Cachuma Lake Recreation Area

Santa Barbara Wine Country


Fishing, boating and wildlife cruises (look out for bald eagles in the winter) are all popular at this artificial but pretty lake.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santa Barbara Wine Country attractions

1. Neal Taylor Nature Center

0.62 MILES

Exhibits and friendly volunteers help residents and visitors learn more about the local area and Santa Barbara County in general.

2. Kalyra Winery

8.58 MILES

Australian Mike Brown traveled halfway around the world to combine his two loves: surfing and winemaking. Try his full-bodied red blends, unusual white…

3. Sunstone Vineyards & Winery

8.65 MILES

Wander inside what looks like an 18th-century stone farmhouse from Provence and into a cool hillside cave housing wine barrels. Sunstone crafts Bordeaux…

4. El Capitán State Beach

9.36 MILES

Head down from the low cliffs to enjoy swimming (confident bathers only), surfing and fishing from this pebbly beach, overlooked by native sycamore and…

5. Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard

10.1 MILES

Bordeaux and Rhône varieties do well in the sun-dappled limestone soil at this friendly winery best for wine-tasting neophytes and dog owners. The…

6. Beckmen Vineyards

10.31 MILES

Bring a picnic to one of the pond-side gazebos at this tranquil winery, where estate-grown Rhône varieties flourish on the unique terroir of Purisima…

7. Lincourt Vineyard

10.47 MILES

Respected winemaker Bill Foley, who also owns Firestone Vineyards in Foxen Canyon, founded this vineyard in the 1990s on a former dairy farm. Today, the…