I rediscovered California again through wine, but this time, it wasn't in Napa. You don't need to trek up hours away from LA to be near vineyards. Our friends Becky and Geoff, who are veterans at wine tasting day trips, toted us along with them to Santa Barbara. ​Only 2 hours away in Buelton, we drove through rolling hillsides, had lunch in Solvang and then wine hopped through boutique vineyards. Richard and I are not "wine-Os" but we do appreciate getting out of our LA bubble for something different.

​We visited a few wineries:

• ​Gainey: the more traditional stuffy winery complete with a "members only" room
• Buttonwood: a casual ​spot complete with a farm of season fruits and vegetables. This place is also dog-friendly!
• Foxen​: It's a shack! You pull up on the dirt road, get into a little shabby but cute shack and hang out on the bartop and talk to the person next to you. Get one of their rub on tattoos too!
• Kenneth Volk​: They hold tastings in their back shipping room where you can see their boxes and pallets of wine. It's a makeshift pouring area under fluorescent lights but they have an amazing selection

Here a few pics from our little LA getaway.​

my new anchor tattoo!!​

Geoff trapping a yellowjacket in the glass​