Santa Barbara’s Fess Parker Winery with Cat Cora

Don’t miss Fess Parker Winery during your next visit to Santa Barbara, California. 

We have family in Berkeley, California so growing up we would travel to the Bay Area at least once or twice a year for holidays or special events. When my sisters and I got a little older, my mom would occasionally extend our trip by several days so that we could fly to San Diego and drive along the Pacific Coast Highway – California State Route 1.


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Santa Barbara Boats - The Lemon Bowl

It was during those memorable road trips with my mom and sisters that I first fell in love with Santa Barbara which is why I was so excited to return once again as an adult during my recent 4-Day West Coast Getaway with Cat Cora and Princess Cruise Lines.

Fess Park Lunch - The Lemon Bowl

Our excursion took us to Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard located in the rich, fertile valleys of Santa Barbara about a 45 minute drive from the coast.

Fess Parker Salmon - The Lemon Bowl

We started our experience with an incredible 4 course luncheon showcasing all of California’s best ingredients including grassy olive oils, fresh seafood, locally grown produce and more.

Cat Cora and Liz - The Lemon Bowl

Our host for the afternoon? None other than the wildly talented, extra witty, and extremely gorgeous Cat Cora. If you haven’t picked up a copy of her recent memoir “Cooking as Fast as I Can” you absolutely must. It is a great read and is hugely inspiring as a female working in the food and travel industry.

Fess Park Outdoor Seating - The Lemon Bowl

The 714 acre winery and vineyard is one of the most beautiful and peaceful environments I have ever experienced. While they do offer indoor wine tastings, I just couldn’t resist soaking up the warm California sunshine.

Fess Park Ladies Sipping - The Lemon Bowl

Of course, we did pop inside for a short while to see how the wine is produced. Although this wasn’t my first visit to a winery, I never tire learning about the winemaking process and seeing how grapes go from the vine to the glass. It was even more special because I got to experience the day with good friends like Kristen and Shelly as well as their besties from home who joined us on the cruise.

Santa Barbara Sandy Beach - The Lemon Bowl

Whether it’s on a cruise, a road trip or a destination in and of itself, the next time you visit Santa Barbara you absolutely must check out Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard.

Have you ever visited a winery before here in the US? I’m always looking for new recommendations!

Disclosure: Princess Cruise Line has compensated me for my time to share my recent experiences on board the Ruby Princess. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Lemon Bowl possible. All thoughts are my own.

For more vacation destinations, check out my Wanderlust Travel board!

18 thoughts on “Santa Barbara’s Fess Parker Winery with Cat Cora”

  1. A gorgeous day out at a winery? That sounds like the perfect cruise excursion. I’d actually have a hard time leaving land and getting back on the boat with that scenery. ;)

  2. I’m dying to go on a wine trip to Santa Barbara and this certainly doesn’t help! I’ve been to Napa and loved it there and Arizona has a surprising amount of wineries that are really interesting to visit.

  3. Santa Barbara is one of my most favorite places in the world and luckily it’s only about 1 1/2 hours away from me! I’ve stayed at FP resort a few times, but never gone wine-tasting, so I should put it on my list! Looks like a lovely trip-I’d love a short and local cruise like this!

  4. When my husband and I lived in St. Louis, we loved to go to the wineries just west of the city in Augusta, Defiance, and Hermann. Great wine! Now we live in Northern MN, not exactly known for wine, but there are some wineries in the Twin Cities area that we like – St. Croix Winery and Four Daughters (actually south of Rochester). My favorite thing to do when traveling is check out local wineries!

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