Hoop Hype

UCSB basketball offers a very different — and very exciting — 
way to experience the Central Coast
By Mike Miller
Photos by Jeff Liang

If you live, work, or play along the Central Coast and you are looking for something fun and different to do this winter, look no further than University of California, Santa Barbara men’s and women’s basketball. Situated on one of the most beautiful locations in Santa Barbara County, UCSB is a gem both athletically and academically. In fact, UCSB was recently ranked the No. 7 public university in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Especially if you have kids into basketball, or who are looking at colleges, UCSB is a must-see.

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Lompoc: The Central Coast’s Best-Kept Wine Tasting Secret

Story and photos by Katherine McMahon

Heading north just after the Gaviota Pass, State Route 1 splits from the California 101 to curve west, passing through serene valleys in the Santa Ynez Mountains and along Salsipuedes Creek to the City of Lompoc. Lompoc sits in its own valley surrounded on the north and west by Vandenberg Air Force Base. On the east side of the city is the Santa Rita Hills which contain some of the best grape growing conditions in the region. Yet when Lompoc was founded 150 years ago, it was established as a temperance colony where the manufacture, sale, and consumption of liquor was prohibited. Fortunately, that stage in Lompoc’s history didn’t last long and today there is a rich local wine culture. Part of what makes the area special for winemaking is the significant presence of diatomaceous earth, which is a white, rocky soil formed from ancient deposits of sea life, much the same way that Paso Robles is known for its calcareous soils. But what stood out for me on my visit to Lompoc was the devotion and passion of the artisans making wine.

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Winter Adventures with Island Packers

By Nicole Leonetti

You can binge-watch all the high-definition 4K nature documentaries you want, but nothing comes close to seeing whales in the wild. No television can give you a true appreciation for the majesty of a breaching humpback, or the sheer mass of a 90,000-pound gray whale. No photo or YouTube clip can put you on the bow of a boat as hundreds of dolphins frolic in the waves under your feet.

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Sightseeing by Saddle

Get off the beaten path with these horseback riding companies

By Marlowe Hast

If you’re yearning to get away from it all, there’s just nothing like putting on a brimmed hat, swinging your leg over a horse, and getting out into the wilderness. It compels you slow down and find a new perspective, as the rhythm of the trail sets the pace.

Horses are a part of life for many along the Central Coast, and visitors — both experienced riders and beginners — have several options to experience that lifestyle by trekking out into wild places. Here are three from each county to get you started on your outdoor adventures.

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The Vibe of the Valley: Ojai Community Farmers’ Market

Story by Kerstin Kuhn • Photos by Misty Hall

It’s a Thursday afternoon in November and it’s chilly in downtown Ojai. The clocks have just gone back, and dusk is settling in on the valley. But the cold and dark are no match for the Ojai Community Farmers’ Market (OCFM), where things are in full swing. There’s a workshop happening with a group of people sitting in a circle learning how to start a medicinal herb garden. Little kids are intently focused on their story-time session with the Ventura County Mobile Library, while a pair of local musicians are setting up to play. Shoppers are perusing the farm stalls, tasting strawberries, hand-picking produce, buying loaves of sourdough bread, and pre-ordering their Thanksgiving turkeys.

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Tin City, Paso Robles

 Laid-back Central Coast tasting at its finest

Story and photos by Katherine McMahon

 Just a few miles south of downtown Paso Robles, Tin City is a community of creative wine, spirits, and food producers that represents everything the Central Coast is about. Tin City began 10 years ago when BarrelHouse Brewing Co. was looking for a new home, and local businessman Mike English saw an opportunity to utilize land he owned near his pool and landscaping business.

Since then, it has grown to include more than two dozen wineries, a cidery, a distillery, and several types of food options. By 2019, Tin City had made a big name for itself; it was featured in a documentary (available on YouTube) and in magazines like Forbes and National Geographic. When Travel + Leisure wrote that the Central Coast was one of the “50 best places to visit in 2020,” the magazine mentioned Tin City as a reason why. Although traveling took a hit from the pandemic, Tin City is still full of life.

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