Take a day trip to Los Alamos

Summer is already in full swing. Lots of people take to the roads for the July 4th vacation – AAA says about 3.3 million people in Southland alone. That’s more than the number of people who took off for Memorial Day weekend. And the agency says most will drive to their destinations.

If you’re planning to get out of town and only have one day to do so, Krista Simmons, travel writer and host of the Fork in the Road podcast, has an idea for you. Fill up on gas and head to a small town in the Santa Ynez Valley called Los Alamos.

Here is a hotel option for you in Los Alamos. Photo courtesy of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

What is it about

Los Alamos is about two hours north of Los Angeles. The town is a former stagecoach stop and has an old-world take, according to Simmons. “It’s like the hip vibe of Palm Springs meets a city on horseback.”

Within seven blocks of town, there are a bunch of wineries, restaurants, and even an antique store.

The Pico restaurant serves different types of food and wine, and there is even a wine club. Photo credit: Craft and Cluster, courtesy of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

If you like vintage shopping, you can visit this antique depot. Photo credit: Craft and Cluster, courtesy of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

“It’s a small town, which I think we all want as city dwellers. … We were kind of stuck inside and locked in a mega-city, so I found myself more often than I just wanted to relax, ”says Simmons.

Despite that small town feel, Simmons says it’s teeming with young creatives, from winemakers to restaurateurs.

On top of all the action, it is simply idyllic. “You have these beautiful rolling hills and they’re dotted with oak trees. The air smells of the incredible Live Oak barbecue so iconic of the Central Coast, ”says Simmons.

What to drink

The central coast is known for its quintessential wineries and Los Alamos is no different. Unlike the big estates of Napa and Sonoma, the city also retains that old little town feel in its vineyards.

“Los Alamos has a ton of really cool and very boutique little wineries. … You will enjoy [relaxing] on a garden terrace, you might taste with a winegrower. They’re just really beautiful places that focus specifically on natural wine, ”says Simmons.

One of Simmons’ recommendations includes Lo-Fi wines, which combine music and tasting. “You can play in there, and they’ve got a record player out. You can taste natural wines. The winemakers are there a lot, so you can chat with them and ask questions, ”says Simmons.

Another wine shop on Simmons’ must-see list includes Pico Los Alamos, which she recommends you call to make a reservation as the pandemic is still here.

What to eat

There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat on your day trip here. A must-see stop is Bob’s Well Bread. The bakery was founded by Bob Oswaks, who, according to Simmons, is a “former Hollywood executive who did what many of us dream of doing… he gave up his life in Hollywood… then moved to Los Alamos. to open a small bakery. “

Inside Bob’s Well Bread Bakery in Los Alamos, nothing bad is on the menu, says Simmons. Credit: Harold Litwiler (CC BY 2.0).

Simmons says the bakery makes amazing baguettes, English muffins, and “every kind of brunch you can imagine.” And unlike other places, Simmons says, “You’ll find him over there working at the counter most of the time.”

Another popular restaurant is Bell’s. Simmons says the restaurant is so good that people drive there just for lunch. It is led by seasoned chefs Daisy and Greg Ryan. “They make… what they call ‘French food’. It is therefore a hybrid of traditional French cuisine and rancho cuisine from the Central Coast. And it’s so delicious, ”says Simmons.

Simmons suggests that you go to Bell during the week, as weekends are hard to book.

How to enjoy the outdoors

Like most of the central coast, Los Alamos has a ton of outdoor things to do, including hiking. Simmons especially enjoys hiking Figueroa Mountain and Los Alamos Park, which is closer to town. This is [Los Alamos Park] about six and a half miles of paved trails, which takes about two hours of walking on average, and is good for different levels of fitness.

“You get these wonderful views of the sweeping vistas … from those rolling hills bordering on oak trees. It’s just a lovely way to start your day,” says Simmons.

He recommends that you walk in the morning to avoid the potential heat, then head to one of the restaurants or wineries.

Where else to go

The area “is made up of six different communities, and each of them has certainly [sic] their own atmosphere. And it’s very easy to get around from each one, as long as you have a car, ”says Simmons.

Simmons recommends the town of Los Olivos, which is small and full of tasting rooms.

You can also visit the homonymous town of Santa Ynez. Simmons suggests staying at the Ynez Hotel, which she considers a darling boutique property, and they even deliver a barbecue to your doorstep.

Overall the city has some cool markets and tons of places to hike. “It’s just a very, very nice place to get away from it all and get loose a bit,” says Simmons.