Foodies, rejoice! Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week is upon us from January 22 to January 28! At this one of a kind series of events, food aficianados can get taste after taste of all the delicious fare the Santa Ynez Valley has to offer. And for those of you who love wine, you couldn’t pick a better place to go on a restaurant tour. Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Week 2012 will feature restaurants throughout the Valley that are offering a special 3-course tasting menu for an unbelievable … [Read more...]

We are proud to introduce Mark as the newest member of the Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals team. Mark is originally from the UK and has over 10 years experience as a property manager. Mark moved to the Santa Ynez Valley eight years ago with his with his wife Sandra and 6 year old daughter Sarah. Mark also has experience in house renovations and is an avid golfer, once a professional. What a great way to start off 2012! Welcome! … [Read more...]

Supporting local businesses is incredibly important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is preserving the unique character of an area. Many local businesses in the Santa Ynez Valley are one-of-a-kind gems that you couldn’t find anywhere else in the world. Chain businesses are fine and we all do our part to contribute to the economy, but when you visit such a phenomenal area as the Santa Ynez Valley, you want to truly experience what the locals have to offer. Fortunately supporting … [Read more...]

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The Santa Ynez Valley is a wonderful place for those who enjoy a good hike! Take a look at this article for links to trails and more info. Happy trails! http://www.syvjournal.com/archive/9/36/8931/ … [Read more...]

Stay at the Fancy Hills Farm this weekend for only $450 a night (sleeps 8, two night minimum). This is a steal! (Offer applies to September 15-18, 2011 reservation only). http://www.santaynezvacationrentals.com/1999/02/fancy-hills-farm/ … [Read more...]

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Whether you are a native to the Santa Ynez Valley, or simply vacationing in this beautiful part of California, there are always so many wonderful events in the municipalities of the Santa Ynez area. (I mean, look at the calendar for August 2011 alone! It's jam-packed with amazing stuff to see and do.) Many are ongoing events that are staples in the Santa Ynez community, some are annual festivals or events that made our area famous, and some are special one-time opportunities that you don’t … [Read more...]

Looking to kayak this summer and don't want to drive all the way to Santa Barbara? You are now allowed to paddle on Lake Cachuma! Launch fees are $5. For more information visit: www.cachuma.com … [Read more...]

Thank you for another wonderful stay at your properties! We absolutely loved the house and loo forward to staying again in the future! Thank you again! Bob and Leigh Ann Barrett … [Read more...]

We truly enjoyed our stay at Estelle Ranch. The house, the pool, the amenities, etc. are all wonderful but pale in comparison to the breathtaking view. We were sad to leave. Also, Leanne was brilliant. She went above and beyond to make sure our vacation was perfect. We'll definitely be back! … [Read more...]

BarZ Ranch is truly one of a kind. This, newly built, farmhouse style home is located on the renowned Foxen Canyon wine trail, perched atop over 900 stunning acres. While the serenity and privacy of this ranch may have you rooted, downtown Los Olivos is a short ten minute drive for those who want to explore. The grounds are ideal for barbequing with your guests, playing outdoors with kids, or sunbathing at the pool. Enjoy a cup of tea on one of the many al fresco dining areas or sit underneath … [Read more...]

Hi Cindy and Leanne, We all had a great time staying at the Farm house. The house is very beautiful, clean and spacious. We spent most of our time in the house. The kids were all excited seeing the pig and picking up the eggs. The eggs are fresh and taste delicious. They also enjoyed the game room very much. Once again, thank you for your assistance and we are looking forward to next visit. Best Regards, Ken Huang & Family. … [Read more...]

Best of the Road is a new promotion by Rand McNally and USA Today that encourages American towns' local citizens, colleagues, families and friends to nominate, review and vote for their home town to be included in itineraries for an upcoming cross-country search for the best towns and attractions in America. The five teams of travelers, selected by Rand McNally and USA TODAY, will depart New York City on June 23 and drive to the top 20 towns nominated by the public in five categories -- most … [Read more...]

Santa Ynez Valley Trails Week June 4-11, 2011 Fun, Fitness, Beer, Farmer's Market, Nojoqui Falls, Lake Cachuma, and more! http://www.visitthesantaynezvalley.com/santa-ynez-valley-trails-week … [Read more...]

Cold Cravings is a frozen yogurt shop opening soon in Solvang. 8 fun flavors daily with plenty of toppings to choose from. Just in time for summer! … [Read more...]

June 11, downtown Santa Ynez Parade starts at 11am http://www.santaynezmuseum.org/events.html … [Read more...]

On Saturday, June 4th, Los Olivos will be filled with people eager to enjoy the annual Jazz and Olive Festival. Enjoy great food, wine, and, of course, live jazz. The all-inclusive ticket for this event lets participants enjoy the culinary art of thirty amateur and professional chefs, taste the wonderful wines poured by twenty two of the area’s wineries, watch cooking demonstrations by professional chefs, and hear live jazz music. You’ll receive a free souvenir wine glass and plate, and then … [Read more...]

"April showers" are bringing out those "sweet May flowers" so you’ll surely want to attend this year’s Valley Garden Tour "Beyond the Garden Gate." This year’s tour will showcase widely differing and very unique private properties in the Santa Ynez Valley. The museum’s seventh annual tour will conclude back at the Historical Museum courtyard with an elegant late afternoon wine and appetizer reception. For more info, click here: http://www.santaynezmuseum.org/events.html "Beyond the … [Read more...]

Dear Leanne and Cindy, Thanks for the great girl's weekend at Goodgame Ranch. We loved the house and beautiful setting. Cindy, thanks again for the ride into town on Thursday night. Can you remind me how the charge of $2435 was calculated? Also is there was a deposit taken back in Feb that I'll get back? We did rent a movie through the TV on Sat night for $2.99. Thanks so much! Hopefully we'll run the half marathon next May and be renting from you guys again. All the best, Julie Roberts … [Read more...]

Dear Leanne, We very much enjoyed the cottage and would definitely rent it again! Our only complaint was that the trundle bed mattress is a little too soft (the daybed mattress is better as it is very firm and new) Otherwise, we enjoyed the kitchen, pizza oven and relaxing. We hope to visit again soon. Hope you have a nice weekend. Best, Meghan … [Read more...]

Thank you Leanne, we had a wonderful time at Casa de Cota! It was so welcoming and beautifully furnished, it was a fantastic getaway. … [Read more...]

Hi Leanne, Once again, Laurel and I found the peaceful, quiet and beautiful setting of the Villa Santa Rita Hills to be just the ticket for our three day escape from the big city. We hope to return in the Fall for the wine festival, and hope that the Villa will be available. Thanks, Alan & Laurel Burks … [Read more...]

Hi Leanne, Yes, we all had a great time (again) thanks to you and your great staff (and the late checkout on Sunday ). Cindy came by on Friday just to see if we were ok. Looking forward to next year already. Thanks again. Mark … [Read more...]

Leanne, Just wanted to drop a quick note to say how much we enjoyed the rental home over the weekend. Everything was great, especially the location. Thank you for everything, Cathy … [Read more...]

Happy Earth Day, readers! In honor of Earth Day 2011, we wanted to spotlight two of our Santa Ynez vacation rental properties that are “going green” in an effort to minimize their footprint on the environment. If being eco-conscious and going green on vacation is important to you, check out how these vacation rental properties are doing their parts for the environment. One such property is the Rancho Maroma vacation rental home in Santa Ynez, CA, which overlooks the entire Santa Ynez … [Read more...]