Image by Getty Images via @daylife
Yes, this annual but obscure festival is as interesting as it is quirky, artsy and unique which features chair racing, art auctions, musical chairs (with proceeds going to charity), local wine tasting and food tasting as well as lots and lots of chairs. Featuring everything from hand crafted pieces of art to chairs made of welded horse shoes you get it all. In a small town where you wonder if you will see tumble weed passing through sooner than a car at times. Its fun to see the hustle and bustle of this unique festival while locals and new comers join to mix and blend in this eclectic and diverse gathering seldom seen in this well kept but dusty town.
Having been in this town for a while I can say its not the most exiting but if you like rustic, relaxed and quiet this is a good place to visit. So seeing the chair festival spring the little town to life does truly remind me of the story of Lightning McQueen getting lost in the middle of nowhere befriending a local tow truck Towmater (“Mater” for short) who brought the city back to life. If you miss Mayberry and like the feel of Pixar’s “Radiator Springs” you will love Los Alamos. Santa Maria the bustling city with its many stores, shops and places of entertainment is not too far away if you get bored. Its a short 15 to 20 minute hop. Plus there are many other close attractions to discover if you have time, a vehicle, like to go exploring and enjoy an active lifestyle.
Being a town that’s “not a town” only designated a census area that’s as old as the foundation of the state of California this is a little town with character. This obscure town came to being when some local ranch owners decided to give up a piece of each of their respective properties to create a town and gathering spot. Relics of the past from former water towers remnants in yards that remind one of the past when there wasn’t a city wide plumbing and water supply delivery system. It takes you back to the days when a large water truck would have to come to town and fill the respective water towers for each house. I’m sure plenty of water rationing went on back when you’d have to wait for the delivery truck. This nostalgic and unique town definitely takes you back with its early informal curfew (shops close early around here, there are no late night liquor runs unless you visit the bar at the Union Hotel). You can always enjoy the community oriented culture and wine tasting visitors.
From age old Motels and Saloon’s that have been around since the 1880′s, to old stage stops, antique shops, train depots and mail stops this town has it all. From the Leave It To Beaver-esque nostalgia this town that seems lost in time one stop from the mythical “Radiator Springs” of Cars the movie genre. This town is on Historic California 101 between Solvang and Santa Maria this rustic town brings you back to the good old west. Its a nice little stop in Santa Barbara county, this town with no stops but a caution sign for the pedestrian crosswalk. Known as the town at the foot hills of the legendary hideout for the bandit from which comes the Zorro myth. This little town in the midst of California wine and strawberry country is a nice little stop. Whether you come for the annual chair festival or just to stay at the Union Hotel or one of the other Bed-n-Breakfast stops this is a restful piece of history that one should not miss on their trip through the central coasts, with many attractions nearby from Shopping and Fancy Eateries in Solvang, to Cachuma lake, to the Chumash Casino, to the Goleta Hotsprings, or the Nojuqui Warerfalls, even Santa Ynez Valley Recreation area also known as Red Rock where you can plunge into fresh spring water, to the tasty Strawberry Festival in Santa Maria, and even to the SLO Mid State Fair.
