Summer Camp for Families? A Hotel Review: Alisal Ranch

Horseback riding is one of the main draws at Alisal Ranch

Some of the beautiful horses we were able to ride at Alisal Ranch

We had the great fortune of staying at Alisal Ranch, a luxury dude ranch set just over the Santa Ynez mountains from Santa Barbara, with our parents and children this June. The plethora of family-friendly activities made this a wonderful multigenerational family trip, the best evidence of which is the many return guests who make the annual pilgrimage to Alisal Ranch. Many of whom have been visiting for decades. While this was our first visit to Alisal Ranch, we were so charmed by the gorgeous setting and array of fun activities, that we’re hopeful we will also be return guests in the not-so-distance future. Bonus: While Santa Barbara was suffering from severe June gloom with chilly temps for most of the day, Alisal Ranch was sunny and warm during our June visit. Read on for our full review of what it’s like to stay at Alisal Ranch.

Overall (8.5 of 10)

The Wednesday-right rodeo at Alisal Ranch.

Movie night at Alisal Ranch is always a hit with kids and adults

ACTIVITIES (9 of 10)

The opportunities for fun here are endless, as evidenced by the two-page flyer that is provided every evening for the following days activities. Swimming, golf, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, boating and rodeo were the highlights for most guests. It really would take weeks to be able to do everything the ranch provides, which is why this is such a great option for multi-generational trips. There is something for everyone at Alisal Ranch.

Fishing (and catching!) off the dock at Alisal Ranch

Rooms (7 of 10)

The rooms at Alisal Ranch differ greatly depending on when or if they have last been updated. We stayed in a beautifully updated suite with a comfy King bed and fireplace. The grandparents opted for a one-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom suite with pull-out bunk beds in the living room that was somewhat dated. The kids, however, loved the bunk beds, which certainly made up for some more rustic finishings. All of the rooms in our section opened up to a beautiful lawn where kids played all day and well into the evening. The bottom line is that you’re not coming to Alisal Ranch for the rooms as you’ll be far too busy with all the activities to spend much time in them

SERVICE (7 of 10)

While the service we received was friendly and personable, there seemed to be some communication issues that plagued our experience from the beginning. Some were little things, like not adding softdrinks to our room, but others were much larger like forgetting to tell the stables we had signed up for a horseback ride we had arranged our day around. There is definitely lots of room for improvement in the service area, but this place has such a loyal following, I’m not sure they care.

BBQ dinner after Wednesday night rodeo at Alisal Ranch

LOCATION (8 of 10)

Alisal Ranch is located on over 10,000 acres near Solvang, California. The easiest way to get here is flying into Santa Barbara and driving 45 minutes over the Santa Ynez mountains to the ranch. The dammed lake allows for numerious recreational activities, as well as a gorgeous backdrop for horseback rides. The rolling hills surrounding the property also make for some great hiking and mountain biking opportunities.

Riders enjoying views of the lake at Alisal Ranch

FOOD (9 of 10)

One of the biggest surprises of Alisal Ranch was the quality of the food. Since we were staying on an all-inclusive package, we weren’t sure what to expect from the wood, but it was outstanding. The first clue perhaps should have been that men are required to wear jackets for dinner seatings inside. The dinner menu was varied and all of the food our party tried was hearty and delicious, including a starter, entree, and dessert. The breakfast was also hearty and included both a buffet and made-to-order entrees like eggs benedict, omlets, etc. I ordered both the breakfast and dinner version of their chicken fried steak (when in Rome, right!?) and both were delicious.

There are also several options to eat outside of the main dining room. For lunch one day we dined by the lake while we fished. There were two BBQ sandwich options that were cooked direclty on the grill.

Beef tartare starter at Alisal Ranch

We also ate at their poolside restaurant for lunch as well. This restaurant is probably the least-updated facility at the ranch, but the food was tasty. Think casual pool fare, like burgers, hot dogs and fries.

One morning we also had the pleasure of taking a horseback ride to breakfast at a creekside location next to a historic adobe hut. Our kids opted to take a hayride instead. The breakfast spread there was impressive with pancakes made to order (and tossed onto plates much to everyone’s delight) and an expansive buffet.

On Wednesdays, there is a charming dinner set up by the rodeo grounds with a full BBQ buffet, face painting for the kids, live music, line dancing, and even a musician. I would highly recommend booking Wednesday night just to attend the rodeo/dinner.

The BBQ after the Rodeo at Alisal Ranch

Endless fun for kids at Alisal Ranch

KID’S CLUB/ACTIVITIES (9 of 10)

The highlight of Alisal Ranch is the incredible assortment of activities for kids of all ages. We traveled with our 4 and 7 year-old, and there were so many things to keep them busy that they didn’t come close to enjoying all the resort has to offer children. There was a daily kid’s club that offered traditional activities like tie-dye and an array of arts and crafts. There is also a barn/petting zoo area and pony rides for young children. For older children, there are more advanced horseback riding opportunities, including an opportunity to train for and perform in the Wednesday night rodeo. For any adults looking for a date night, the evenings also offer kid’s camps. After dinner there are always smore’s available and some evenings even feature a movie night with popcorn.

Enjoying the pool at Alisal Ranch

Riders gearing up for the rodeo at Alisal Ranch

WOULD WE STAY AGAIN?

Absolutely, faster than you can say yee-haw. We would easily trade the luxuries associated with a 5-star resort for the charm and family-fun this beautiful property provides.

Main dining area at Alisal Ranch