Winter at The Alisal is a special time of year. The mornings are crisp, the afternoons generally mild, and the pace is a bit more relaxed than the hectic summer season.
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!”
Spirit Spotlight – Looking for a little after dinner treat that will tickle your taste buds and warm your spirits?
The winter edition of Riders of The Alisal has arrived. Learn about Chef Endy’s seasonal favorites from the kitchen, a recent dream wedding at the Ranch, our new “Wine, Women & Wranglers” getaway, and more!
The holidays come alive at The Alisal with twinkling lights, fresh garlands, gingerbread houses and festively adorned trees, inviting all to enjoy the spirit of the season.
Major is a six-year old roan American Quarter Horse. He came to The Alisal in June of this year from a ranch in Billings, Montana.
Fall is a great time for horsing around. It’s a little quieter, and both the horses and the wranglers seem to have a skosh more energy.
Thanksgiving at The Alisal is a special time when good friends, family and delicious food come together to make lasting memories. The leaves are changing, the mornings are crisp and the whole Ranch has a festive spirit.
Even though Courtney DeLongpré has been a wrangler at The Alisal for less than a year, she is already one of the guest’s favorites.
It was a big deal last year when Sara Ovadia, our First Assistant Golf Pro at the Alisal River Course, took home the title of Southern California Match Play Champion.
The Alisal’s saloon piano man, for over 50 years, is Bill Powell. Bill has been an important part of The Alisal experience since 1968. Back then, by day, Bill was a school teacher (later a school principal) and in the evenings he would take piano requests in The Alisal Oak Room.
“So many great flavors and such a rich bounty of local produce, that is what I think of when fall rolls around,” says The Alisal’s Executive Chef Endy.
The fall edition of Riders of The Alisal has arrived and we have exciting new and adventurous tales for you to read up on.
There are wonderful activities for every member of the family to enjoy at the Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort this fall, including the ones mentioned here, plus so many more. Whether you come to relax, sightsee, stay active or enjoy time away with the family, your time at The Alisal is guaranteed to be jam-packed with fun events and memorable activities. Check out our Fall Activity Guide to learn more!
Join the Alisal in Honoring Executive Chef Anthony Endy Chef Endy came to find his culinary passion in high school, when he took a job at the local Los Olivos …
Twice a year, The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort hosts the BBQ Bootcamp that aims to teach couples and individuals the secrets of Santa Maria-style barbecue, which grew out of …
We’re excited to announce the release of our Fall 2018 BBQ Bootcamp Itinerary. This Bootcamp will be like no other we’ve hosted before. We’ll have featured chefs including Steven Raichlen, …
In 2006 Dan and Sandy Everett first discovered The Alisal. At the time both were golfers looking to test out The Alisal’s two scenic courses (The Ranch and River Course). …
Spirit spotlight: Campfire Smoke Whether you’ve been riding the dusty trail, or playing a round on the links, a tall cool adult beverage may just be the thing to rejuvenate …
The Summer Activity Guide is Here! Horseback Riding From breakfast rides, to guided beginner and intermediate tours, The Alisal is happy to pair you with one of our four-legged friends …
The Riders of the Alisal is here! First and Foremost We have a new summer activity guide containing daily activities for guests of all ages. This summer, we are offering a mix …
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.
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 …
Alisal’s 100-acre spring-fed lake is one of the best places in California for year-round fly-fishing and is home to Northern Strain Largemouth Bass. The Alisal Guides specialize in the sport using traditional spinning tackle for spin-fishing trips and fly-fishing gear to help guests track down their fish. Alisal Lake also features an Orvis fly shop, and offers a diverse fleet of boats including bass boats, electric trolling boats, and other recreational boats. In addition, you’ll enjoy unlimited activities at the Alisal!
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 idea 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 …
The Alisal Guest Ranch is surrounded by diverse country roads and scenic vistas, making it one of the world’s most sought after cycling destination with access to it all year round!. Whether you are a beginner looking for some sightseeing along your ride or an advanced rider with the cycling being the focus we’ve got you covered. All of our routes from beginner to advanced give our guests the opportunity to experience the quintessential Santa Barbara Wine Country at your pace.