Nestled within scenic hills and cow-strewn canyons, about a 35-minute-drive north of Santa Barbara, our gem can be found. This is the same location that many of the memorable scenes from the popular movie Sideways were filmed a few years ago. It’s the same area, painted with green rolling hills and gentle peaks, which Lance Armstrong and his team pedaled – training for the Tour de France.

If you have an interest in great road-bicycling you owe it to yourself to visit Solvang and the gorgeous surrounding countryside. Drive up and take your bikes and helmets with you or rent gear in Solvang or neighboring Buellton.

The best time of the year to plan a trip to the area is in the months of April, May and June. The wild flowers are out in spectacular fashion. The lush green grass hills are filled with specks of yellow and orange. The weather is mild and mostly dry after the rainy season in Southern California. The area can be very hot in summer months – so unless

you enjoy cycling in 90 degree plus temperatures – it’s best to cycle in the springtime or late fall. A clear December day works well too.

A Solvang biking experience is fun for just about anyone. It’s a great place to escape to and ride in solitude for a few days if you are so inclined. Take the children or renew and ignite your relationship with someone special. Solvang can be very romantic. Debbie Lee, an Orange County, Calif., pleasure rider, visited Solvang frequently with her boyfriend. “He used to take me up there two to three times a year to ride,” she says. “Then he asked me to marry him one night there.”

A great ride out of town in late morning is on Atterdag Road which becomes Chalk Hill Drive and then Ballard Canyon Road. This route is fun, scenic and comfortable for most riders. You’ll pass farmlands with cows, horses and even a few American bison. The hills are gently rolling and in spring they are crackling green. Crows hover overhead and few cars will pass you on this magnificent stretch of highway. About three miles out on Ballard Canyon you’ll peddle past the very scenic Rusack Vineyards. It’s a great place to stop and if you are so inclined – sample some of the local vintage. Don’t forget to fill-up your water bottle before you and your group departs for more riding. There are no water stations along the route. From Ballard Canyon head to the lovely town of Los Olivos which is about nine miles from Solvang. You’ll find a throwback community with a flagpole in the middle of town, art and antique shops and several quaint eateries.

Fuel up here. If you are traveling with children it’s best to head back to Solvang from Los Olivos along Alamo Pintado Road on the Dan Henry bike path. The path is flat or slightly downhill. You should glide effortlessly in your saddle back to Solvang. The lane is named after the civic-minded retiree who displayed a passion for cycling well into his nineties. I had the pleasure of meeting Dan on one of my many rides, one hot afternoon, at the local market. He was very cheerful and friendly and full of energy. As you ride toward Solvang you’ll pass several more wineries. The Blackjack and the Buttonwood Farm wineries come to mind. You’ll also pass more farmland with grazing cows and then pass a stable with Shetland ponies. The kids will enjoy stopping to visit.

If you are an experienced and strong rider, you and your companion should bypass the route to Solvang and head to Foxen Canyon Road from Los Olivos. You will have more magnificent hills to climb. Ride to the top of Foxen Canyon which is no easy chore. You will have a steep mile or so ascent to the top. You will sweat. Your heart will pound. Look down from above and you will see green grass covering the rolling hills surrounding you. From this vantage point you will take a steep mile descent and come to a junction whereby you can continue on Foxen Canyon Road for more spectacular riding, or turn left onto Zaca Station Road. This route steers you back to town. If you turn left, you will immediately pass the popular Firestone Vineyard which is worth a tour and visit.

The riding from Firestone to Solvang is relatively easy. The scenery is inspiring.

Take Ballard Canyon Road back to Solvang and you’ve just had a very pleasant 25 mile bike ride.                                      

After your first day of cycling, visit the various shops and bakeries in Solvang that line the town streets. You’ll run into many tourists bustling about. Sample some of the Danish pastries. You’ve earned it by riding those hills. Plan to spend the night in town or neighboring Buellton. Eat dinner at one of the many fine restaurants. I especially enjoy an evening at the Hitching Post in Buellton where the charred tuna is superb and the sirloin steaks succulent. Visit the bar and see where several comic scenes from Sideways were filmed. A great spot for the kids is Pea Soup Andersen’s across the street.

The following morning calls for another great day of riding. There are so many hills and roads to choose from. Pick up a local map and study the area. Plan a ride that suits your stamina and conditioning. One great road to travel on is Santa Rosa Road, a 20 mile or so stretch, which takes you on a slightly ascending cut through green-pastured hillsides as you peddle toward Lompac. On this route you will pass several more wineries. The Sanford Winery has an extra-special setting and is worth a visit and rest stop.

Another great ride is to peddle nine miles from Solvang, heading west on Highway 246. Here you will pass through Buellton. Then turn right onto Drum Canyon Road. This route is not for the faint-at-heart and is one of the more difficult paths in the entire region.

The six mile ascent makes for a great way to wake up in the morning as you navigate the

switchback road to the top. Along this stretch you may see deer. If you are very lucky a bobcat or tarantula spider may cross your path. Then descend rapidly and head into the

small town of Los Alamos for a needed break. Some of the roads you decide to tour are some of the same roads Lance Armstrong and his group whirled up and down. These are also the same roads used for the hugely popular Solvang Century cycling event. Held each year in March – thousands flock with their bikes in tow to take part in the 100-mile tour. Traci Farhad, the executive director of the Solvang Visitor’s Bureau, reports about 5,000 riders will saddle-up this year. “Solvang loves cyclists. They stay to enjoy all our great shopping and wonderful foods,” she adds. “We are a perfect hub and spoke destination for them.”

The next time you find yourself with a few extra days to explore Southern California – put Solvang and the Santa Barbara wine country on the map. You may find a new passion in your life. Spend a few days in spring exploring the beautiful green landscape. And, remember to do it on a bicycle and don’t forget your helmet. #

First, and most importantly before I say anything else I will go on record stating that not everyone here is a celebrity or star struck. To the contrary we really wish the celebrities would stop creating the impression that everyone in Southern California is like them. In fact, many of us really wouldn't mind if Hollywood moved to some place like Iowa.
Secondly, our weather drives our lifestyle and our decisions. And yes, we do take our weather for granted, thank you very much. We expect it to be gorgeous outside every day. That's why we live here and pay some of the highest friggin' prices in the country for real estate and gasoline! Many of us may not be rich but we figure if we have to be poor we prefer to suffer in paradise. So how does this influence us to be who we are?

Our Personality

• Because of our perpetually great weather we're pretty easy going. Come on, wouldn't you be if you lived in weather like this? But don't mess with us; we're not oblivious. In fact, when I asked a Chicago friend who lived here for 18 months what he thought personified a Southern Californian he said "Southern Californians, while very laid back, have a deep streak of assertive personal confidence that is not readily apparent on the outside." In other words, we are really cool.
• Along with being laid-back, we're genuinely very nice and friendly and we expect other people, particularly visitors, to be too. We don't take kindly to rude Easterners. We don't dislike Easterners. Far from it. We have a lot of friends and family who live east of here. We welcome everyone, just not people with attitude. It messes with our easy-goingness. My advice if you are going to visit us, or even think of moving here, is to leave your attitude back where you came from.

We Have Our Own Unique Way of Expressing Ourselves

• We speak in a vernacular particular to our area. We call everyone "dude". We also use words not commonly heard in other parts of the country such as rad, gnarly, awesome, totally and cool. Their use either started here or gravitated here and never left. In SoCal pretty much everything is "cool". Even though it's a bad habit we use the word "like" a lot. People in SoCal say "like" at least three times more in a sentence as people from the "other" coast. For example, we would say "like that was so cool, dude." A friend would respond, "Totally."
• Besides our funny speech we use a fair amount of Spanglish because we live next to Mexico. Not everyone here speaks Spanish but we all know how to say something in Spanglish. We learn it on the playgrounds in school. It's not unusual to hear someone in a bar ask, "Dude, can I have a really cold cerveza?" The bartender responds, "No problemo, dude. You want any snackolas with that?"

Head to the Beach, Surf's Up

• We swim in the ocean even when it's freezing cold. Why? Because we can.
• People think we never get stressed out. We do! When it happens we head to the beach. Oh heck, we head to the beach even if we're not stressed out.
• We surf or we know someone who surfs. It's part of our culture. The diehards get up at 4:00 a.m., grab their boards and head out to the beach to catch some "awesome" early morning waves. In winter the surfers wear wet suits. It's really cool to drive or walk along the beach at daybreak and see them sitting on their boards out in the water waiting for a big one. From a distance they look like a flock of skinny baby seals bobbing on top of the water.

The SoCal Look

• If you've ever visited Southern California you've seen that our clothing and shoe choices are fairly simple. The basic wardrobe for many, regardless of gender, is two t-shirts and two pairs of shorts. One set for summer and one set for winter. More extravagant people own several t-shirts and pairs of shorts. When men dress up they put on a Hawaiian shirt. They don't own a suit or sports coat. Women don a sleeveless, skinny-strap dress and matching flip-flops, or a mini-skirt, tank top and Uggs. To successfully wear this look it helps to be tan and fairly thin. Big girls and big women really don't look good in these skimpy outfits. But of course that does not stop many of them from wearing them. To top off the look, women use sunglasses to push back their long hair, never a headband.
• Speaking of hair length, the surfer chick look is very popular here. It embodies the above wardrobe along with long, preferably straight hair and a large beach bag type purse. Many women carry most of what they own in these bags, including their dogs. Lest you think the Hollywood starlets started this trend, uh-uh. They borrowed the look from the surfer chicks.
• We wear flip-flops year-round. Women often own a pair in every color.

Our Wheels and Roads

• We refer to the distance between two places as the amount of time it takes to get there. It's never "10 miles', it's "20 minutes" or "that'll take you 45 minutes during rush hour."
• We tend to travel on freeways to everything even if traveling the side streets is more direct. What can I say? We're taxed to the hilt for our freeways and we want our money's worth.
• Most cars in the beach areas sport a surfboard rack.
• Some would say we are obsessed with our cars. It's probably because it takes forever to get anywhere but it could also be because our cars stay in better shape than other parts of the country where winter beats the b'jesus out of vehicles. We don't have that problem.
• We don't fear earthquakes but a little rain will cause considerable damage on the roads. We can't drive in the rain. Ask anyone from Seattle or Portland who has ever been here when it happens to be raining and seen us trying to drive on wet roads. They laugh hysterically and liken it to watching people drive bumper cars. Except for those years when El Nino hits and it rains like a mother causing homes to slide off the hills, what we call rain other parts of the country refer to as drizzle. But for us it's an onslaught. We huddle inside, grumble like the world is ending and pray for the sun to return.

Chips, Salsa and Margies

• Because of our proximity to Mexico we eat a lot of Mexican food. Many of us need a daily infusion of Mexican food. We become anemic if we go a day without salsa. We eat fish tacos, carne asada fries, burritos, chips and salsa and guacamole like other parts of the country eat pot roast, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and chicken and dumplings, whatever the heck they are. SoCal babies are born with a predilection for Mexican food. Their moms eat Mexican food throughout their pregnancies so the babies are conditioned right out of the womb to crave taquitos.
• Walk into a SoCal kitchen and you are likely to see avocadoes (for guacamole of course), fresh tomatoes and chiles (for making salsa) and artichokes. In other parts of the country people have no idea what to do with an artichoke. And we're happy about that because it means more artichokes for us.
• In other parts of the country they hold summer barbecue cookoffs. We hold salsa cookoffs.
• We also eat a lot of fresh citrus because citrus trees grow in our backyards the way grass grows elsewhere. We pity the poor soul who doesn't have an orange or lemon tree in the yard. Not sure how those folks get through January without freshly squeezed orange juice. In my yard we grow pixie tangerines and limes. We have to; we need them for margaritas, which brings up another topic.
• Our alcoholic beverage of choice is the margarita. I don't know if there are any statistics but I'll bet we consume more tequila per capita than anywhere in the continental United States. Seriously. You'd agree if you ever drove through Pacific Beach on a Saturday night. You think all those drunk 20-somethings are quaffing scotch? You can find margaritas here of every flavor and concoction, but a true Southern Californian likes em the traditional way made with fresh lime juice or mix and a really really good tequila. Okay, the younger set that's out to get drunk isn't particular about their tequila and would just as soon drink Jose Cuervo Gold ("totally" cheap stuff made gold with caramel coloring.) The rest of us go for the premium stuff: silver, resposado (rested) or anejo (old). We do have standards, ya know.

We Have Our Faults

• If you've never been here and you're under the impression that Southern California is without fault, well, think again. We do have faults. Really big ones in fact that cause earthquakes. Indeed that can be a problem if they are big enough but generally they are not. It just freaks out the tourists who ask us how on earth we tolerate living here. Gee, I don't know. An occasional earthquake that shakes the dust off the window sills versus living in the path of killer hurricanes or tornadoes or putting up with winter so bad our patoosies would fall off? Hmm, not a hard choice.
• Our traffic is another thing we're not proud of but it's not like we're the only part of the country with traffic. We don't let it upset us; instead we go to the beach.
• Finally there is one last blemish and it concerns our weather. No, I'm not going to brag again about our perfect weather (but did I mention we have great weather here?) In fact for two months a year our weather is pretty rotten by our standards. You might think I'm talking about the middle of winter but it's the late spring/early summer. We refer to these months as May Gray and June Gloom. For eight weeks the coastline is socked in with overcast gray skies and fog. Sometimes it's so thick it comes down like rain. And I tell you it is downright depressing! I often feel sorry for the tourists who scamper out here right after their offspring get out of school for summer break. They emerge from the airport wondering what happened to the sun. Sometimes it will peak out after the noon hour but often not. They spend a week at the beach wondering what all the talk was about Southern California being so great. They go home shaking their heads. I consider it a blessing. One more family that WON'T move here. Of course we never tell those folks that the sun comes out in July.

Standing 10,804 feet above sea level, Mt. San Jacinto is the highest mountain in the San Jacinto Mountains and the highest mountain in the entire Peninsular Mountain Range, a series of mountains that stretches from Mt. San Jacinto in the north, all the way to the tip of Baja California! Accessible only by way of a few strenuous and long hiking trails, Mt. San Jacinto retains its rural and “uncivilized” nature. While the lower slopes of the mountain are penetrated by a series of road and highways, houses and small towns, Mt. San Jacinto is left untouched in its virgin state.

A popular destination with many outdoors enthusiasts - hikers, campers, rock climbers, and sightseers - Mt. San Jacinto is an alluring location for those strong enough and healthy enough to make the long trek to its summit. The shortest route to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, nicknamed “San Jack” by many locals, is via the Marion Mountain Trail. This trail qualifies as a “no-nonsense” trail that doesn't waste any time gaining elevation. The one-way distance to the top of San Jacinto via this trail is roughly 5 ½ miles; and those miles are tough miles! The majority of those miles are the kind that leaves your heart thumping, your throat screaming, and your legs begging for mercy! But at the top of the summit, a summit that was once labeled as being “the most sublime spectacle to be found anywhere on earth” by none other than John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club and noted naturalist, the view of the surrounding landscape is well worth the work.

On a clear day, when the winds are blowing and the sky is swept clean of Southern California smog, it's often possible to make out the distant Pacific Ocean to the west, the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains to the north, and the low-lying ridges and mountain passes that mark the southern California border with Mexico and Arizona. Up here, standing atop Mt. San Jacinto's 10,000-foot-plus summit, with nothing but the wind in your face and the cool, crisp smell of elevation, the rest of the world seems a minor footnote; a distant nuisance in some far-away land that has no effect or reach on you as you sit guarded, suspended, and engulfed by the lofty heights of Mt. San Jacinto!

It doesn't matter what time of year you visit, Encinitas is always breathtaking. With skies of neon blue and palm trees and grass in the most stunning shades of green, it's almost as if the sun has set this town on fire. Stop by one of the many cafes and treat yourself. The doors are usually always open. One stop, Swami's Cafe, sits with its patio feet away from passing cars and bikers on the 101. Here you can get a ridiculous breakfast or lunch of organic and natural foods while watching surf videos while you wait in line to order. Afterwards, head across the street to the Java Hut for a satisfying blend of fruit smoothies. With your smoothie in hand, take a walk through the nearby Self Realization Gardens to experience some of the most beautiful flowers and ocean views in all of Encinitas.

Before the sun goes down for the day, stop by the Pannikin for a cup of joe. You won't be able to miss this place. The Pannikin is an old yellow train station that has been turned into a coffee and tea shop. You will find local artwork hanging on the walls and people reading outside on the patio. Once you have your cup, take a stroll a few blocks west and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever experience.

This is only a taste of what you will find here in Encinitas, so stop by and explore for yourself the fresh ocean air, the wonderful people, and the beach cafes. Keep in mind though, you won't want to leave.

The beaches are clean; the surfing is great and the newly revitalized Downtown area offers some unique shopping and interesting cuisine.

The town lacks a pretentious element so everything is much more laid-back although prosperous.

You can't beat it for a weekend getaway as most individuals who choose San Clemente as their weekend base will easily agree.

If you are a surfer, you will find areas in San Clemente that you will soon designate as your favorite spot to surf.

To be sure, San Clemente has been the most easily unrecognized as a Southern California beach town. Laguna Beach, for example, springs to mind when naming a well-known beach town; additionally, Newport Beach is another easily known beach location. But San Clemente-not the first town that comes to the forefront nor even the last.

Lately though, things have been changing and have changed. More and more people are finding the town a preferable location to surf, shop and wine and dine. Part of this is due to the revitalized downtown area. The revamping caused a number of new restaurants, specialized shops and boutiques to find there way to San Clemente.

Walk up and down Avenida Del Mar for unique cuisine and shopping.

So how do you find San Clemente? The town is accessible several ways. The best way to access San Clemente's downtown area is to exit I-5 at Avenida Presidio, (then) turn right on El Camino Real, then left at Avenida Del Mar.

The second way is to board Amtrack's Pacific Surf line at Los Angeles or San Diego. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area. The train stops (twice a day) at the San Clemente Pier and then it is a brief walk to the downtown area.

For your “Surfin Safari” adventure head for San Clemente's beaches in the summer. Directions are as follows: Follow Avenida Del Mar down toward the water. There is a “metered” public parking area at Parque Del Mar.

It is a short jaunt to the San Clemente Pier. Below the pier, you will find a great deal of surfing activity during the summer months. The surfers are generally on the north side of San Clemente Pier. The swimmers frequent the south side of the Pier.

Walking about one-quarter mile from the pier you will find T-Street. This is one of the best known surfing beaches in the San Clemente area: surfers are allowed on the T-Street Beach mornings and evening hours only.

Calafia Beach is located just a further bit south. The beach is geared toward families and is located in San Clemente State Park. Metered parking is found in a lot in front of the beach.

If you would like more information on San Clemente beaches then contact San Clemente's Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department. There number is 949-361-8264.

While you are “camped out” in San Clemente for the weekend, you naturally will want to find comfortable lodging. You will find this easy to do as the beach town offers several options.

One suggestion is to attain a “blissful” night's rest at the Casa Tropicana Inn and Spa. This is a renovated bed and breakfast with eight rooms. The rooms have a “sand and surf” theme and are very well-appointed. As an added bonus, the Bed and Breakfast is located directly across from the pier. The address is 610 Avenida Victoria.  Once you are “sold” this is the place to stay while in San Clemente, you may call them toll free at 1-800-492-1245. The price per night is approximately $245.00.

How would you like a view of the Pacific Ocean each evening of your stay after a day of shopping or surfing? You will find ocean front views at Villa Del Mar Inn. The Inn provides a balcony for each of its eight suites, facing the magnificent Pacific Ocean. It does not matter which of the eight suites you check into, you will receive a balcony facing the ocean. Each of the suites, additionally, provides a full kitchen. The address is 612 Avenida Victoria. Once you decide this is a place you would like to “hang your weekend hat” then reserve a date by calling: (949)-498-5080. The price is around $295 per night.

Not everyone is a surfer. Some of us like to go different places and shop. Maybe while part of your “tribe” is out “playing beach bum,” you may find delight in visiting one of San Clemente's fashionable apparel shops: Angel Wings. The fashion-oriented women's retailer can be found at 165 Avenida Del Mar.

For individuals interested in shopping for antiquities, the place to go is the Antiques & Decorative Arts Center located at 106 Avenida Del Mar.

A Matter of Taste offers “crisp” linens, furniture and stylish gifts. Find them at: 101 Avenida Del Mar.

Lunch fare can “be had” at Antoine's Café. Simple dishes are part of the lunch menu including salads, and burgers and other dishes in a hospitable surfer environment. Find them at 218 South El Camino Real. Phone for directions, if you need to: (949)-492-1763. Antoine's is also open for breakfast and serves dinner Thursday through Saturday.

Beach Fire draws crowds on the weekends. It is a fun environment and a great place to gather or take your group. They serve lunch and dinner daily. The address is 204 Avenida Del Mar.

Café Calypso is just the place to go for an intimate breakfast or a lunch for two. The setting is a patio and you may locate them at 114 Avenida Del Mar.

San Clemente offers a variety of many new restaurants so be sure to ask around for possible suggestions.

In conclusion, for a “beach lover's” short holiday, make sure to visit the recently renovated southern California beach town of San Clemente. It will be a weekend you will soon not forget.