Along for the Ride: The Alisal Ranch

The California coastal region north of Santa Barbara is magnificent. A little inland, the area is lush and fertile and produces top-notch foods and wines. I'll use any pretext I can to spend time in the Santa Ynez Valley or the Santa Rita Hills.

This time I headed up there to "ride me some horses" - as a wrangler from that neck of the woods might say - and to check out the spa at The Alisal Ranch, a destination that is still off the map to most of my friends, though families have been going there literally for generations.

Technically the ranch is in Solvang, but its vibe has nothing to do with that kitschy little town best know for its fudge, pretzels and Danish pastries.

For more, click through and take a look at the slideshow below.

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As soon as you turn into the ranch's tree-lined drive, your senses are dazzled by majestic vistas as far as the eye can see, iconic images of horses grazing in pastures, a foal nuzzling up to a doting mare. The sultry breeze blows your hair around your shoulders and tantalizes with the scents of sage and eucalyptus. Saddle me up a pony, I'm thinking, as I take my Tony Lamas from the trunk.

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As soon as you turn into the ranch's tree-lined drive, your senses are dazzled by majestic vistas as far as the eye can see, iconic images of horses grazing in pastures, a foal nuzzling up to a doting mare. The sultry breeze blows your hair around your shoulders and tantalizes with the scents of sage and eucalyptus.

Saddle me up a pony, I'm thinking, as I take my Tony Lamas from the trunk.

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Comments

[legalgirl]

12:34 PM on 10/06/2010

As beautiful as these pictures are, they really don't do the place justice. For instance, there's Spanish moss hanging from the sycamore trees and great expanses of lush lawn separating the cabins in the original section. Alisal specializes in "organized" activities, so if you want to avoid the kiddie stuff, book a package with wine tasting as the focus or pick an unstructured agenda. As a kid, I was privileged to be one of those regular families and, indeed, regulars get the best tables in the dining room. You are treated like royalty and your specific tastes and quirks are honored. I especially loved the basket with a big Thermos of coffee and pastries left outside your door each morning for early risers who needed a little something before breakfast was served at a more civilized hour. And the fire places--they were necessary because it was cold. I don't remember a lot of extra heaters in those rooms. Often, down-time was spent reading in the library or playing billiards in the late afternoon before the dinner hour.

Visiting Alisal more recently with my own daughter reminded me of how differently we entertained ourselves back then. A hotdog at the pool and a game of billiards was a big deal, not that there weren't plenty of things to do there (as usual), but just being in the quiet beauty, renewing your senses, was it's best feature.

[Andrea R. Vaucher]

01:58 PM on 10/06/2010

Yeah, those were the days, huh? I grew up on the east coast and have fond memories of the Peekskill Dude Ranch. Not as upscale as Alisal, but as a kid, who cared?! I loved horses and I was in heaven.

[caad4]

08:46 PM on 10/05/2010

Yeah, Alisal's great if you're a flippin' millionaire. I grew up working in Solvang every summer and my best friend was a maid out at Alisal's. Some pretty gnarly stories about the visitors there...

[Chaling]

05:54 PM on 10/05/2010

Solvang is a fun town! a little trip to Denmark without the air-fare..

that whole area, Ojai Valley(featured in the currently out movie EASY A) on northward to Lompoc, is some of the most beautiful terrain in the world, filled with beautiful farms, valleys, and vineyards.

[whoknew---]

07:28 PM on 10/05/2010

I remember when I was a little girl we used to go to Solvang right before Christmas....

It was wonderful and it is still a wonderful little place that has a soft spot in my heart....

[JScott]

02:29 PM on 10/08/2010

I liked it as a kid for the windmills and the pastries, and now the buffet at the Chumash Casino.