The Carneros Inn - Picture Perfect

Michelle Harris

Ever find yourself in one of those places that is such a picture perfect location that it almost seems like a work of art or something you imagined? I consider myself very fortunate to be able to travel and visit so many beautiful destinations around the World. Sometimes you even discover some very special places that are close to home. One of those special places is the unique and luxurious Carneros Inn in Napa Valley, California.

We arrived after traveling from Southern California and were ready for a nice meal. Although it was late, as soon as we turned into the property we spotted the warm glow of a burning fireplace at FARM, Carneros Inn's main restaurant. They gladly accommodated us and soon we were basking in the warm setting. FARM prides itself on utilizing local farms for many of the menu items. Executive Chef Jeff Jake and Chef de Cuisine Christophe Gerard have created a menu that reflects a commitment to simple elegant food that highlights wines from the region as well as organic and sustainable local agriculture. While I would love to see more vegetarian and vegan entree items on the menu (after all, we're only 45 minutes from San Francisco), the staff received us warmly and the chef offered several tasty veg options that we gladly took advantage of.

After a delicious meal it was time to check in. At The Carneros Inn, there are no "hotel rooms". Instead, the accommodations are actual individual cottages. We're not talking about your Grandma's cottage either. The design is super cool, kind of like if Ian Schrager hired Philippe Starck to design a country cottage. I'm not kidding here folks, these "cottages" are cool! Each individual cottage has it's own serene private courtyard. It's so private, you may be tempted to use the alfresco shower! (Don't worry, the indoor shower is there for the less adventurous). The cottages combine country comfort with modern conveniences. Wood-burning fireplaces with smooth concrete hearths provide cozy warmth. Flat-panel TV's and DVD players provide for a little movie-viewing after a day in the country. The desk, front porch and back patio all have Ethernet ports connected to a high-speed network. Fortunately that's about all that is high-speed about this place. Everything is relaxed and most of the staff cruise around quietly and efficiently on electric golf-type carts.

When we woke up the next morning and stepped out of our cottage we were just amazed by the beauty of our surroundings. The entire property is nestled among 27 acres of grape vines, unspoiled farmland, and scenic apple orchards. It is truly a picture-perfect setting. If you are looking for hustle bustle and loads of activities, this is not that place. Resort activities included a nice walk/run in the vineyard and an Anusara Yoga class. The setting is both refined and relaxed and the pace here is very "go with the flow."

We walked down a short trail to the Boon Fly Cafe for breakfast. Another inspiring design, think "hipster barn", Boon Fly has a great casual atmosphere and delicious and fresh menu items. Mark loved this place so much he refused to eat breakfast anywhere else during our stay. We both consider ourselves to be granola connoisseurs and Carneros Inn has their own home-made blend that rocks, especially with fruit and cold soy milk. Likewise the steel cut oatmeal with soymilk and fruit was delicious. Lot's of other great items and since everything is made fresh to order, they can easily accommodate vegetarian and vegan requests. Boon Fly is also a more casual option for lunch and dinner and a popular place for weekend brunch.