Former President Joe Biden shakes the hand of Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base, as Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, commander of U.S. Space Force, and his wife, Debbie, look on Monday afternoon at VSFB. The Bidens plan to spend their first few days out of office visiting the Santa Ynez Valley.
Former President Joe Biden shakes the hand of Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base, as Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, commander of U.S. Space Force, and his wife, Debbie, look on Monday afternoon at VSFB. The Bidens plan to spend their first few days out of office visiting the Santa Ynez Valley. Credit: U.S. Space Force photo

After finishing his four-year term as president of the United States, Joe Biden and his wife appear set to visit the Santa Ynez Valley.

The 46th president and former First Lady Jill Biden headed back to the Central Coast following the completion of their duties and attendance at Monday’s inauguration of President Donald Trump.

NBC senior White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell last week first announced the couple’s planned Santa Barbara County visit.

Federal Aviation Administration planning schedules show a VIP flight departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Monday en route to landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base later in the day.

The former first couple could be seen boarding the distinctive blue and white aircraft after the inauguration.

They arrived at Vandenberg late Monday afternoon, where top commanders greeted the couple.

The Boeing VC-25 aircraft, a military version of a Boeing 747, from the presidential fleet reportedly has been dubbed “special air mission.” The designations Air Force One and Air Force Two are reserved for when a sitting president or vice president is on board.

Military members salute as former President Joe Biden prepares to deplane Monday at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Military members salute as former President Joe Biden prepares to deplane Monday at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Credit: U.S. Space Force photo

The Bidens visited the Santa Ynez Valley last summer, staying at the ranch of billionaire Joe Kiani, a family friend and a big political donor. Biden’s son, Hunter, reportedly visited the ranch in March 2023.

The Kiani Preserve, which includes a winery, boasts 8,000 acres spanning hills and canyons “in the shadow of Figueroa Mountain.”

The summer visit began in August after Biden spoke at the Democratic National Convention making the case for then-Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Once expected to accept the Democratic nomination for president, Biden stepped aside in July, saying he believed it would be “in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.”

He then mostly stayed out of public view during the Santa Ynez Valley trek.

However, there were some brief sightings of various Biden family members, including at The Book Loft in Solvang and Saturday evening Mass at Old Mission Santa Ines. 

For that visit, the Bidens arrived at the Santa Barbara Airport and left days later after being taken by helicopter from the Santa Ynez Valley to board Air Force One at Vandenberg.

— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.