Get outdoors

Your outdoor vacation in California awaits.

Spend a weekend outside in Santa Maria Valley and get a taste of recreation done #SantaMariaStyle. Cycling, hiking, beaching and sightseeing are waiting for you in the Central Coast.

Pro Tips

For Your Trip

  • Hit up Main Street Cycles for extra bike gear if you forget something.
  • Bring your “shants” (pants that zip off to shorts) for flexible wardrobe options.
make us your home base

Grab your hiking shoes, helmet, flip flops and sense of adventure

Santa Maria Valley is the ideal home base for the best outdoor vacation in California. Here, you’ll find 24 hiking trails, 13 beaches and near endless miles of cycling trails all within a half hour drive. Plus the temperate climate along California’s Central Coast makes it possible to enjoy outdoor activities all year long.

Your Trip At A Glance

Enjoy Kay's Kitchen during your weekend getaway in Santa Maria Valley
You can even enjoy parental pit stops at wineries during your family trips in California

Day One Itinerary

Start your outdoor vacation in California in Santa Maria Valley’s Old Town Orcutt. Park on E Clark Ave and hop on your bike to cruise a scenic 8-miles to Los Flores Ranch Park, which offers more than 15 miles of hiking trails. Many of the trails offer panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Los Flores Ranch Park also has a native garden and a wildlife barn for you to explore.

Los Flores Ranch Park Santa Maria

After you’ve finished exploring the park, head back into Old Orcutt. You may even want to pedal to the pinot and stop at a winery along Foxen Canyon road on your way back. Presqui’ile Winery just off East Clark on Presqu’ile Drive. (Psst! You can also check out our wine itinerary for more ideas for experiencing Santa Maria Valley wine.)

After your ride or hike, treat yourself to wine at Old Town Wine & Brew or beer at Naughty Oak Brewing Company. After all, is it really an outdoor vacation in California if you don’t fuel up and grab some ice-cold beverages? Old Town Wine & Brew serves wines from around the Santa Maria Valley, some from winemakers who don’t have their own tasting rooms. Naughty Oak Brewing Company is a hub of craft beer in Santa Maria Valley. They serve up cleverly named beer like Anthony Hopkins and Party Favors. Then, take a short walk over to Pizzeria Bello Forno, one of Orcutt’s most popular eateries. Bello Forno serves authentic wood-fired pizza, artisan salads, pasta and more. You can also order more wine from surrounding wineries and beer from Naughty Oak to accompany your meal.

Day Two Itinerary

Cups and Crumbs has a full array of coffee drinks, hot and cold, smoothies, crepes, breakfast bagel sandwiches and a full bakery service available. They have a set menu, as well as daily pastry specials and weekly crepe specials. Here, day two of your outdoor vacation in California will be off to a great start and fuel you for your day of adventure!

If you’re visiting the Santa Maria Valley October through February, be sure to see the monarch butterflies at the Monarch Dunes Butterfly Grove. Make the 20-minute drive to view thousands of monarch butterflies, which spend the colder months among the eucalyptus trees in groves like this along the Central Coast. It’s a once in a lifetime experience that shouldn’t be missed during your outdoor vacation in California. If you’re visiting the valley in the spring or summer, don’t worry because the grove is still a beautiful hike that offers a look at local plants and wildlife.

Your next stop is a true hidden gem of the Santa Maria Valley. Drive 15 minutes to Oceano Dunes. Rent an ATV and hit the sand dunes to see the Central Coast from a different perspective. The dunes are one of the only places in California that you can ride dune buggies across the beach, right next to the ocean. There are several places to rent vehicles to enjoy this amazing experience. Be careful while you’re riding, because some of these towering dunes are larger than they appear. You can park your buggy and take a stroll along the beach and dip your toes in the ocean.

Conclude your day of fun with a classic Santa Maria Style dinner at Jocko’s in Nipomo, which is a quick 20-minute drive back toward Santa Maria. Jocko’s has been a local barbecue favorite for more than 50 years, so be sure to call ahead of time to make a reservation. Their open red oak barbecue pit opens at 4:30 p.m. Your outdoor vacation in California would truly be regrettable if you didn't end it on a high note eating some mouth-watering Santa Maria Style barbecue!

Going so soon?

Weekends in Santa Maria Valley are here and gone in a blink. We can’t wait to host you on your outdoor vacation in California! With so much to do from here, choose us as your home base, with a variety of lodging options suited for every kind of traveler. If you need ideas on where to start, let us help you plan your trip for an unforgettable getaway in Santa Maria Valley. Your adventure starts here!

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