In the vintage township of Santa Ynez (population 4,418), it’s sometimes hard to tell if it’s 2014 or 1884 with its period-style false-front building facades housing shops, saloons, feed stores and random horses hitched to posts. However, this rather sophisticated cowboy town also boasts plenty of conveniences for modern-day trail riders.

A variety of restaurants serve up delicious options from casual burgers, pancakes, and waffles (beloved by locals), to steaks, seafood, regional Italian fare, Latin fusion and locavore cuisine.

Modern shops and galleries line streets with horse-shoe embedded crosswalks.