Keys, Please: Stanly Ranch in Napa, California
When planning destinations for my birthday I originally had the likes of Mexico and Miami on the list. But when we decided to keep it within driving distance I settled on Stanly Ranch, an Auberge Resorts property that is a little over a year old and located not that far from Sonoma. During the summer (when it’s actually quite cold in San Francisco) all I crave are pool days, so that was my main criteria for where we ended up. Put me in front of a body of water with a cocktail in my hand.
Previously we’d only ever been to Stanly Ranch for lunch at the hotel restaurant Bear not long after they first opened, but I’m so glad we decided to stay for a night because it really activated the whole vacation vibe. After an 11am wine tasting nearby in Sonoma (Scribe, per usual) we headed to the hotel for an early check-in. After considering some experiences (the pasta making class is pretty popular), we decided to head straight to Halehouse to check out the spa and wellness amenities. In my opinion this is what sets this place apart from other wine country hotels (ps if you are local they have special discounts on stays and at the spa!!). We used the gorgeous curved dry sauna that looks out over the property, followed by the salt room and then took a dip in the outdoor pool. While there weren’t a ton of food and drink options (we sipped on a few glasses of sauv blanc) it was definitely more serene than the main and more family friendly Lavender pool, which we did hit up the next day and has a ton of cocktails and menu items like burgers, chips and guac and oat milk ice cream.
Aside from the spa and pool we loved spending time in the room (we got an upgrade from Amex which was a nice birthday treat!), which had an outdoor shower, living area, two sided fireplace and large bathroom with a soaking tub. My favorite thing about this property is how all of the rooms are like little houses with beautiful flowers, vines and wild grasses outside. You’ll have an amazing time no matter if you are just visiting for the day or take some extra time to soak it in overnight.
Click for the full list of where we stay and what we eat and drink in Napa!