A Travel Guide | Santa Ynez
About: Santa Ynez Valley is nestled in Central California, a part of Santa Barbara Country known for its wineries and charming small towns. With plenty of shops and restaurants, there’s tons to do and see. I recommend visiting during the spring when the surroundings are green and the temperature is more moderate.
Stay: Hotel Ynez. A cozy and chic hotel with tons of outdoor space and a small but fabulous pool. The rooms are simple but stylish and very clean. Each room has a hammock on the front porch. Upgrade for a room with a fire pit, or even one with a kitchenette and private hot tub, too! Enjoy the large, shared outdoor space at the center of the property with plenty of cozy sitting areas, fire pits, and twinkle lights.
Eat & Drink: Five to ten minutes from Solvang, I’d start the day putting your name in at Paula’s Pancake House in downtown Solvang. During the inevitable wait, head to Good Seed Coffee Boutique for a quality coffee to pass the time. After breakfast, enjoy the quaint, European-esque town of Solvang. When it’s time for lunch, grab a casual beer and sausage at the Copenhagen Sausage Garden. Stop by the window outside of Solvang Restaurant for some aebleskivers to-go, and enjoy a sweet treat as an afternoon pick-me-up. Freshen up at the hotel and head into downtown Santa Ynez for dinner at SY Kitchen. I’m crossing my fingers that they’ll have grilled artichoke for you, but the roasted olives sound delicious, too! Enjoy mouth-watering homemade pasta, pizza, or a handful of other entrees along with a signature cocktail. Be sure to check out the specials!
Do: Rise with the sun, wrap yourself in a luscious robe, and bask in a hammock outside your room. Spend a day or an afternoon wandering around downtown Solvang, enjoying the ambiance, shopping, and eating. After a day of eating in Solvang, you could visit one of the many wineries close by, like Gainey or Sunstone for a tasting and buy some bottles to take home and enjoy during your stay in the hotel (pool day, anyone?). Visit Old Mission Santa Ines for a dose of California history. Downtown Santa Ynez is also a gem and will have you feeling like you’re on the set of an old western film. Check out the local shops and restaurants. A short 20 minute drive will bring you to another charming, western-inspired town: Los Alamos. Visit Bodega Los Alamos for a glass of wine and relaxing ambiance outside. You could bring a picnic lunch or snacks to enjoy with your drinks. Go horseback riding or hike through the glorious hills of Central California. Personally, I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to spend hours lounging by the pool, and I’d finish each night with a dip in the room’s hot tub or gathering around the fire pit with a local bottle of wine for a night cap.
*Inspired by an impromptu trip my sister took me on to Santa Ynez last year