Alisal Guest Ranch Blog & News
Welcome to the Alisal Guest Ranch Blog. We love posting stories about the happenings around the Alisal and keeping you updated with the latest tidbits and tales. You’ll find a little bit of everything here and then some. We love hearing about stories from guests so if you’ve got something to say, just let us know by sending us a message.
Looking for photos or videos that we post? We don’t always add those to the Ranch Blog but we do add them to our Alisal Photos & Videos Gallery.
And be sure to follow us on your favorite social media channel like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We love posting the latest news there as well and it’s a great way for us to stay in touch when you’re not here at the Alisal. Even better, sign up for the Alisal Newsletter using the form at the bottom of the page and we promise to keep you “in the know!”
Not that long ago the ever-popular Alisal Lake was low and getting lower, but today thanks to last season’s hearty rains, the lake is 90% of capacity. A full lake means happy fish and March is spawning time so the Largemouth Bass and Blue Gills are really biting.
Slow cooked, this one-pot meal combines braised chicken and seasonal root vegetables like sweet carrots, with mushrooms and garlic and simmers them all in a nice red wine flavored with locally grown herbs. Chef Endy likes serving the main dish with a creamy mashed potato or …
Jill’s love of the Ranch and its traditions are clear the moment you speak with her. Nurturing and building on those traditions is a top priority. In addition to maintaining all the old favorite activities, she is considering some new offerings as well…
It’s time for a new Riders of the Alisal! We’ve received quite a few requests from Alisal fans asking if we could produce the Riders of the Alisal in an …
This latest issue of the Riders of the Alisal includes an insider’s guide to Wintertime events at the Alisal, updates on new cycling activities, a story about Tony (Alisal Head Wrangler), …
By Alexi Holian Nestled in the storied Santa Ynez Valley, The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort has drawn guests for generations with its 10,000 acres of sunlit hills, majestic valleys, …
By Viktor Edstrom In the context of travel, luxury can mean many different things to many different people. Though penthouses and celebrity chefs are undeniably luxurious, to me it’s less …
By Katie McElveen The best wine tasting tours are no-pressure affairs involving beautiful scenery, welcoming vintners and, of course, delicious wines. Nothing embodies this ideal like Los Olivos, where intimate …
By Katie McElveen My first introduction to The Alisal came, oddly enough, from my taxi driver, a septuagenarian who had grown up in this area outside of Santa Barbara when …
By David Gould The graduating class of 1912 at Rindge High School in Cambridge, Mass., included my grandfather, Forrest Gould, and the aspiring actor Walter Brennan—who would go on to …
We couldn’t be more delighted to share the 2017 Fall Guide! We would like to share with you some of the amazing opportunities and activities that await you during your visit …
Let’s Play Alisal’s “Guess the Celeb” on Facebook Earlier this year, we uncovered some vintage photos taken at the Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort, some of which date back over …
We couldn’t be happier to announce the Summer 2017 RIDERS OF THE ALISAL newsletter! We’ve redesigned it and packed it chock-full of all the latest stories and happenings from the …
We couldn’t be more delighted to share the 2017 Summer Activities Guide! It’s been completely redesigned and we’ve included some of our favorite photos to give you a better idea …
In this holiday issue of Riders of the Alisal, we say a farewell to our general manager, Dave Lautensack, who after more than two decades of dedicated service is looking …
Delighted to have this write-up in the October/November 2016 issue of Cowboy Magazine!
You’ve heard the rumors and they are true! Every year we tell our followers that the Alisal BBQ Bootcamp will sell out, and as is true to our word, 2015 …
Whether it is a special personal occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, wedding, you are thanking a client, or simply want to add something memorable for a group stay to …
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is renowned for its golf. If you are a novice, amateur, or even a seasoned pro, you probably do not need to be reminded of how …
Legendary service doesn’t just “happen”. It is the results of years of practice- and listening to the feedback of our guests. When you arrive at your favorite vacation spot, how …
While most guests enjoy the leisurely, relaxing pace of Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort‘s trail rides- including our famous morning breakfast ride- and some guests choose to go at a …
While most guests who come to Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort end up staying on property almost the entire time because so many of our memory-making activities are right here, …
Chef Pascal Godé and his team possess the talent to create virtually any menu that one can create and welcome the opportunity to customize special touches for Alisal wedding couples. …
Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort can be bought out for corporate events, reunions and much more (Alisal River Terrace does not require a buy-out) to assure not just privacy and …
At Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, we are privileged to see all sorts of event styles and decor and work with the finest event professionals from all over. This year, …
Let’s face it, in our fast-paced world full of technology and hectic schedules, finding time to create family traditions can be a challenge. That’s where Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort comes …
We certainly charm our guests with unique outdoor adventures, fine dining, and endless fun, but these stories are theirs alone. We’re proud to share our guests’ reminiscences with you and …
This article originally appeared in a publication that featured local wedding planner expert and author Kerry Lee Dickey of Santa Barbara Wine Country Weddings & Events talking about her top …
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort has had their decadent weddings featured in many national publications and highly-regarded wedding blogs. It has also been the chosen destination wedding spot of many …
While most folks right now are in the throws of lazy, hot summer days, delicious BBQ, and sipping a lemonade in the shade of a Sycamore by a lazy river, …
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is nestled in Santa Barbara’s own wine country: the Santa Ynez Valley. One of the benefits of this valley is that it is relatively removed …
Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Alisal fans are not shy to share their Alisal Guest Experience, and we couldn’t be more glad! It is through your eyes that we (and others) …
Plenty has been written about the benefits of taking a vacation/break (even if short): from lower stress and anxiety, less risk of heart disease, the ability to accomplish goals better, …
If you are looking for a place to “spend the night” while on a road trip, don’t bother with a reservation at Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort. Whoa! Did we …
Whether you like your vacation slow and relaxed, or full of activities and adventure, the Alisal Summer Guide is a great way to plan your summer stay at the Ranch. …
It is no secret that businesses and companies seek out Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort to host inspirational planning retreats, reward hard-working employees, or provide team-building retreats to rev up …