Manzana Creek
Story and photos by Adam Nuñez
The Manzana Creek Trail lies entirely in the remote San Rafael Wilderness about 25 miles north of Lake Cachuma. With deep canyons, peaceful meadows, and many creek crossings, it beckons to hikers seeking adventure. One excellent destination is the historic Manzana Schoolhouse — an actual one-room schoolhouse built in the 1890s to accommodate about 25 students. It’s nestled on a small knoll in the Sisquoc River Valley. Keep in mind, this is a 20-mile round-trip excursion. But it’s well worth the effort! Not sure if you’re up for the entire 20 miles? There are three official camping spots along the trail with numerous others scattered about. Many of these spots have tables and iron-ringed fire pits.
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Whey to go: Artisanal cheeses of the Central Coast
Story and photos By Don Sonderling
Ready to get cheesy? We sure are! Here are some highlights of the Central Coast cheese scene.
Santa Barbara County
Michael and Kathryn Graham, owners of Cheese Shop Santa Barbara, “Aim to cheese.” They describe themselves as “the neighborhood shop of years gone by,” so when you want some cheese, with friendly service, this is the place to go. Here, you’ll find cheese (and more) for your party, picnic, and simply snacking.
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Pure Links: La Purisima Golf Course
Lompoc is home to one of the most challenging and entertaining golf courses in the state of California: La Purisima Golf Course.
By Mike Miller
Affectionately nicknamed “La Piranha,” La Purisima is widely considered one of the most difficult public courses in the United States. Designed by Kenneth Hume Hunter, Jr., and opened in 1986, it was built with a singular, uncompromising vision: to provide a “pure” golf experience. In the world of La Purisima, “pure” means no houses, no distractions, and absolutely no mercy.
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Beyond the Bottle
by Zach Rosen All photos by courtesy VisitSYV
Exploring “Taste of Santa Ynez Valley”
Cruising up Highway 101, it’s easy to think you already know what lies beyond the oak-dotted hills of Santa Ynez Valley: wine, wine, and more wine. And yes, the region’s vineyards are world-renowned. But as
Shelby Sim, CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, points out, wine represents only about 12% of the area’s visitors (though an impressive