Alisal Ranch

I came to Alisal for my 50th birthday and can I just say it will be one of my favorite places I’ve been to in a really long time! The moment you enter onto the ranch you know immediately you aren’t ever going to want to leave! The staff is amazing and the rooms were just perfect! There was no detail left unnoticed. We as a family have decided we want to make it a yearly tradition to go back again! Both adults and kids had so much fun..from our horse back rides, the pancake breakfast, to happy hour at one of the bars, the list goes on and on! Thank you Alisal for making my birthday so special! xoxo ~Danielle

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Alisal Ranch is a difficult place to review because it is, in many ways, a five-star resort. The property is absolutely spectacular—10,500 acres of beautiful California countryside, a 100-acre lake, wonderful horseback riding, outstanding food, and some of the best service we’ve experienced anywhere. Every staff member genuinely cared and could not have been more accommodating. We visited with two of our grandchildren, and that’s where our expectations didn’t quite match reality. Alisal is a very traditional ranch, and there are a lot of rules. We completely understand why—they’re there for safety around the horses, livestock, and the ranch itself. But if you’re looking for a more relaxed, go-with-the-flow family vacation, you may find the structure limiting. We love horseback riding, yet it took considerable effort to arrange rides that worked for us, and we ultimately booked a private ride. We also loved the lake—paddleboarding was a highlight—but it closes at 4:00 p.m., which felt early, especially on hot summer afternoons when it’s the perfect place to be. The ranch also maintains an old-school atmosphere. Jackets are expected at dinner, and many traditions have been preserved, which some guests will absolutely love. The cowboy barbecue was fantastic, the food throughout our stay was excellent, and the service was consistently exceptional. If you appreciate tradition, structure, and a well-run luxury ranch experience, Alisal Ranch may very well deserve five stars. For our family, we were hoping for a little more flexibility, so it landed at three stars. We left admiring the ranch and the people who run it, even if it wasn’t quite the vacation experience we had envisioned.

Simply magical on so many levels! The 10k acre property is filled with fun activities for families of all ages - plenty of room to spread out and relax without feeling like you are at a resort. Every detail, from live music at most meals to prime cut steaks to service-focused staff, makes for a memorable getaway. The riding options and horses are exceptional. Highly recommend!

Alisal Ranch is stunning. I've never experienced anything like it. We were fortunate to visit shortly after the first rainfall of the season in late fall, and everything was green. The majority of the staff are lovely and go above and beyond in terms of service and friendliness. We stayed in a superior cottage and I felt the rooms were better in person than what I saw online. The food is very good, with plenty of options. They were just starting to put up Christmas decorations which were really beautiful. We hope to visit again!

This place is great for kids and adults. 5 stars to Christina the bartender/ice cream maker and another 5 stars to Julian at the crafts room with the kids.