Alisal Ranch,

1054 Alisal Rd, Solvang, CA 93463, United States

"What a magical place! We had a group of 20 people and we had the best time ever. There’s so much to do and activities for everyone. Hiking, horseback riding, pickle ball, swimming, e-bikes, kids activities and more! It’s the easiest vacation you will ever take. We loved it!!"

"This place is magical. I was there for a retreat. Both my companion and I said it was the best vacation we’ve ever taken. Close to town but feels like a world away. Food was great, the bed was comfortable. My favorite part was the animals because who doesn’t like to spend time scratching pigs? Also the scenery was like something out of a novel. The staff were very friendly."

"I want to sincerely thank everyone at the Alisal Ranch who made our anniversary weekend so special. I truly hope everyone gets a chance to stay at this special place and enjoy all it has to offer. It’s simply magical. From the rustic luxury rooms to the piano playing during dinner after a long fun day on the trails, you will create memories at the Alisal Ranch that will remind you of how great life is when you put your phone down, enjoy the outdoors, and take time to turn a stranger into a friend. You simply can’t put a price on that. Thank you so very much to every staff member who helps create such a wonderful experience. We will definitely look forward to coming again next year."

"This was an incredible place three decades ago when I was a child. As an adult, I see the problems with a dynastic approach to land ownership and a new heir generation schmoozing it up with people writing profiles of the ranch for various life and style magazines and papers. During our recent trip, I witnessed some staff member fawning over someone of status (“everybody loves you”) and smiling and giggling while saying “we’re moving away from giving families the same tables they get every year”. There was also a retreat for a group of people who had earned a certain number of millions by 30, and their electric cars choked the resort intake, and their manners stymied the peace. The concierge service was nonexistent. The beds were worse than a motel, and a quick calculation shows it would only cost $250,000 every five years for decent quality mattresses. The combination “spa” and exercise center was clearly devised by someone greedy and soulless and has no place on the property, shilling overpriced cowboy hats to weekend vacationers in a Westworld satire. While I understand that the insurance and costs for this property must be high, the drive to fill reservations and keep the ranch as busy as possible dramatically lessens the experience for all guests. I spent a year composing and editing my thoughts into concision, and this confused response from the management was literally delivered in minutes. A year ago they had just renovated the bathrooms and had then and still have many reviews complaining about the beds. We had three maintenance issues for broken items on checking in that could have easily been fixed between guests and needed no remodel. The ranch wishes us well, but we are another family who spent almost $10k for an experience that required mature forgiveness and human understanding to enjoy. I am not sure why defense and aggression are the response to serious real issues with the experience, but I am clearly not the only one, and staff routinely mention the sharp contrast between current and historical management. Good luck with your future endeavors. I am sure the inherited Alisal brand will be valuable for decades regardless of the real quality of the offered experience."

"We had a milestone celebration at this magical Alisal Guest Ranch. We loved every minute of this glorious experience! The service was perfect. The food was delicious. The lovely room- was very comfortable and all around fabulous! I recommend the entire Alisal experience for a wonderful getaway any time. We can't wait to come back again!"