santa Ynez Mountains, Cachuma Lake has become a haven for camping enthusiasts, watersport fanatics, and families vacationing in Santa Barbara, especially during the warmer months. It’s undoubtedly one of our favorite places to camp to indulge in relaxation, especially when our friends David and Joan are camping with us. It’s located close to Solvang, Los Olivos, and, of course, Santa Barbara. The majestic mountains that separate this lake from the coast are some of the most beautiful mountain ranges.
After dry camping and moving each day while visiting four wineries in Paso Robles, we were more than ready for Lake Cachuma, situated north of Santa Barbara. I sure missed our traveling buddies, David and Joanie! Each time we’ve been there, we’ve camped together, so I was a bit lonely without them.
Solvang:
Imagine a village where fresh-cut flowers and warm-from-the-oven pastries scent the air. Add gingerbread architecture, twirling windmills, and exceptionally friendly people, and you’ve got the Danish hamlet of Solvang. It’s one of our favorite places in California. In fact, we visited Solvang on our honeymoon – eons ago and have been back every time we’re in the vicinity.
Solvang is home to everything Danish, including the food. But there is so much more. Wineries, boutique shops, museums, parks, and some of our favorite shops, like the olive oil store, which is a necessary stop in our itinerary. Indulge in pastries, cheese, and artisan food, and then relax at the local park or Nojoqui Falls Park.
After setting up camp, we drove into Solvang for supplies – Ace Hardware, here we come. This place is fantastic for all kinds of goodies, but I refrained from getting things I can’t use now, nor do I have a place to store them. We never go to Solvang without stopping by my favorite olive oil store, Solvang Olive Press. I know… I tried not to purchase more when I already have so many, but I was out of smoked olive oil, and it’s so darn good when you sauté onions and bell peppers in it to go with your scrambled eggs in the morning. It’s a must!
We love the Italian place, Cecco Restorante, where we usually have lunch. I might add that we love their patio dining, and their pizzas are fabulous. We’ve eaten here many times with David and Joan. You might be wondering who these friends are. A little story, we met David and Joan when they bought our trailer, and from there, we became camping buddies! It was somewhat sad when we moved to North Carolina, and they ended up selling the trailer due to health issues. Those camping days will live long in my memory as the most fun!
This time, we decided to eat lunch at another restaurant, the Peasants’ Feast. We lunched here eons ago, where they mainly served Danish fare, but they’ve expanded and added a patio out front with plenty of umbrellas and have expanded their menu. And it’s dog-friendly, so we lunched there and enjoyed it immensely. However, there was a dual purpose – we were waiting for the Olive House to open so I could buy olives as part of our daughter’s Christmas present, her request.
We also make a habit of stopping by Lucas and Luwellen Wine Tasting Room, which is dog-friendly, and the staff is always pleasant. The biggest reason, though, is that we enjoy their wines!
Los Olivos:
With sweeping views of Santa Barbara County’s vineyards and horse ranches, Los Olivos is known for its vibrant arts scene, wine-tasting experiences, unique shops, gourmet restaurants, lively festivals, antiques, and warm community atmosphere.
It’s a must that while camping at Cachuma Lake, one must visit Los Olivos. It’s such a quaint and fun (somewhat sleepy town in the mornings), but well worth the visit. We discovered the Wine Merchant restaurant by watching the movie, Sideways. Our intent, lunch!
While waiting for the restaurant to open, we visited the Los Olivos General Store. Taking time to browse this unique country store, I had fun checking everything out. Of course, I found another cookbook! This is my second cookbook on the trip, and we’re still in California. There is no hope…
The winery attached to the general store, Larner Wines, opened at 11:00, so we did a wine tasting and sat outside enjoying the cool breeze and people-watching. It was relaxing, and by then the Wine Merchant opened. Yay! They have such good food!
What we’ve visited in the past:
The Hans Christian Andersen Museum
Located in the town of Solvang, this small museum pays tribute to the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. It’s been years since we visited this museum, and it’s well worth the time!
Nojoqui Falls Park
This is a lovely country park, but what we like most is the short hike to the falls. Bearing in mind that each time we’ve hiked this trail, it’s been when California has been in a drought. The first time, the falls were nothing but a mere trickle. The next time, it was non-existent, but the hike is still worth it!
Wineries – Fess Parker Winery
Established by the late Fess Parker in 1989, the multigenerational family-owned and operated Fess Parker Winery has built a reputation for crafting exceptional Rhône and Burgundian wines from Santa Barbara County. Since the opening of its expansive tasting room and winery along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in the 1990s, Fess Parker Winery has remained a top destination in the Santa Ynez Valley.
We have visited this exceptional winery with beautiful grounds and patio many times! On previous trips, we’ve been with David and Joan, but we’ve also visited the winery alone. It’s such a pleasant experience, and so peaceful!
Other Places to Explore:
Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park
The walls of this small cave, carved from towering sandstone boulders, contain some of the finest remaining rock art created by Chumash Native Americans. A steep path leads to the cave entrance, which is protected by heavy iron grillwork. Anthropologists estimate that the paintings date to the 1600s and earlier.
OstrichLand USA
OstrichLand is the 32-acre home to more than 80 ostriches and 70 emus. It’s a Central Coast landmark where feeding the birds is a must. Just stand back, hold on to the feeding bowl, and enjoy the hilarious antics of these colossal birds.
More to come!
