Santa Ynez

Population: 11,160
Hitch up your hoss and pull off your dusty boots: this town looks much the same as it did in the 1880s. Many of the original false-front buildings still stand along the town's main drag, Sagunto Street, although many house shops and restaurants rather than blacksmith shops and feed stores. View authentic Western garb and coaches at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House, and then sit a spell at the historic Maverick Saloon, where cowboys and cowboys-at-heart relax and refresh.

Wineries and tasting rooms, fantastic restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques pepper the town. Just down the road, the Chumash Casino Resort & Spa offers 24/7 gaming and world-class concerts. Visitors can also take a wine tour of local vineyards, or relax with a stay at a nearby bed and breakfast. Outdoor adventures abound in the surrounding Los Padres National Forest recreational areas along the Santa Ynez River where you can hike, camp, swim and fish - the sky's the limit.

While it may feel like a remote outpost compared to neighboring Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Valley has its share of famous residents. Steven Spielberg, Dolly Parton, David Crosby, Bo Derek, Bob Eubanks, Jimmy Connors and many more celebrities own expansive ranches in the rolling hills. You've certainly heard of two infamous properties located in the valley - Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch and Ronald Reagan's Rancho del Cielo.