AACA WESTERN DIVISIONAL TOUR
The American Riviera
September 25-29, 2023
meet us at
It's The AACA Western Divisional Tour 2023!
Join us!
This event-packed four-day tour takes us motoring thru the Southern Central Coast ~ Santa Ynez Valley’s wine country ~ the mountain, city, and coastal areas of Santa Barbara ~ the horse-laden hillsides of Buellton, Los Olivos, and Ballard ~ the quirky western ambiance of Los Alamos ~ and Solvang, California’s delightfully authentic Danish community. Limited sign-ups. Register today!
Included with Registration
~ Free Parking at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott
~ Museum of Flight (Day 1)
~ Mendenhall's Museum of Gasoline Pumps (Day 1)
~ Opening "Santa Maria Style BBQ" at Vineyard (Day1)
~ Santa Ynez Style Buffet Breakfast (Day 2)
~ "Vineyard" Buffet Dinner at Host Hotel (Day 2)
~ Santa Barbara Style Buffet Breakfast (Day 3)
~ Santa Barbara Courthouse Tour (Day 3)
~ Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Tour (Day 3)
~ Ice Cream at the Santa Barbara Harbor (Day 3)
~ "Danish-Style" Breakfast Buffet (Day 4)
~ Solvang Motorcycle Museum (Day 4)
~ Elverhoj Museum of History & Art (Day 4)
~ La Purisima Mission Tour (Day 4)
~ "Finale Gala" dinner, program, & dancing (Day 4)
The outstanding quality of this event is due to the caring support and generosity of our Sponsors.
Our heartfelt thanks.
.png)
Stuff You Need to Know
~ 60 Vehicle Limit ~ Must Be Current AACA Member to Participate
(if you're not an AACA member, join! Only $45 annual membership fee!)
~ Automobiles must be 25 Years or Older ~ Registration & Cancellation Deadline June 1, 2023 ~
~ Host Hotel is Santa Ynez Valley Marriott ~ AACA Room Rate $179/night ~
~ Driver & Car Registration $600 ~ Passenger Registration $500 ~
~ If you choose to experience an activity or Point of Interest not included in your Tour Registration, please feel free to make your own reservations and payment arrangements. We want you to take every opportunity to make this Tour Experience unique and memorable for you!
Enjoy!
Due to the diverse and detailed scope of this Tour, activities, events, and schedules can be subject to change.
It's "Your Day"!
Choose from two fun self-guided tours, or stay close and enjoy one or more of the amazing activities we've hand selected for your enjoyment! Sometime between 3:30 and 5:30 pm join us in Buelton at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott for Tour Registration and at 6:00 pm we enjoy wine and a traditional Santa Maria-Style BBQ dinner, and music under the stars at a picturesque local vineyard.
Treasure-hunt the “Antiquing Trail”, including six hand-selected, fun and unique antique stores. Explore antiques in Santa Ynez before driving north to "Los Alamos", a charming small town with a quirky blend of "Old West" tradition and a hint of California Chic. While there, check out "Full of Life Flatbread" for a delicious organic "homemade pizza" experience!
Take off on the “Santa Maria Museum of Flight Adventure”. You'll want to get up early to enjoy this 60 mile round trip excursion, including approximately 38 miles of freeway driving.
Originally movie props for the 1991 Disney hit "The Rocketeer", the buildings house many unique displays of local aviation along with movie props, memorabilia, models, and photos that cover everything from the Wright Brothers and World War II to present day.
Afterward, if you enjoy a taste of old California, lunch or meander the halls and gardens of the historic Santa Maria Inn, a California landmark since 1917.
Things to do Today
**Free Admission with AACA Tour Badge
~ Take a "Sky's The Limit" Balloon Ride
7:00 am to 11:00 am ($275/person)
~ Treasure Hunt the "Antiquing Trail"
Self-Guided Tour
~ Santa Maria "Museum of Flight" Adventure**
Self-Guided Tour
~ Enjoy Ladies Victorian Tea
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ($50/person)
~ Lunch at the Historic Cold Spring Tavern
11:30 am to 3:30 pm
~ Explore the Santa Ynez Valley on Horseback
75 to 90 minute rides ($175/person)
~ Tour Mendenhall Museum of Gas Pumps**
Group Tour: 2:00 pm
~ Experience the Historic Maverick Saloon
11:00 am to 12:00 am (Lunch or Libations)
~ Join us for Tour Registration!
anytime between 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm (Host Hotel)
~ Welcome Santa Maria-Style BBQ Dinner **
Enjoy wine, dinner & dancing under the stars at a
lovely local vineyard!
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
It's the "Wine Trail"!
Enjoy a hearty "Sunrise" breakfast buffet on the terrace with, then we're off to wind our way thru Santa Ynez Valley's "Sideways Wine Trail" with stops and sips as you please. Enjoy!
Savor the romantically serene fields of horses, the hazy views of mountain-hugged horizons, and miles of vine-laden hillsides.
Lunch is on your own in the beautiful quaint town of "Los Olivos", where you can stay for a while and enjoy many of the area's best restaurants, historic western tradition, and unique and plentiful shopping.
Our tour continues thru the beautiful town of Ballard and when you're finished exploring for the day, our tour day ends back to our host hotel.
But we're not finished yet!
Later, join us on the terrace of our host hotel for no-host cocktails and a splendid "Vineyard" Dinner Buffet.
Things to do Today
**Free Admission with AACA Tour Badge
~ Experience the wine trail "Sideways" Style
Check out the "Sideways" wineries & lunch spots
~ Explore Los Olivos via "Pedigo" Electric Bikes
Rent an e-bike and enjoy the beauty of the area
~ Visit "Mattie's Tavern"
A Historic Stagecoach stop. Lunch or self-tour
~ Fun at "Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant"
Part of the "Sideways" experience - Lunch or wine
Authentic Los Olivos with delicious fare
~ Shop! Shop! Shop!
Enjoy plentiful & unique shopping in Los Olivos
~ Explore "Jedlicka's" in Los Olivos
The best "western" shopping experience ever!
~ Stroll J. Woeste" in Los Olivos
A fun "garden store". Enjoy!
~ Visit Los Olivos General Store
A modern-style old favorite neighborhood store
~ Enjoy Bob Wells Bread Bakery in Ballard
Stop by for a loaf or lunch
~ No-host Cocktails & "Vineyard" Dinner Buffet**
6:00 pm (Santa Ynez Valley Marriott)
It's Santa Barbara Day!
Sunrise Breakfast time! Then off to experience a fabled Stagecoach path with its colorful Arch Bridge and stunning mountain and coastal vistas before descending to Santa Barbara's beautiful world-renowned architecture, pristine beaches, shopping, and plentiful points of interest.
Things to do Today
Enjoy a view of Mission Santa Barbara before arrival at La Arcada, State Street, the City's stunning center. Here you'll find docent-led tours of the Santa Barbara County Court House, a designated National Historic Landmark and one of America's most photographed buildings.
Sign up in advance to climb aboard the amphibious LandShark for a personally narrated 90-minute land and sea tour adventure.
Back at State Street, you're on your own to enjoy plentiful shopping, museums, and other intriguing points of interest. Hop on an electric bike and take in even more of this amazing City!
With a bounty of options throughout the City, lunch is on your own!
Our tour continues to Sterns Wharf, the Santa Barbara Harbor, and anywhere that sounds like fun in between. Park and take "Lil Toot" water taxi from the Wharf to the Harbor or vise versa.
Once back at our Host Hotel, stoll down the street to Firestone Brewery for No-Host Happy Hour. Dinner is on your own tonight. Enjoy!
**Free Admission with AACA Tour Badge
~ See the Amazing Santa Barbara Court House**
10:30 am (Docent-Led Tour)
~ Climb Aboard the LandShark
10:30 am Tour ($40/person limited seating)
~ Rent an Electric Bike - Santa Barbara B-Cycle
$7/ 30 min. Rent via cell on State Street
~ Shop La Arcada & State Streets
Enjoy plentiful shopping and points of interest
~ Marvel at Rennaiasance Fine Consignment
Shop fine and luxury women's clothing
~ Drop by the Bosse Toy Train Museum**
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
~ Take in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art
11:00 am - 5:00 pm $10 Adult/$7 Seniors
~ Experience the flavors of Sama Sama Kitchen
farm to fork Southeast Asian fare
~ Savor the sweetness of Anderson's Bakery
Lunch & traditional Danish Pastries
~ Get your fortune told at the Wharf
Make an appt with Madame Rosinka
~ Enjoy the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum**
10:30 am - 4:30 pm ~ Docent-led tours
~ Take a ride on "Little Toot" Water Taxi
Ride to and from the Wharf & Harbor
~ See u @ Firestone Brewery for Happy Hour!
5:30 to 7:00 pm (no-host) Dinner is on your own!
It's Country Roads & Solvang!
It's "Danish Sunrise Breakfast" buffet day on the terrace, then off we go for a full day of fun & adventure. Our tour day ends with our wonderful "Finale Gala" celebration!
On this special day, we explore "La Puisma Mission" before the pure enjoyment of motoring the beautiful "Santa Rita Hills" backroad.
You can take in "Ostrichland USA" if you like before embarking on the unique landmarks, old world architecture, plentiful museums, abundant shopping, and authentic Danish food and bakeries of "Solvang", California's own authentically Danish American town.
Lunch and enjoyment are on your own ~ with so many wonderful choices, we wish you good luck in choosing just one place to eat!
Later, join us back at our Host Hotel for our "Finale Gala". Yes, sadly, it's our last night together. Enjoy no-host cocktails, an elegant dinner, evening program, and dancing.
Things to do Today
**Free Admission with AACA Tour Badge
~ Tour La Purisma Historic Mission**
Group Tour
~ Be amazed at Osterichland USA
Self-Guided Tour
~ Lunch On Your Own in Solvang! Enjoy!
Choose from a bounty of wonderful options
~ Shop! Shop! Shop!
No shortage of shopping in Solvang!
~ Savor Elverhoj Museum of History & Art**
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
~ Take a stroll thru Wilding Museum
11:00 am - 4:00 pm Admission $5
Active Military Free Admission
~ Visit Old Mission Santa Innes 1804
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Admission $8 / Seniors $7
Veterans & Military Free Admission
~ Take your taste buds to Birkholm's Bakery
Lunch or treats!
~ Enjoy Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum**
Vrrrrrooooomm
~ It's the "Finale Gala!"
including no-host cocktails, dinner**,
program**, & dancing**
(Santa Ynez Valley Marriott)
Our Sponsors
We owe the elevated quality and scope of this Tour to the very generous support of our sponsors. Their thoughtful contributions provide added elegance and special surprises throughout the Tour experience. We are deeply grateful for their caring support and commitment to AACA Santa Barbara Region and to this AACA Western Divisional Tour.
GOLD SPONSORS
Roger & Margi Drew
& their Family of Cars
’63 Corvette 340
’60 Lotus Super 7
’60 Lotus Elite
’65 Alfa Spyder Veloce
’66 Jag XKE
’58 Maserati 450S
’60 Mercedes 300 SLR Ulenhaut
’73 Original 2 door Range Rover
Welcome! Motoring the Santa Ynez Valley’s scenic back roads is a delight, and Santa Barbara is a very special “Western Riviera” car town. We enjoy all sorts of cars, new and old, and you will see many of them on this unforgettable Tour - Plus yours!
SILVER SPONSORS
Bob Burtness & Nollie Lei Dawson
With gratitude to our AACA colleagues who have worked so diligently to make this Tour a reality in 2023.
Dana & Andrea Newquist
Planning a Tour is challenging, but the old friends, new friendships, beautiful countryside, amazing events, and those fabulous cars are priceless!
Bob & Mary Gates
What a great tour this will be! Many many thanks to AACA National for
all of the great support and encouragement! Welcome friends!
Happy Motoring!
Dusty & Fallon Baker
Fallon and I are looking forward to this incredible tour! Classic cars, friends, wine country, and coastal beach drives - you can't ask for much more! Happy Motoring from your friends at the Dusty Baker Group!
Conner & Gianna Rehage
Gianna and I are excited to embark on our very first AACA Tour. As new AACA members we’re looking forward to sharing our love of these gloriously fantastic vehicles with new like-minded friends. Our best to you from Harbor Hills Wealth Management!
1012 Consulting
We are proud to be a part of this very special event and wish everyone exciting days and many wonderful memories. Best regards from 1012 Consulting!
Jim & Tish Harris
Trish & I are thrilled to support this exciting tour. Motoring these areas of the Central Coast is delightful as is spending time with others who appreciate beautiful, classic, well-made cars. Happy Trails from your friends at Puretec!
BRONZE SPONSORS
Milpas Motors
Just be "WOW"!!
ivan.bar
ivan.bar is delighted to work with our friends at AACA, and we look forward to filling your tank sometime soon!
OUR ADVERTISERS
![logo alt STLCM [Converted].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/9cc9ef_39cf507bb25d4c9eafbe5166a15e5279~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_9,y_5,w_615,h_245/fill/w_311,h_124,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/logo%20alt%20STLCM%20%5BConverted%5D.png)
