After Donald Trump's grand inauguration, Joe Biden made a beeline for a cherished retreat. As the 47th President of the United States was sworn in on a chilly Monday morning in Washington D.C., former President Joe Biden, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, jetted off to warmer climes. Departing from Joint Base Andrews, the couple embarked on a journey to a hotspot on the opposite coast: the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley in California.
According to KEYT, a local news outlet, eager residents flocked to the Santa Barbara Airport on January 20, Monday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the presidential aircraft touching down. The airspace around Vandenberg, California, was reportedly under a "no-fly notice," indicating the Bidens' impending arrival.
This wasn't the first time the former presidential couple had vacationed in this region. "He and Jill visited last summer, making this his second visit in less than a year," Shelby Sim, President, and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, exclusively revealed to PEOPLE. Adding intrigue to the visit, Sim speculated, "Rumor has it he's purchasing a home in the area," but clarified that this trip was purely for relaxation and rejuvenation, far from the hustle and bustle of Washington D.C.
The Santa Ynez Valley offers a stark contrast to the capital city. "There's no traffic and a hometown country feel," Sims remarked. While the Bidens haven't disclosed their post-White House residence, they have maintained two homes in Delaware—one in Rehoboth Beach and another in Wilmington.
The Bidens have a friend in the Santa Ynez area, Joe Kiani, a major Democratic donor. According to Politico, they have stayed with him before. During their previous visit, which coincided with another significant moment—Biden announcing his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention in August—the Bidens explored the Kiani Preserve, an expansive 8,000-acre ranch and vineyard owned by the billionaire in the Figueroa Highlands, and the Old Mission Santa Barbara, a former Spanish mission now housing a museum, a Franciscan friary, and the Santa Barbara Mission-Archive Library.
Nestled about two hours north of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County, on California's Central Coast, the Santa Ynez Valley is renowned for its scenic vineyards, Michelin-starred restaurants, and an array of outdoor activities, including hiking, zip-lining, and horseback riding. It boasts the Padres National Forest, Sedgwick Reserve, and in spring, offers breathtaking wildflower viewing on Figueroa Mountain.
Celebrities also favor this region as a prime real estate destination. Olivia Newton-John once owned a ranch here, which her widower recently listed for sale at $9 million. Nearby the town of Los Olivos lies Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, a 2,700-acre estate that sold to billionaire Ron Burkle for $22 million in 2020, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
