A trip to the Santa Ynez Valley never fails to lift our spirits. Besides the history, bounty of fine wine, rolling hills, noble oaks, majestic mountains, art galleries, faux windmills, Solvang Danish pastries and tchotchkes, fine restaurants and boutique hotels, we occasionally discover a treasure amidst the cowboys and Chumash Indians. Such a recent discovery was the delightful Hotel Ynez at the crossroads of Santa Ynez and Solvang, 18 spacious guest rooms nestled on two private acres with extensive gardens, a pool, bonfire pits, and a rustic outdoor pavilion with tiki torches for nights under the stars.

A trip to the Santa Ynez Valley never fails to lift our spirits. Besides the history, bounty of fine wine, rolling hills, noble oaks, majestic mountains, art galleries, faux windmills, Solvang Danish pastries and tchotchkes, fine restaurants and boutique hotels, we occasionally discover a treasure amidst the cowboys and Chumash Indians. Such a recent discovery was the delightful Hotel Ynez at the crossroads of Santa Ynez and Solvang, 18 spacious guest rooms nestled on two private acres with extensive gardens, a pool, bonfire pits, and a rustic outdoor pavilion with tiki torches for nights under the stars.

Genial General Manager Robert Miranda showed us around the well-manicured grounds where Bolivian hammocks in front of each room swung in the breeze. This is the essential wine country retreat, set thoughtfully and privately off Mission Drive, a few miles from busy Solvang, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez.  Rates at this delightful getaway start at $199 midweek, expect rates at $370 on the weekends. And if you need a bottle of wine, snack, gift, or an essential, the Hotel Ynez has a small shop that carries everything.

They seem to have thought of it all here. Hotel Ynez, 2644 Mission Drive, Solvang, CA, 93463, (805) 697-5444, www.hotelynez.com, a Nomada Hotel Group, www.nomadahotelgroup.com, whose other fine properties are the Granada Hotel & Bistro in San Luis Obispo and the Skyview Los Alamos.