Why Visit Santa Maria, California?
Santa Maria, CA is the most populous city in the Santa Barbara County. With wineries and barbecue, Santa Maria is a great place to wine and dine.
The Best Time to Visit Santa Maria, California
Santa Maria has a cool Mediterranean climate, with average temperatures varying slightly. Santa Maria, CA is hottest between July to September, with average highs of 78°F. Santa Maria, CA is coldest between to December to February, with average lows of 39°F. If you’re looking for ideal weather, the best period to visit Santa Maria, CA is between May–October.
High season in Santa Maria, CA falls between June and August. Hotels in Santa Maria, CA are cheapest during low season in November.
Getting Around Santa Maria, California
The Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) serves the city just over 3 miles (approx. 10 minutes) south of downtown Santa Maria. Hop in a Santa Maria Yellow Cab, and your journey to downtown Santa Maria will set you back between US$19–US$23.
Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT) is the public bus service provider that runs throughout Santa Maria, CA. The route 4 bus is the cheapest way of getting Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) to downtown Santa Maria. Single fares cost US$1.50 per ride.
Getting to and around most of what Santa Maria, CA has to offer is more accessible by car. Consider renting a car to travel around Santa Maria, CA easily. Car rental agencies have desks conveniently located at the baggage claim area of Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX). Alternatively, Trip.com offers a wide selection of cars to book, with free cancellation and no credit card fees. You can explore car rental options here.
Things to Do in Santa Maria, California
Visit any of the Santa Maria Valley wineries, just a 15-minute drive away from downtown Santa Maria. This wine region has produced some of California’s finest wines, specializing in varietals such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. Presqu’ile Winery, just 25 minutes south of downtown Santa Maria, is known for their sip-erb tasting room, you wouldn’t want to miss this! It’s also one of the stops on the Wine Trolley, which operates only during the weekend.
The Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve sits by the coast in west Santa Maria, and is known for its breathtaking untouched dunes. Activities are aplenty across 500 acres of land, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and animal spotting.
Spend a night at the Historic Santa Maria Inn. Established in 1917, the inn was an exclusive hub for Hollywood’s elite. Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin were two of the many celebrities that stayed at the inn. The Historic Santa Maria Inn is in walking distance to several of Santa Maria’s top attractions, including: Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, Natural History Museum, and Santa Maria Fairpark.
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