Just off of Highway 29 in the heart of Napa Valley’s fertile wine country, La Residence is an oasis that offers beauty and tranquility for a romantic weekend getaway. This luxurious bed and breakfast inn is easy to miss, camouflaged by heritage oaks, pine trees and vineyards, but, as I discovered, hidden treasures like this are worth the effort to find.

Over 20 years ago, this property was little more than an old home next to an oil-soaked dirt lot. “I used to come out here and trim the weeds, just to make it look nicer,” says owner David Jackson, whose dream was to someday quit the business world and create his own personal nirvana in the form of an exclusive bed and breakfast inn. “It was time to give up pinstripes for working with my hands and being with my family,” he says.

Fueled by his own creativity and passion for architecture and landscaping, Jackson set out to create one of Napa Valley’s premier inns that, Jackson says, is “unmatched” in terms of its originality, design and amenities. La Residence is different from the typical bed and breakfast where everyone stays in one big house with commonplace décor. The inn’s 25 guest rooms at La Residence are divided among three separate buildings: The Mansion, The French Barn and The Cellar House, and the décor is anything but commonplace.

It had been over 30 years since my wife and I had been to the Napa area so we were looking forward to our stay at La Residence. After being greeted by the friendly staff, we were shown to our accommodations in The French Barn. The brick-lined walkway was a nice contrast to the grape vineyard, and the sound of water from three fountains on the patio made us feel as if we were in a peaceful sanctuary. Soft background music and elegant country décor such as the custom-made window treatments, rich upholstery and hand-painted furniture greeted us as we entered through French doors.

Other rooms are equally impressive, featuring fireplaces in the sitting rooms and furnishings lovingly collected by Jackson over the years such as large armoires, antique silver sets, unique artwork, and designer fabrics and new modern amenities like CD players and flat-screen televisions.

The grounds, a constant work in progress, are what make La Residence so unique. Flower beds, well-maintained lawns and trees are exquisitely designed around fountains, ponds, a swimming pool, and a hot tub. The gardens are always changing and Jackson stresses, “Whatever views one sees with the eye, there is always more hidden around the corner.”

Each of the buildings at La Residence has its own individual feel and is designed with that goal in mind. The Mansion Guest Room and Suites, for example, was built in 1870 and features queen-sized beds, marble baths, period antiques, and some wood burning fireplaces.

The French Barn is lavishly adorned with French and English pine antiques and has French doors that open to a terrace with a view of the vineyard. The Cellar House features king-sized beds and marble bathrooms with soaking tubs.

Of course, one of the features of the bed and breakfast is the actual breakfast, and at La Residence, they serve a delicious variety of victuals to get you started in the morning as you head out to explore the nearby towns and wineries. Located in the main building, the dining room has separate table seating around a grand piano with many of Jackson’s antique treasures from around the world incorporated into the décor.

Our breakfast started with a fresh and seasonal fruit cup topped with cream followed by light fluffy Parmesan eggs, toast and coffee. This is a leisurely event and if pressed for time, some guests may choose to take their morning meal off-site. In the afternoon, the outside deck doubles as a refreshing spot for wine and hors d’ oeuvres.

La Residence is centrally located between the towns of Yountville and Napa and my wife and I enjoyed taking our time and also visiting the communities of St. Helena and Calistoga, each offering their own brand of small town charm. Of course, if you relish wine tasting, you will have your choice of over 40 vineyards as you drive north along Highway 29 or turn off the main road onto the older and scenic Silverado Trail.

I arose early one morning to witness the daily hot air balloon launch, one of the best ways to view the vineyard-covered landscapes. I followed the balloons to their destination near a local park and hiked up the hills to snap a few photos.

There are other activities such as shopping, including our favorite in St. Helena— Dean & Deluca; mud baths and spa treatments at various properties and Calistoga’s famous Old Faithful that erupts about every 20-30 minutes with 75 foot geysers. The Wine Train is one of the most popular activities as guests wine and dine in cars, one of which is a restored 1915-1917 Pullman dining car, as they glide past some of the most spectacular scenery in Napa Valley.

Having stayed in many inns and bed and breakfasts over the years, my wife and I found La Residence to be one that is both unusual and distinct. In fact, the day we were there, the Travel Channel was filming for one of their upcoming episodes of The Best Of series. As a final thank you from the staff, each guest is given a gift upon checkout. Ours was the CD with the same wonderful music that we first heard upon entering our room.

The property is an easy one-hour drive from the Oakland Airport. The next time you are in the mood for a romantic rendezvous, head west to the little hidden inn whose ambiance, serenity and friendly service keep guests coming back year after year.