Cycling through the Vineyards

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

A full-day electric bike tour of the wine country along 15 miles of moderate paved roadway. The route allows you to experience the beauty of Santa Barbara Wine Country in an active and engaged way. While some hills offer a bit of a challenge there are frequent stops for water breaks and points of interest, and the ride is fully supported.

You will enjoy a scenic tour on a specialized Rad Power bike with electric pedal assist and throttle to flatten those hills out and increase your comfort through the ride.

The ride takes you through tranquil Ballard Canyon which has been designated as Santa Barbara County's newest and fifth official American Viticultural Area (AVA). Ballard Canyon joins the existing AVAs of the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, Santa Maria Valley and the broader Santa Barbara County and boasts the vineyards of 16 different vintners.

Continuing your journey, you'll pedal past equestrian ranches and small family farms on your way to a stop in Solvang. This charming tourist attraction was founded in 1911 on almost 9,000 acres of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata Mexican land grant, by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish colony far from the mid-western winters. The city is home to a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California.

The architecture of many of the façades and buildings reflects traditional Danish style. There is a copy of the famous Little Mermaid statue from Copenhagen, as well as one featuring the bust of famed Danish fable writer Hans Christian Andersen. A replica of Copenhagen's Round Tower in the scale 1:3 was finished in 1991 and can be seen in the town center.

Arriving in the quaint western town of Los Olivos, you'll stop for wine and olive oil tasting, sampling many of the varieties for which Santa Barbara County is justly famous. Before completing your ebike trip, you'll stop at the Clairmont Lavender Farm for a glimpse of the lavender fields. Marvel at the massive oak trees and the olive trees that were planted by the Spanish Missionaries over 200 years ago.

Mid-way through the tour, you'll enjoy a rustic Italian-inspired lunch of artisan sandwiches with salad, Farmers market fruits and nuts, Pellegrino and Italian Sodas, and Amaretti cookies. With round-trip van transport between your ship in Santa Barbara and the wine country, your experience comes full circle.

Special Notes:

Electric Bikes will need to be propely fitted for your height. Please provide your height, along with any dietary restrictions to the shore excursion desk onboard so that we may have this information in advance.