Wine tasting at your choice of over 100 wineries in nearby Santa Ynez Valley is just a short trip over the mountains (learn about wine country at www.sbcountywines.com).  Don't drive, though... take advantage of one of many reliable tour companies.  Most will pick you up right at your hotel lobby and take you out or a full day of tasting with a knowledgeable guide.  The typical tour includes tasting at four wineries and a picnic lunch set up for you in wine country.

The Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle www.gogrape.com, the most consistently recommended wine tour service, offers daily tasting tours  and focuses on hospitality, comfort, and flexibility.  Guides are accommodating, the shuttles are roomy, and unlike most other services, the Grapeline does not limit the winery choices to a handful of "preferred partner" wineries, so winery requests are encouraged and every trip can bring new discoveries. 

Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours, www.ccjeeps.com, is for the more rugged types who like the sun on their shoulders and the wind in their faces.  Open air jeeps are more fun... if the weather is right which is often the case in the mild coastal climate.  Beyond winery knowledge, Cloud Climber guides pride themselves in knowing the area history, plant and wild life. 

Sustainable Vine Tours www.sustainablevine.com, is for the environmentally conscious.  Both Sustainable Vine and the wineries they visit care about the planet and are doing something about it.  Learn the difference between organic wine and organic wine-making techniques.  Featured wineries are those focused on sustainable techniques.  Prices are a bit steeper than other services and the standard tour offers three wineries instead of four.  Tours do not run every day unless minimums are met, so check in advance if the day you want is "on."

Solvang, a Danish enclave in the heart of Santa Barbara County wine country, has the look, feel, and old world charm of a Copenhagen suburb.  Arrive in time for breakfast, being sure to try the obvious -- danishes (the appleskiver alone is worth the trip), and afterwards stroll around the quaint village spending time in the numerous boutiques, galleries, and gift shops.  When you tire of shopping, sample some vino at one of the many tasting rooms maintained in town by the surrounding wineries.  More info at www.solvangusa.com.