Santa Ynez is nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara County's legendary vineyards -- the perfect destination for a weekend getaway, relaxing day trip or a romantic wedding. Located just a couple of hours from Los Angeles, you can drive into the breathtaking beauty of Santa Ynez for your romantic destination wedding via a scenic mountainous route. Beautiful weather throughout the year grace Santa Ynez; the mild climate and award-winning wineries that make some of the best California wines just add to the charm of having a wedding here. 
My husband ,Richard, and I spent our wedding anniversary weekend in Santa Ynez last month. We had such a wonderful, relaxing, unforgettable experience.
We stayed at Santa Ynez Inn, a charming boutique hotel/inn. Richard and I are usually not "Inn" people. We prefer staying at "swanky" hotels but at the end of our stay, we were converted... 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, but we opted for an in-room couple's massage (I could not even begin to describe how good it was).
We were served full breakfasts at the elegant parlor, afternoon tea and coffee, evening wine and hors d'oeuvres, and nightly desserts. The food was absolutely superb! Breakfast was a perfect day-starter, 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 were more than the usual cheese and crackers, accompanied by excellent Santa Ynez Valley wines. And the evening dessert - tempting treats like those we've had in fine restaurants.
We snuggled into a 2nd floor room with balcony and king-sized bed, and it was elegant and cozy at the same time. It's a blend of Victorian and contemporary that includes some luxurious touches and state-of-the-art conveniences -- deluxe linens, comfy robes & slippers, gas fireplace, whirlpool tub, private balcony, TV with DVD player (needs updating), DVD's available for sign-out at the front desk, telephones with voicemail and dataport, individually-controlled thermostat, mini refrigerator with complimentary mineral water, coffee maker, iron and board, hair dryer, and piped-in music system. There's even a clock radio/ipod docking station so we were able to listen to our own music when we got tired listening to the classical music piped-in.
We loved, loved our stay. We're definitely coming back. And no, we didn't stay at the Inn the entire time.
Day 1 - had a delicious lunch at The Vineyard House Restaurant, situated in a historic Victorian house adjacent to the Inn. Walked around the quaint town of Santa Ynez, visited a few shops. Of course, we had to check out the Chumash Casino for a little gambling fun. Then dinner at Trattoria Grappolo. I had "Pizza Funghi" (Tomatoes, mozzarella, and champignone mushrooms), truly the best pizza I've ever had.
Day 2 - went to the quaint town of Solvang (about 3 miles from the Inn) and discovered , Vinhus, where we sampled some terrific wine and cheese and thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Brad, The Wine Guy. Visited a couple of wineries in the area, recommended by Brad -- Foley and Melville, tasted their featured wines and picked-up a case and a half (to add to Richard's already full cellar)... We had the most amazing dinner at the Ballard Inn Restaurant. Each meal was finely crafted and presented, and everything I tasted (my selections and the stolen bites off of Richard's plate) was great. Excellent wine list, and the staff was well informed, especially as to the wine list. The atmosphere is nice without being stuffy or too formal.
Day 3 - On our way back home, stopped at Mission Santa Ines to hear Sunday Mass and for a taste of California history. And last but not least, we picked-up a dozen delicious Danish pastries from Mortensen's Danish Bakery. Can't leave Solvang without 'em.
Click on these links for more information about weddings in Santa Ynez and vicinity: Santa Ynez Inn, Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country, Santa Ynez Valley Weddings, Santa Barbara Wedding Guide
