Where the ‘new world’ encompasses traditions from the ‘old world’
There is no better way to enjoy a holiday on the west coast of the US than by road. Naturally I choose Route 1 as it is an iconic road trip; and it goes without saying that I drove a Mustang. Travelling by road allows you the freedom to wander to off the beaten places.
One of my best detours on this particular road trip was going off the beaten track and landing in the Santa Ynez Valley close to a picturesque town called Solvang. north of Santa Barbara. The town of Solvang is quite extraordinary. It replicates Danish architecture; the town having been founded by a group of Danish settlers back in 1911. There are four windmills and several authentic Danish pastry bakeries. You can imagine my complete surprise on arriving here as I hadn’t really checked it out that much before I got there.
We decided to opt for a more unusual hotel to compliment our detour. The Genevieve a stylish hotel nestles in the nearby Santa Ynez valley. At the time we visited it was called the Santa Ynez Inn but the owners decided on a name change to reflect its more unique and upmarket style of hospitality. This beautiful ‘olde worlde’ style clapperboard house has a chintzy décor plus very appetizing cuisine. The atmosphere is cosy and creaky despite its small size.
The Bedrooms: There are 20 bedrooms in The Genevieve, mostly situated on the second floor. These are accessed by either an old fashioned stairs or a modern lift. The bedrooms are nicely furnished in a classic style with hints of European restraint and not a sign of bling!
Reception & Dining: The Reception is modern and a bit on the ordinary side whereas the Victor Restaurant is both clubby and welcoming. Also welcoming is the Whiskey Library with a stunning array of different whiskeys/whiskys for guests to enjoy.
The Gardens: These are a good size, if a bit small by American standards where Big is Beautiful. Here guests can choose from a variety of niche places to sit and enjoy an aperitif or digestif. There is nothing nicer than sitting outside listening to the sounds of humingbirds merging with crickets so you feel ever so close to nature (with periodically the sound of the odd car passing on the nearby road).
The Genevieve is located in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, a wine country which comprises a superb collection of boutique wineries. This is the antithesis of the big industrial Napa wine region. The valley would definitely remind you of France with smaller undulating fields and I can highly recommend the local wine. The local wine association gives a comprehensive listing of the local wineries that you can visit. There are well over a hundred wineries and there is a very proud tradition of wine making passed on from generation to generation.
There is much to see and do in Solvang and a tour of the Mission Santa Ines museum is worth a stop as it has buckets of local history which is quite fascinating. The Danish history is very much alive and well. In fact several members of the Danish royal family have visited Solvang over the past decades; a reminder of the link between the ‘old country’ and the ‘new country’. If you are contemplating a Route 1 American road trip this hidden gem would certainly rank as a highlight.
For more exact information best to click on the local map.
