Starry nights

Stanly Ranch (Napa)

GETAWAYS • Napa

Many resorts that market themselves as wellness destinations oversell it. Not Stanly Ranch. Nestled on an expansive property in Napa, this four-year-old Auberge property exudes wellness without fanfare. From the moment we arrived and until we left, we felt truly taken care of, but also remarkably free to curate our own experience.

Pulling up, we were greeted by staff members in cowboy hats, but that’s where the ranch references fade. Throughout, the resort is minimally chic and upscale, with rooms featuring plush sofas and warmed shower floors, and exterior design that blends nicely into the Wine Country landscape.

Wellness here means the restaurant, spa and pools are spaced out enough that walking to and from counts as a workout (in many cases, uphill). It’s offering a mattress so good we overslept and missed the morning yoga session. It also means that some amenities at Halehouse — the wing of the property that encompasses the spa, changing rooms, massage cabins, and an adult-only pool — are included with the stay. I particularly enjoyed the relaxing salt room and cedar sauna, designed by the sustainability-oriented design firm Overland Partners, a power move after a workout at the compact, meticulously stocked gym.

The spacious layout allows for contemplative walks among lavender bushes, and by the third hour, the resort, with its bungalows, cottages, and own coffee shop, felt like an idyllic neighborhood. And a thoughtful one, with adorable chickens available for petting and minimal lighting at night that allows for stargazing.

At Bear, the property’s flagship restaurant, we sampled an excellent endive Caesar and crispy rice doused in nuoc cham for lunch. For dinner, timing aligned so we could dine at the Rose Room, a limited-time offering that transforms a private dining room into an enchanted forest of sorts, filled with flowers real and artificial (I couldn’t tell the difference). At both spots, the menus are serene, fresh, and seasonal.

By the end of our 24-hour stay, a new thought came into my blissfully vacant brain: wellness is also when time stretches, and every hour feels rich and unrushed. Stanly Ranch is really good at making that happen. –Flora Tsapovsky

→ Stanly Ranch (Napa) • 200 Stanly Crossroad • Rooms from $2534/night May wknd.