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Summer is nearly over and boy it has been a super busy one for me! So much so, that I haven’t had time to blog on here!  I’m excited to be back to share with you a very special Bed and Breakfast that I just love.  I haven’t been there in many years, since before I became a mom!  However, it’s my 20th wedding anniversary summer, my hubby and I felt it was important to come back and stay there to celebrate at our favorite Bed & Breakfast, The Ballard Inn!

 

 

 

Located 35 minutes away from Santa Barbara, in the quaint and lovely town of Ballard, in the Santa Ynez Valley.  It’s my favorite area for wine tasting.  So, it’s perfect that this Bed and Breakfast Inn sits quietly amongst the vineyards and orchards.

 

 

 

 

Voted The West’s Best Small Inns by Sunset Magazine and Top 10 most romantic Inns. Indeed, The Ballard Inn is intimate with only 15 rooms. All with different  themes that shows you a taste of Santa Ynez Valley’s history.  We stayed in the Jarado’s Room which represents the local Chumash tribe.  The room was warm and cozy, featuring deep earth tones, decorated with authentic Chumash memorabilia. It was perfect!

 

 

 

Yes, Ballard Inn is one of the most romantic Inns and that was evident, there were no children at the Inn and it was so nice and quiet.  Couples were lounging out front on the gorgeous wrap around porch, reading, sipping wine or just napping.

 

 

 

They had a pretty expansive happy hour with delicious horderves and great local wines.  Couples chatted as they wine tasted and ate.  Later in the evening, The Ballard Inn Restaurant opens to the public for dinner.  It’s by far my most favorite restaurant in the valley.  We ate dinner outside on the porch, in the the cool summer air, watching shooting stars.  Talk about romantic!

 

 

 

The Inn also serves a full breakfast for guests which is nice and helpful, because mostly everyone go wine tasting afterwards at all the phenomenal wineries. It’s great to head out with a full belly!  The breakfast was scrumptious, too!

 

 

 

We were lucky enough to combine our our anniversary trip with the annual Foxen barbecue. We  try to go every year, it worked out great!  I blogged about the barbecue last year and the event was amazing, once again!

 

 

 

We dropped by a new winery to us called Lindcourt Vineyards, which was recommended by one of the girls at the Inn.  The winery was so pretty and the wines were all lovely.  We bought Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé and Pinot Noir. We also stopped at the wine room of Tercero Winery, which a friend recommended.  It was a fun place and the wine was even more fun! We bought a wine called Cuvee Loco, it’s an eclectic and interesting wine!

 

 

 

One night we dined in downtown Santa Ynez at a restaurant called The Los Olivos Wine Merchant Cafe.  It’s both a wine shop and restaurant.  Great food, great wine, great atmosphere.  The wine prices were affordable, too.  I highly recommend!

 

 

 

Our anniversary trip up to Santa Ynez Valley was an extra special weekend.  Ballard Inn was even nicer than I remembered.  We felt the genuine care from all the employees at the Inn.  They seemed happy to be working there and it shows.  They made sure we were completely content at all times. Little touches, like leaving homemade cookies in our room every evening was awesome! It was also great to discover new wineries and restaurants in the area.  We felt so happy, so relaxed and so 5 pounds heavier afterwards!  But, what are vacations for?  Not to diet, right??

 

 

 

The Ballard Inn and Restaurant is located at 2436 Baseline Ave, Ballard CA 93463.  Make reservations online at www.ballardinn.com or call 800-638-2466.  Lindcourt Vineyards is located at 1711 Alamo Pintado Rd, right around the corner from The Ballard Inn.  Tercero Wine is located 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave, #104. Get Going California now and enjoy!