Santa Maria

Santa Maria is an agricultural city in the Santa Maria Valley on California's Central Coast, a short drive inland from the Pacific. Strawberries grow in the fields around it, and the city is known for Santa Maria-style barbecue, a tradition tied to the area's ranching past. It is a working city, not a resort, with a small Old Town, a rodeo calendar and practical hotels. Few people plan a trip around it, but it is a good place to eat well, stretch your legs and use as a base for the dunes, the valley vineyards and the beaches near Pismo.

The Santa Maria Museum of Flight is a small aviation museum with engines, full-size planes, replicas and vintage photos. The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, a short drive west, are a large coastal dune system, and the Oso Flaco Lake boardwalk leads to a quiet beach. The Dunes Center in Guadalupe offers exhibits and guided hikes. The Santa Maria Valley is also wine country, with a string of tasting rooms such as Presqu'ile Winery and the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail running north and east of town. Pismo Beach, with its pier and beach town feel, is a short drive north.

Food is the reason to stop. Santa Maria-style barbecue means tri-tip beef seasoned simply and grilled over red oak, served with pinquito beans, salsa, salad and bread. Shaw's Steakhouse and The Swiss Restaurant and Bar in town are known for it, and the Far Western Tavern in nearby Guadalupe is another well-known stop. The Century Room at the Santa Maria Inn is a more formal option. Evenings are quiet, with a few bars and wine tasting rooms. Travelers looking for nightlife usually go north to San Luis Obispo or south to Santa Barbara.

Old Town Santa Maria and the Broadway corridor are the easiest bases, with the Santa Maria Inn on Broadway and chain hotels beside Highway 101. Orcutt, just south of town, is a quiet residential area with more lodging. The city is spread out, so a car is the practical way around. Santa Maria Regional Transit runs local buses. There is no Amtrak station in the city. The nearest is in Guadalupe, a short drive west, with limited Pacific Surfliner service. Santa Maria Public Airport is small, and San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara have more airline choices. Parking is easy.

Late May is a good time to visit, with the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo in town and barbecue season in full swing. Spring and early summer bring green hills and the Strawberry Festival in April. Summers are mild and often foggy or breezy near the coast, so bring a jacket. Autumn is warm and clear, and winters are cool with some rain. One night is enough for most road trippers, with a barbecue dinner, the museum and a morning at the dunes. A second night lets you explore the wine trail or spend the day on the beach at Pismo.

Santa Maria sits on Highway 101 on the Central Coast, with Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo to the north and Santa Barbara to the south. Highway 1 branches north toward Morro Bay and Big Sur. South on 101, Solvang and Los Olivos make easy day trips from the valley's wine roads. The city is a practical overnight for drivers between Los Angeles and the Bay Area who want a real meal and an easy room before the next leg. Guadalupe has a Pacific Surfliner stop for those traveling by rail with a rental car or ride.