Morro Bay to Santa Barbara Cycling Vacation

6-Day /5-Night Cycling Vacation includes:

• (2) Nights of deluxe accommodations at the Inn at Morro Bay (Morro Bay, CA).
• (2) Nights of deluxe accommodations at the Santa Ynez Inn (Santa Ynez, CA).
• (1) Night of deluxe accommodations at the Inn at Spanish Gardens (Santa Barbara, CA)
• (1) Half Day cycling tour upon arrival.
• (4) Full days of guided cycling tours with professional tour guide.
• Farm-to-table picnic lunch with local wine tasting in the wine country.
• Favorite lunch restaurants in Cambria and Santa Barbara.
• (3) Dinners at local fine dining (food, tip and tax incl., alcohol on own)
• Bicycle rentals, helmets, and custom water bottles.
  SAG vehicle for mechanical support, hydration & nutrition.
• Optional Pickup/Drop-off at Santa Barbara Airport
  
  * double occupancy (minimum 2 people)
  * tour price subject to hotel availability
  
  Arrive:  Sunday – Santa Barbara, CA
  Depart: Friday – Santa Barbara, CA

2022 Dates: Mar 6-11, Apr 10-15, May 29-Jun 3, July 17-22, Aug 7-12, Sept 25-30 (6-day/ 5-night)

The Inn at Morro Bay (innatmorrobay.com)

The Inn at Morro Bay is perfectly located with views overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Montana de Oro dunes and the Morro Bay rock. Nested on 4,000 acres just inside Morro Bay State Park, this inn offers visitors a true coastal hideaway of unsurpassed natural beauty.

Hotel facilities include two restaurants with panoramic bay views, a full-service spa, and an outdoor heated swimming pool.

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Santa Ynez Inn (santaynezinn.com)

This elegant Victorian-style inn is located in the heart of the quaint town of Santa Ynez. The Inn is within walking distance of several restaurants and shops including a French bakery and coffee shop. The rooms are spacious and include an elegant breakfast served each morning as well as wine and cheese in the lobby in the afternoon.

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Inn of the Spanish Gardens (spanishgardeninn.com)

This luxury boutique inn located in downtown Santa Barbara is just a few blocks from fine dining, theaters, and shopping.  It offers a contemporary and sophisticated Spanish-Mediterranean style with quality amenities and close attention to personal service.

The inn features king beds with frette linens, fireplaces, and deluxe bath amenities. Each room includes either a private balcony or garden.

DAY ONE: Sunday – Arrival, Shuttle & Warm-up Ride

Optional SB Hotel/Airport Pickup

11:00 AM Meet at Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling Tours in Solvang for introductions & bike fittings.

Shuttle to Morro Bay

Route: Montana de Oro State Park
Distance: 15-20 miles, (options for additional mileage)
Level of Difficulty: easy to moderate with some short climbs

1:00 PM Depart on ride through Montana de Oro State Park

This scenic ride begins in the fishing village of Morro Bay and follows a circuitous route with views of the Baywood wetlands, the Pacific Ocean and the magnificent golden sand dunes.  Your tour continues under a canopy of Eucalyptus trees along Pecho Valley road into Montana de Oro State Park. Enjoy breath-taking views of Spooners Cove, the rugged coastline and the iconic Morro Bay rock.

Dinner at Morro Bay Inn with views of the Pacific Ocean.

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DAY TWO: Monday – Ragged Point, Pacific Coastline & Elephant Seals

Breakfast at the Inn

8:30 AM Shuttle to Ragged Point

9:30 AM Depart on ride along Pacific Coastline from Ragged Point parking area

Route: Ragged Point to Cambria
Distance: 34 miles, (options for additional mileage)
Level of Difficulty: easy to moderate, optional climb back to Morro bay for stronger riders

This ride begins on the southern tip of California’s iconic Big Sur Coastline. Enjoy a scenic bike ride along the Pacific Coast Highway on wide shoulders past expansive beaches, wetlands and learn about migratory routes of humpback whales. Your tour will visit the Elephant Seal Rockery to see the impressive marine animals just north of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. You will continue meandering down the coastline taking in impressive views of Hearst Castle, perched amongst the Santa Lucia Mountains.

Enjoy lunch at Robins Café in the charming village of Cambria.

Shuttle back to Morro Bay (optional miles for those who choose to continue biking after lunch)

Dinner on Your Own in the village of Morro Bay. Recommendations and shuttle service available.

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DAY THREE: Tuesday – Foxen Canyon & Farm-to-Table Vineyard Lunch

Breakfast at the Inn

Check Out

8:30 AM Shuttle to Foxen Canyon Road in Santa Ynez Valley

10:00 AM Depart on ride along Foxen Canyon through the wine country.

Route: Foxen Canyon Road
Distance: 35-40 miles, (options for additional mileage)
Level of Difficulty: moderate with two climbs

Today’s ride begins at the gateway to the Santa Barbara Wine Country near the Sisquoc River Valley. Enjoy pedaling past expansive vineyard and the picturesque San Ramon Chapel built in 1875. There are two climbs; the first is a long circuitous road through a canopy of oak trees with views of the San Rafael Mountains at the summit. The route continues on Foxen Canyon Road passing rangeland and rolling hills before the short, but challenging climb past Firestone Vineyard. Enjoy a leisurely respite downhill towards the quaint town of Los Olivos. Our path will deviate slightly onto the idyllic Ballard Canyon road which offers memorable views of  vineyard lands and a family of buffalo.

1:00 PM Arrive at Rusack Vineyard for our signature farm-to-table picnic lunch served on a wooden veranda tucked amongst the Oak Trees overlooking the vines. Lunch is followed by wine tasting.

Shuttle Service is available for those who wish to skip the short bike ride to the tour store in the village of Solvang. Transfer to the Inn.

3:00 PM Check-in to the Santa Ynez Inn

Afternoon on your own to explore the western township of Santa Ynez

Dinner at the Santa Ynez Kitchen – walking distance from the inn.

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DAY FOUR: Wednesday – Tour of Santa Ynez & Vineyard Lunch

Breakfast

9:00 AM Meet your guide in the lobby of hotel for route discussion

Route: Tour of Santa Ynez
Distance:  25-30 miles, (options for additional mileage)
Level of Difficulty: easy to moderate

9:30 AM Depart on tour from your hotel

The “Tour of Santa Ynez” features the stunning Happy Canyon route through the foothills of the San Rafael Mountains.  Your guide will bring you passed world-famous thoroughbred farms including the pastures where Secretariat retired and the movie Sea Biscuit was filmed. This part of our valley offers sweeping expanses and breath-taking views.

For those seeking to accelerate their heart-rate, your guide will modify the route and lead you up a few turns of the road to Figueroa Mountain – a bucket list climb where the pros train.  Both routes lead to Beckmen Vineyard where a farm-to-table lunch will be served alfresco in the vineyard with wine tasting to follow.

1:00 PM Arrive at Beckmen Winery for our signature farm-to-table picnic lunch served in a wooden gazebo overlooking a duck pond. Lunch is followed by wine tasting.

Shuttle Service is available for those who wish to skip the short bike ride to the Santa Ynez Inn

3:00 PM Return to the Inn

Dinner on your own. Recommendations & shuttle available.

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DAY FIVE: Thursday – Santa Barbara Waterfront & Foothills

Breakfast

Check Out of Santa Ynez Inn

8:30 AM Meet your guides at the Inn. Shuttle to Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara

Route: Santa Barbara Waterfront & Foothills
Distance:  20-25 miles, (options for additional mileage)
Level of Difficulty: easy to moderate

9:30 AM Depart on tour from Leadbetter Beach

This beginning of this route predominately travels the bike paths along the beaches between Santa Barbara and Summerland. It begins on the bluffs of Leadbetter beach, passes the stunning landscapes of the Four Seasons Hotel, the Music Academy of the West and the Andree Clark Bird Refuge. This is mostly flat course with some gentle hills; comfortable shoulders and Class 2 bike lanes round out what is otherwise, a beach cruise. The views are what make this tour unique.  Santa Barbara is known as America’s Riveria because of it’s breath-taking ocean views and also the temperate climate which allows for botanical diversity and vibrant colors seldom seen elsewhere.

12:00 PM Lunch at the Garden Market in Carpinteria is served in a courtyard garden a stone’s throw from the ocean

After lunch, your tour will continue with a gradual climb up San Ysidro Road passing through the upper village of Montecito. Continue along the circuitous Mountain Drive, showcasing breath-taking views of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.  Enjoy a brief visit to the Santa Barbara Mission, before the gentle downhill to the Inn.

Shuttle service is available from both lunch and the Mission.

Arrive at the Inn at Spanish Gardens

Check-in to hotel

Dinner at Opal Restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara.

DAY SIX: Friday – Breakfast & Departure

Enjoy a plentiful breakfast with your newfound friends. This commences your cycling journey through the Central Coast of California.

Shuttle service is available to the Santa Barbara airport.