Nestled in the core of Santa Barbara County's wine country is a small town with a large heritage from the boomtown days of the western frontier...Santa Ynez.  Among the collections of stagecoaches, cowboy memorabilia and antique shops, we were delighted to discover a luxurious new Bed & Breakfast-styled hotel combining Victorian grace with the most up-to-date amenities -- the Santa Ynez Inn.

The Inn opened October 1, 2001 and offers 14 individually decorated rooms, each furnished with specially selected antiques and contemporary conveniences.  As in a boutique hotel, staff is on-duty 24 hours a day; concierge assistance is offered for scheduling dining, wine tasting tours, shopping etc.; daily laundry/dry cleaning valet service is available; and nightly turndown is provided.  A fitness suite includes a sauna and private massage room in addition to exercise equipment, and there is an outdoor hot tub.  Spa services (massages, facials and beauty treatments) are available daily by appointment.  Meeting and banquet facilities can accommodate conferences or receptions with a full-service kitchen and catering, as well as audio-visual arrangements.

Now for the B&B side of the Inn:  the elegant Parlor is the setting for full breakfasts, afternoon tea and coffee, evening wine and hors d'oeuvres, and nightly desserts.  Guests may also enjoy these delectables on the veranda or in the charming Library, with its wide array of books and intimate conversation area.  The food was absolutely superb; what a talented chef!  Breakfast was a perfect day-starter (I think I'm addicted to the espresso coffee cake), featuring a buffet of fruits, cereals, breads, juices, coffee and tea...followed by gourmet hot entrees served at our table.  The evening hors d'oeuvres went far beyond the ubiquitous cheese and crackers...how about a divine salmon mousse, accompanied by excellent Santa Ynez Valley wines!  As you might guess by now, the evening dessert offering wasn't a plate of cookies:  the tempting treats equaled those we've had in fine restaurants. We enjoyed them in front of the Parlor's fireplace, joined by other guests and Inn staff...providing a perfect day-ender, book-ending the morning's beginning!

The guestrooms are an ideal blend of both the Victorian and contemporary aspects of the Inn.   Owners Douglas and Christine Ziegler combined the finest elements from their own wide-ranging travels, seeking furnishings and amenities that they would appreciate finding in an Inn.  This personal touch is certainly evident in the unique style of each room.  The individually-selected antiques are enhanced by warm color schemes and beautifully coordinated fabrics, wall coverings and tile.  Luxurious touches include deluxe Frette linens, comfy robes and slippers; and most rooms include a gas fireplace, whirlpool tub and private patio or balcony.  State-of-the-art conveniences include TV with DVD/CD player (an assortment of DVDs is available for sign-out at the front desk), two telephones with voicemail and dataport, individually-controlled thermostat, mini refrigerator with complimentary sparkling and mineral water, coffee maker, iron and board, hair dryer, and piped-in music system.  Even the toiletries are specifically blended for the Inn, containing a refreshing apricot fragrance (Mrs. Ziegler's favorite). I'm pretty detail oriented, but I must admit that the Zieglers incorporated elements that I wouldn't have thought of; and, of course, I now consider them to be necessities!  I'll give you one example of what we found to be quite a clever little amenity:  the toilet lid/seat closes slowly and quietly, seeming to float gently down, preventing that annoying "thunk" in the middle of the night!  John was a big fan of that particular perk!!

We snuggled into a 2nd floor room with balcony and king-sized bed, and it was elegant and cozy at the same time.  We had a chance to peek into some of the other rooms, and each one had its own special charm and singular style...ranging from the whimsy of a clawfoot tub overlooking a bay window, to the distinctive ambience of what is affectionately referred to as the "Honeymoon Suite" (you'll understand why when you see it!).  

We had a delicious dinner at The Vineyard House restaurant, situated in an historic Victorian house adjacent to the Inn; request Melinda as your server....she was delightful (ask about her pottery).  There are over 40 wineries in the area, and we enjoyed chatting with the tasting room staff in several of them.  Since most are on the smaller side, they're able to provide personal attention to their visitors...and many of the wines are exceptional.  The Wine Emporium [don't let the rather funky exterior appearance deter you] in nearby (and artsy) Los Olivos is a terrific place to sample the products of wineries that don't have tasting rooms...we discovered some fantastic wine (and a sublime sweet Vermouth), and we thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Bob!  The Danish-inspired town of Solvang is 3 miles from the Inn.  Having visited Denmark this past August, we must say that Solvang isn't totally authentic...but there were hints of Copenhagen, and the shops are fun.  And fabulous Santa Barbara (one of our very favorite cities) is only 35 miles away.

So if you're planning a tour of Santa Barbara County wineries or are just looking for a relaxing country getaway, check out the Santa Ynez Inn.  I'm sure you'll appreciate all of the special attention Doug and Christine Ziegler put into creating a distinctive retreat for their guests.  For more information and reservations, you may contact the Inn at 1-800-643-5774, send an e-mail to info@santaynezinn.com, or visit their website at http://www.santaynezinn.com/ ...then prepare to enjoy Victorian-age hospitality in modern-age luxury!

Copyright © 2001 - 2008: Jan Hight
All photos are the property of Jan & John Hight and may not be copied or used in any way without our written permission.

Published -- November 11, 2001
Last Revision -- Sunday, 13-Aug-2006 03:22:47 GMT