Santa Ynez Mission
The Mission was founded on September 17, 1804, by Father Estevan Tapis, and was named in honor of Sainte Agnes, an early Christian martyr of the IVth century. The Spanish for Agnes is Inés. American Yankees anglicized the word, naming the town, Santa Ynez.

The Santa Ynez Valley
A typical view of the Santa Ynez Valley, located near the center of Santa Barbara County, about 45 miles north of Santa Barbara and 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The Valley, contains the communities of Solvang, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Los Olivos and Buellton.

Lavender fields in Los Olivos-->

<--- Fray Junipero Serra (1713-1784), founder
of the Californian Missions, at The "Misión Santa Inès"