Santa Ynez Inn

When the hit movie Sideways came out, people across the country were introduced to the idea that California wine begins and ends in the Napa Valley. There are, in fact, several wine regions throughout the state, including the Santa Ynez Valley where Sideways was filmed.

Dubbed Santa Barbara Wine Country by local tourism promoters, this is an idyllic and pastoral region of small towns, ranches and, of course, a few dozen wineries that are scattered over an incredibly picturesque countryside. The film Sideways, which follows a couple of middle-aged men as they discover the charms of this region and the truths of their existence, won great as a comedy drama, but, curiously, he also proved to be an effective travelogue.

This was not lost on the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau, which rushed to print with a visitor detailed color brochure with a map of shooting locations for the film - a practical guide for moviegoers love the ambiance so skillfully revealed in the motion picture. From all reports, many people have actually targeted the area for holidays or weekends and it is still a common site to see visitors pulling their big, green oversized Sideways brochures to check their bearings while searching another location used in filming.

There was even a bit exaggerated, according to some local residents. A few frustrated residents complained that the traffic brought to town by the film was a double-edged sword - good for business, bad for the roads in the region. Not only the roads getting clogged during the height of the popularity of the film, but some say they were getting clogged with people a wee bit tipsy from all that tasting. The TV show Inside Edition was recently in the area to check all these stories.

Much Ado About Nothing is the answer for most people, who were happy to see the area to national advertising, and finally find its rightful place on the tourism map. During our visit in March he did not seem too crowded, but again, we were there midweek and one should expect the weekend will be quite different.

We joined the other tourists in following our Sideways brochure at locations in Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Buellton and the "authentic Danish village" of Solvang, all featured prominently in the film. It was the Days Inn Buellton where Miles and Jack stayed and the parking lot where Stephanie beats three timing Jack. Or how about AJ Spurs, the restaurant-themed Western, where Jack meets his one-night stand, Cami. If to see the Sanford Winery, where Miles teaches Jack the basics of wine tasting and, of course, Fess Parker Winery where the server refuses to serve Miles a full glass of wine for swallowing the spit bucket instead.

Altogether there are 19 sites Sideways detailed map, all quite recognizable from the film. Some places even have the unique Sideways logo posted on their signs lest anyone not realize is that their company or a particular location will now live in infamy film.

Show biz also figured into one of two places we stayed in the country while Santa Barbara Wine. people of the Middle Ages will have no trouble recalling the name Fess Parker, who cornered the market in the 50's and 60 Coonskin-capped, buckskin-wearing movie mountain men. If you're a certain age, you remember Parker as Daniel Boone. If you are older than you want most people to know, you remember him as Davy Crockett, a character first in the stable of Disney TV characters at the time of the Wonderful World of Disney.

Unknown to most visitors, you can visit this one-hour TV icon on most Thursday nights at Fess Parker's Inn Wine Country in Los Olivos. The hostel ar invited.