Day One
If you’re visiting Santa Maria Valley May through October, start your trip with a day on the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley. The trolley is the easiest way to tour some of the region’s best wineries. The trolley runs from May to October and makes stops in Old Town Orcutt, Presqu’ile Winery, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, and Costa de Oro Winery. You can get a free tasting at participating wineries—including Cottonwood Canyon—when you show your hotel key card.
Finish your first evening with a romantic dinner and date night, beginning with Far Western Tavern. This iconic Santa Maria Style barbecue destination is well-known for grilling over red oak coals, which provides dishes with that classic smoky flavor. Far Western Tavern also pours many local wines to perfectly complement your meal.
Experience a unique dessert experience at Nite Creamery in Santa Maria. This ice cream parlor has no freezers. Instead, they use fresh ingredients that are frozen by liquid nitrogen before your eyes.
Nite Creamery has a variety of flavors, with new menu items added seasonally.Nite Creamery also makes fresh waffle cones to take your ice cream to the next level.
Finally, catch a show at a local favorite, PCPA – Pacific Conservatory Theatre. PCPA hosts shows year-round in its two beautiful theaters. Since its inception in 1964, PCPA has infused the national theater scene with thousands of trained actors and theatrical technicians from the Central California Coast.