The Santa Ynez Valley is a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world. As an agricultural valley with ranching, vineyards, and other farming it is framed by the striking Santa Ynez Mountains and Los Padres National Forrest. Consisting of the towns of Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Buellton, and Ballard, the valley is home to approximately 20,000 residents. Property types range from 100+acre ranches to 1 acres ranchettes to condos.
Los Olivos
"Located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, the charming historic town of Los Olivos is a rewarding and relaxing weekend getaway or fun-filled day.
Boasting expansive views of Santa Barbara County’s vineyards and horse ranches, Los Olivos is noted for its love of the arts, wine tasting opportunities, unique shopping, epicurean restaurants, fun festivals, antiques, recreational landscapes, and friendly residents found throughout the village.
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail starts in Los Olivos and stretches north, winding its way through beautiful wineries and vineyards."
http://www.losolivosca.com/about/
Solvang
From Santa Barbara County wine country wine tasting and tours to horse-drawn trolley rides, from boutique shopping to surrey bike rides, from riding a segway to walks through the Historic Danish Village, there are things to do with family, things to do with kids, things to do with the friends; you will enjoy fun times and peaceful, beautiful, relaxing times here.
http://www.solvangusa.com/things-to-do/
Santa Ynez
The town of Santa Ynez (pop. ~4,400) remains distinctly western. It's a place where you are equally likely to run into a modern cowboy as a winemaker. Set at the eastern part of the valley it encompasses neighborhoods such as Meadowlark Ranch, Rancho Estates, Happy Canyon, Skyline Park, and others.
For further information about Santa Ynez's history, please visit the Santa Ynez Historical Museum and Santa Ynez Chamber of Commerce websites:
http://www.santaynezmuseum.org/history/
http://santaynezchamber.org/welcome-to-santa-ynez/history-of-santa-ynez/
Buellton
"Buellton has always been strategically located as the Gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley, feeding traffic north and south, east and west. In the 1930's Highway 101 was improved as more traffic used the road. In the 1940's Avenue of the Flags was an eight lane road through town, four lanes for local traffic, and four for north and south travel on the highway. In the early 1960's Highway 101 was moved to its current location, and Avenue of the Flags remains as the main street of Buellton.
Buellton became an incorporated city on February 1, 1992. Buellton operates under a five member city council and its form of government. Buellton currently has around 3,900 people, and hopes for more growth for the city."