Overview
Los Olivos is a small community in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County in Southern California. The area is home to many highly-rated wineries, and with many well-maintained, low-traffic rural roads, also has some of the best bicycling routes in the region. The town itself is quaint, pleasant, and compact, and makes for good walking, people-watching, shopping, and coffee- and wine-drinking. It is a common weekend destination for people throughout southern and central California. Many people famous in the entertainment industry have homes or ranches nearby.
1 sights · 10 bars & cafés
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Los Olivos
Neverland Ranch
The 3,000 acre former home of Michael Jackson is not open to visitors, but is still a pilgrimage site for some former fans. Visitors can park across the street and take a picture at the nondescript brown gate - the guard…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 75°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Lompoc)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, Santa Barbara — 23 mi away. Directions
- SMX Santa Maria Public Airport Captain G Allan Hancock Field, Santa Maria — 25 mi away. Directions
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 105 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get around
By car
Most visitors arrive by car, but many also come by bicycle from adjacent towns.
See
See Neverland Ranch
The 3,000 acre former home of Michael Jackson is not open to visitors, but is still a pilgrimage site for some former fans. Visitors can park across the street and take a picture at the nondescript brown gate - the guardhouse can be seen hidden back in the sycamores. While Jackson was alive the ranch hosted sick children and featured an amusement park. Starting in May 2015 the property was for sale with a price tag of $100 million, but it eventually sold in 2020 for less than a quarter of that total.
Drink
Wineries
Drink Andrew Murray Vineyards
In terms of Santa Barbara wine tasting, Andrew Murray is recognized as one of the better wineries in Santa Ynez for Syrah and other Rhone style wines. Andrew Murray sold his vineyards in the earl 2010s.
Drink Beckmen Vineyards
They generally pour good wines. Beckmen is among the smaller Santa Barbara wineries. Their setting is pleasant, though they don't offer much view compared with other Santa Barbara wine tasting options.
Drink Brander Vineyard
One of the smaller Santa Barbara wine tasting rooms, among Santa Barbara wineries this is worth a stop if you're in Los Olivos.
Drink Daniel Gehrs Wines
One of the numerous tasting rooms along the main street in Los Olivos. A different kind of tasting experience than other Santa Barbara wineries, in that you can walk from one to the next. They've open later than most. They have a nice mix of wines.
Drink Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
Some of the best wine among Santa Barbara wineries. They have a very large lawn which is well-suited for a picnic. They welcome groups and have a separate tasting counter for private events. They pour more whites than red, which may disappoint some.
Drink Firestone Vineyard
Perhaps the most common stop in a day of Santa Barbara wine tasting. They serve consistently good wines. Firestone opened in 1972 and has become one of the leading Santa Barbara wineries. Their tour is perhaps the best in the region. Firestone is set on a hill with great views, making it a perfect picnic spot. Firestone has three distinct picnic grounds. The one on the east side of the parking lot and slightly downhill has the best view.
Drink Koehler Winery
They have a nice picnic area. They are located on a small hill with decent view. They are among the least crowded Santa Barbara wineries.
Drink Los Olivos Vintners
Another of the tasting rooms in Los Olivos, as an alternative to the Santa Barbara wineries to which you have to drive. They also have a small picnic area.
Drink Qupe
Qupe is based at the Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria, but like many Santa Barbara wineries, it has its tasting room in Los Olivos.
Drink Zaca Mesa Winery
Zaca Mesa is one of the northern-most Santa Barbara wineries. They have rather pretty grounds, though only a limited view. Tastings are free for groups under 10. Zaca Mesa's grapes are grown on the winery property in Foxen Canyon.
Go next
- Santa Ynez - Five miles southeast of Los Olivos, Santa Ynez sits at the heart of the rural Santa Ynez valley, an area that attracts travelers to its many wineries. The valley was the setting for the 2004 film Sideways, and fans of the film are known to make pilgrimages to the inns and restaurants from the movie.
- Buellton - Located 9 miles to the southwest, Buellton is home to several Santa Ynez Valley wineries. Visitors will also find the ostrich & emu farm interesting, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the giant birds.
Nearby
Santa Ynez
City / town · 6 listings · 4 mi away
Solvang
City / town · 26 listings · 5 mi away
Buellton
City / town · 20 listings · 6 mi away
Cachuma Lake Recreation Area
Park · 11 mi away
Lompoc
City / town · 33 listings · 20 mi away
Goleta
City / town · 21 listings · 23 mi away
Santa Maria
City / town · 16 listings · 27 mi away
Santa Barbara
City / town · 128 listings · 29 mi away
My experience
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