A mom’s experience being a “city girl” staying on a dude ranch with her family of four. Her inside tips to make the most of a midweek summer vacation at Alisal Ranch.
Alisal Ranch Blog & News
Welcome to the Alisal Ranch Blog. We love posting stories about the happenings around the Ranch 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, and Instagram. 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 Alisal Ranch. Even better, sign up for Alisal Ranch’s Newsletter using the form at the bottom of the page and we promise to keep you “in the know!”
February 12-15, 2023
Romance is in the air at Alisal Ranch this Valentine’s Day. Create memories with your partner while learning new skills in communication, cocktail making, dancing and more.
March 12-15, 2023
Enjoy a second opportunity to discover your pioneer spirit during the spring 2023 WILDWONDER featuring female artisans, chefs, winemakers, cowgirls, wellness leaders, and other fearless women.
Resident pickleball instructor, Chris Devaux, gives us an inside look at the fastest growing sport in America.
November 6-9, 2022
WILDWONDER features female artisans, chefs, winemakers, cowgirls, wellness leaders, and other fearless women. Adventure at the Ranch while making new connections and participating in experiences that spark self-discovery and growth.
Chef Valerie Rice shares her history with Alisal Ranch and a recipe inspired by her introduction to tri-tip as a kid on the Ranch.
Meet the newest face at Alisal Ranch: Chef Adam Measurall.
Recurring
California Ranch Cookouts are back starting April 2022! Our guest chefs will cook up a feast, creating a memorable outdoor dining experience that will leave you full, yet hungry for more!
The open range. A life in the saddle. The love of horses and roaming expansive land. The romance of the ranch is forever in our spirit. At Alisal Ranch we celebrate romance by creating memories that last a lifetime.
Celebrated designer, author and host of California Country Holiday Workshop, Nathan Turner, has a special holiday playlist for your next gathering.
Midweek winter stays at Alisal Ranch offer comfort and adventure from roaring fires to horseback rides through the rolling green hills.
Celebrated designer and author, Nathan Turner, hosted a California Country Holiday Workshop at Alisal Ranch this past week. We’re sharing his favorite recipes from the workshop for your holiday entertaining this season.
Everyone at The Alisal sends their deepest thanks to all of the firefighters who protected the ranch, our neighbors and wildlife in the surrounding areas.
L.A. Fashion Designer, Heidi Merrick, partners with The Alisal Guest Ranch for the debut of her Autumn Winter 21/22 RNCH Collection including a new RNCH ALISAL line of resort wear.
The Alisal is excited to announce the introduction of the FarmHouse Fresh skincare line to the spa. The award-winning, natural skincare company focuses on high nutrition skincare by using sustainable methods including hydroponic, aquaponic and organic farming with zero pesticide use and very little water. FarmHouse Fresh even uses the leftover pulp of their crops and feeds it back to the farm’s resident chickens; resulting in zero-waste.
Nurture your body and soul in the beautiful surroundings of The Alisal on the last Sunday of every month. Enjoy an outdoor yoga experience under the shade of a giant oak tree on “golf row” followed by a flight of seasonal, local and organic fresh-pressed juices. Guests may check in at the spa and fitness center before the event. Yoga mats are available. The event begins with one hour of restorative yoga, customized for all levels to meet the group’s expectations. It is all about slowing down, finding stillness and opening up your body through passive stretching and gentle poses.
Summer vacations are back! We invite you to enjoy a summer-to-remember with us at The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort. In the latest edition of Riders of the Alisal, you will find more information about our California Ranch Cookouts—now featuring Iron Chef Cat Cora on August 15—where celebrity chefs join us to ‘cue up some delicious recipes, learn about our new historic and preferred status and discover new updates from the Ranch. Read our summer issue to help plan your next adventure The Alisal.
We want you to feel as safe and comfortable in your guest room as you do out in our property’s wide-open spaces. When the pandemic closed hotels and businesses one year ago this month, our GM Kathleen Cochran did her research to find new and innovative ways for The Alisal to bring our guests #saferspaces and the highest quality protection possible.
In this fall 2020 edition of the Riders of The Alisal, you will discover some great special events like our BBQ Bootcamp and Healing Power of Horses Retreat. You will get the inside scoop on new members of our four-legged family, as well as updates related to valued two-legged Alisal family members.
Alicia Lund, “Cheetah is the New Black,” dreams of the memories she’s made with her young family in this week’s #DreamingOfTheAlisal
Chef and BBQ master @Kelly Cahoon has been #DreamingOfTheAlisal and getting back to grilling alongside friends of The Alisal at our famous BBQ Bootcamps.
Enjoy Devon’s excitement for her visit this Fall with her #DreamingofTheAlisal story and let’s all re-discover joy together!
For over 5 decades, Bill Powell has been creating smiles and spreading joy with his music for all guests, families and team members at The Alisal!
Our friends, the Firestone Sisters, embrace their Wild Precious Life with open arms at The Alisal.
Abe Aguilar, our resident pancake perfectionist, greets guests on the Old Adobe Breakfast Ride with a warm smile and delicious pancakes.
Meghan Taylor is our Head Wrangler, fueled by passion for the beauty of the land and her love of horses. There is no one better than she to lead our herd of 100+ horses and take care of all our barnyard friends.
Nathan Turner, celebrated interior designer, author and host of our “I Love California” workshop last year, shares his memorable connection with the Ranch.
Everyone knows that our barnyard friends are cherished at The Ranch. Whether you are young at heart or young in age, each one of them brings a smile to your face.
Our beloved Chef shares the magic of the property from the innate Ranch moments to the passion of sharing in culinary celebrations.
During these times, we wanted to share some of our favorite moments of The Alisal that we’re dreaming of and we look forward to welcoming you back.
Whether you want to cut loose, reconnect, or just have an amazing change of scenery, more women are discovering the benefits of an adventure getaway to The Alisal.
This May 3rd-5th, the action at The Alisal will be hotter than ever, with the addition of “Firemaster” Hugh Mangum to the BBQ Bootcamp all-star lineup.
Surrounded by the magnificent Santa Ynez Valley wine country, The Alisal’s 10,000 acres of natural beauty make the perfect backdrop for your most important day.
Guiding a world-class guest ranch takes a dedicated team effort. This year the team that makes up The Alisal family, outdid themselves!
If making a positive change in your life is one of your goals, then The Alisal’s Unbridled Retreat™ by Devon Combs is a special event not to be missed.
We’re celebrating National Day of the Horse with our cheerful toy horses playing their part in our “Horse on the Shelf” contest that we introduced last year and have brought back again this winter, thanks to their tremendous popularity.