Discover Los Olivos: Wine, Olive Oil, and History

Los Olivos brings together wine, olive oil, landscapes, and small-town history in an unusually concentrated way. The compact downtown area is home to nearly 30 tasting rooms. At the same time, the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail begins here, along with various offerings that allow you to experience the vineyards and horse ranches of Santa Barbara County from different perspectives. When planning your trip, the question is therefore less about choosing a single main theme and more about deciding on your preferred mix of culinary enjoyment, culture, and excursions.

Wine, Olive Oil, and Roads through the Landscape

Los Olivos Tasting Room & Wine Shop has been a destination for wine lovers since 1987. Spontaneous wine tastings without a reservation, as well as private tastings and group offerings, are available there. If you would like to devote your stay to olive oil, Olive Hill Farm offers extra-virgin olive oil, flavored oils, and imported Italian vinegars. An olive oil tasting featuring oils from the Los Olivos area is also available.

The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail begins in Los Olivos and leads north through wineries and vineyards. Pedego Los Olivos adds to this landscape experience with electric bicycle rentals and semi-guided tours. The offerings also include tours through Foxen Canyon, during which a light breakfast is served along the way. When choosing your vacation rental, you can therefore consider whether you mainly want to visit the downtown tasting rooms or experience Los Olivos as a starting point for an excursion into wine country. From here, there are expansive views of the vineyards and horse ranches of Santa Barbara County.

Historic Traces in Los Olivos

The town’s history is reflected in several different contexts. Los Olivos was named after Alden March Boyd’s Rancho de los Olivos, where 5,000 olive trees were planted. Berean Baptist Church was built in 1894 and was the first Protestant church in the Santa Ynez Valley. St. Mark’s Church is considered a downtown landmark; its well-maintained grounds are suitable for walking and relaxing. Gallery Los Olivos also adds a cultural touch with works by more than 40 regional artists.

Railroad history is also present in Los Olivos. The narrow-gauge tracks of the Pacific Coast Railway reached the town on November 17, 1887; it remained the southern terminus of the Pacific Coast Narrow Gauge. From 1887 to 1934, the former southern terminus at Highway 154 included a warehouse, a depot, a two-stall locomotive house, a turntable, and water tanks. The former rail corridor is still visible to the west. Mattei’s Tavern Historic Cabins includes the Keenan/Hartley House, which was built around 1882 and is considered the first residence constructed in Los Olivos. Also of interest for historical orientation is the fact that, in 1987, a walkable route spanning three blocks provided access to nearly all of Los Olivos’s historic buildings.

Events with Local Character

Several events give the town additional seasonal and culinary dimensions. The Los Olivos Wine Festival was scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s of the Valley in downtown Los Olivos. The festival invites participation from more than 20 wineries in Los Olivos. The Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival combines wine tastings, live jazz, and dozens of olive-themed dishes prepared by local chefs.

Los Olivos Olde Fashioned Christmas takes place every year on the first Saturday in December and includes the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree as well as a visit from Santa Claus. During this event, free hot chocolate and cookies are served at Lavinia Campbell Park. The 46th edition of Day in the Country includes a small-town parade, pumpkin decorating, a pumpkin pie contest, food trucks, vendor booths, and a children’s area. Dates like these can influence the preferred travel period and the desired daily schedule when choosing a vacation rental or vacation home.

Choose Los Olivos as Your Base

If you would like to combine wine tastings, olive oil, and historical discoveries, searching for accommodation specifically in Los Olivos is a good option. For a stay focused more strongly on the landscape, you can include the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail and the electric bicycle offerings in your plans. The events mentioned have different focuses and may influence your trip planning depending on the program you want.

For further orientation in the region, you can also include Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Toro Canyon, Goleta, Solvang, Los Alamos, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara in your research.

For the overarching travel overview: Santa Barbara.