Santa Maria

Anchoring the northern edge of Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria is both a place and a lifestyle. Sitting squarely at the crossroads of vineyard and cowboy culture, the city is bounded by more than 30 tasting rooms, but it’s also a laid-back ranching town where dinner attire might be jeans and a Stetson hat. Barbecue is a mealtime mainstay—especially Santa Maria tri-tip seared over flaming California red oak—and it tastes best when paired with a locally produced Pinot Noir.  

What to See and Do in Santa Maria

There’s a lot to do in Santa Maria, so plan to stay a while. Wine tasting tops the list—this rural region was once dotted with strawberry and broccoli fields, but today its rich soil nourishes 7,500 acres of vineyards. The 30-mile-long Foxen Canyon Wine Trail rambles between Santa Maria and Los Olivos, skirting past 16 tasting rooms. Each one is worth a stop—especially if you enjoy Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, or alluring country scenery.

On weekends, visit more Santa Maria Valley wineries with a ticket for the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley. Hop on and off at six stops along its 60-minute route, including Amplify Wines (sustainable vineyards), Cottonwood Canyon (cool wine caves), and Costa de Oro (live music on weekends). The trolley runs Friday through Sunday in summer and fall.

For an antidote to all that wine, head over to Los Flores Ranch Park to take a hike. Traipse along gentle trails through oak-dotted hills or join a docent-led walk on the first Saturday of the month. West of Santa Maria lies Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve, where towering 550-foot-tall dunes await. Wander up and over these silky mountains of sand, then stroll along miles of pristine beach.

Back in town, spend some time in Santa Maria’s trio of small museums. Peek into this region’s past—from early Chumash Indian culture to the Mission and Rancho eras—at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum, which houses more than 3,000 photographs and artifacts. Learn about fascinating flora and fauna at the Santa Maria Natural History Museum, a nonprofit education center with displays on Central Coast critters from monarch butterflies to mountain lions to sea stars. And see dozens of vintage flying machines—many from World War II—at the Santa Maria Museum of Flight. You’ll also find props from Hollywood aviation films like 1991’s The Rocketeer, and a mural depicting women’s contributions to flight history. 

When evening falls, catch a performance of the Pacific Conservatory Theatre, which has nurtured Santa Maria’s arts scene for 50-plus years with a rich mix of Broadway musicals, Shakespearean comedies and tragedies, and contemporary plays.   

Where to Eat in Santa Maria

At Shaw’s Steakhouse and Tavern, the sizzling oak pit is the star of the show. This old-school spot has mastered the Santa Maria tri-tip and more than a dozen cuts of steak, from petite filet mignons to 20-ounce “cowboy cut” rib eyes. Order a cocktail at the bar and watch the pitmaster grill your meat precisely to your liking—a Shaw’s hallmark since 1953. Make sure you honor tradition by ordering the locals’ favorite side dish—flavorful pinquito beans, grown only in the Santa Maria Valley.

Two more great spots to sample Santa Maria’s red-oak barbecue are The Swiss Steakhouse & Bar and Woody’s Butcher Block. For Mexican flavors, head to Birrieria La Charrita for beef or goat birria, tortas, menudo, or a plate of sizzling fajitas. Or eat your way through more than a dozen in-town taquerias, most clustered on Main Street or Broadway. Santa Maria serves up Mediterranean flavors, too. Kabobs, gyros, and chicken shawarma are on the menu at The Green Olive, plus falafels and other vegetarian options.

In the morning hours, Santa Maria neighbors meet up at The Pantry on Park for biscuits and gravy, steak and eggs, and heaping platters of pancakes. For a speedy to-go breakfast, grab a smoothie and a bagel sandwich at My Place Coffee, Juice + More on South Broadway.

Where to Stay in Santa Maria

With its towering palms, ornate courtyards, trickling fountains, and sparkling swimming pool, the historic Santa Maria Inn has been a Central Coast landmark since 1917. Hollywood’s elite favored this spot—Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Rudolph Valentino stayed here, often while journeying to San Simeon to visit William Randolph Hearst in his newly constructed castle. Ghost hunters claim that Valentino’s spirit haunts the 164-room inn and likes to hang out at the Olde English Tap Room bar.

Several well-known hotel chains offer modern rooms and a convenient stay, including Hampton Inn and Suites Santa Maria, Best Western Plus Big America, Fairfield by Marriott Santa Maria, and Radisson Hotel Santa Maria. If only the newest property will do, the 12-room Wine Stone Inn opened in 2019. It’s in Old Town Orcutt, just eight miles south of Santa Maria.