Buellton
Population: 4,500
Buellton gained huge notoriety after the film Sideways debuted in 2004 and put Santa Barbara Wine Country on the map. If you saw the film, the small town of Buellton will look very familiar. Remember the windmill at the Days Inn? Those fast, lanky ostriches at Ostrich Land? Sideways fans can hit all the stops with our Sideways: The Map, a self-guided itinerary inspired by the film.
Buellton has many other attractions that are famous in their own right. Thousands of travelers have come to know Buellton as "The Home of the Original Split Pea Soup" thanks to the worldwide fame of Andersen's Pea Soup Restaurant. Renowned fine-dining establishment the Hitching Post II has also gained international acclaim for its Santa-Maria-style BBQ and its associated winery's pinot noir. Choosing to stay at a hotel in Buellton is also an inspired choice for area visitors, as the city is a jumping off point for wine tours, as well as a shopping and dining hub, making it a great place to stock up on provisions for a wine-touring picnic.
