This is the time for a wine-country escape
In late summer, the vines are loaded with grapes and the weather's just right. These five gorgeous getaways let you sip-and exercise.
Jessica Merrill
Does the thought of a winetasting weekend bring to mind that slightly tipsy feeling you get from sipping for hours at one vineyard after another? Then it's time to give your body a workout along with your palate. After all, the elements that make for great grape growing (warm, sunny days and cool nights) are also ideal conditions for being outside. So try getting a taste of the wine-country life by bike, boat, board, and more. Head to one of these laid-back regions known as much for stellar outdoor adventures as for their vines' vintages.
Skate, Surf, and Sip - Santa Barbara, California
White sands, pounding surf, palm trees, and wine? It sounds too good to be true. But spend a day in Santa Barbara and it's easy to see why this Pacific Coast paradise is often referred to as the American Riviera. On top of endless beaches and a picturesque waterfront, Santa Barbara is also graced with superb wine country-immortalized in the movie Sideways-just 30 miles north. Vino made in these windswept hills benefits from the Pacific's cooling breezes, and you can too. Take a refreshing jog or skate on the Cabrillo Beachway, a three-mile recreation path that runs along the downtown waterfront (go early to avoid the crowds); skate rentals are available from Wheel Fun Rentals ($12 for a half day; wheelfunrentals.com). This is Southern California, so it's no surprise that volleyball is a serious pastime. If you're up for a match, head to East Beach in the heart of downtown, where locals go to serve and spike. Another Golden State diversion-surfing-is also hot here. Beginners should start with the gentle rollers at Leadbetter Beach (book a four-hour lesson through Santa Barbara Adventure Company, $110; sbadventureco.com); more seasoned surfers can gather at Rincon Point. Time to tasteIt's hard to pull yourself away from the ocean, but the wines of the Santa Ynez Valley are well worth taking a beach break. Near the town of Los Olivos, Beckmen Vineyards produces Syrah and Grenache, while Zaca Mesa's 750-acre estate is an ideal spot for lunch-grab a seat at one of the picnic tables and pour yourself a splash of crisp Viognier. Book it
Hotel Andalucia, a stylish downtown boutique hotel, has a rooftop pool (rooms from $395; andaluciasb.com). Just north of Santa Barbara, El Capitan Canyon offers luxury camping on the coast, with fully furnished cabins and tents (from $145; elcapitancanyon.com).
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