The Simple Life at Alisal Ranch

I’m a city girl at heart, but a few days spent at Alisal Ranch & Resort has me craving the simple life. Alan, Harlee girl, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in the barnyard, hiking in the most beautiful green pastures, feeding chickens, and paddleboating around the lake. Alisal Ranch is located in Solvang, although it feels like much further away, and is the perfect getaway spot for families without being overwhelming.

All of the guest rooms are spacious, yet they don’t have phones or TVs which means you get out and explore. We’re not into TV so we spent each night in the pool pavilion making s’mores and friends. During the day, we were at the barn visiting the animals or hanging out at the lake. Trust me, you won’t miss the TV.

It was Harlee’s first time at a barn and seeing how excited she was to feed the chickens and pet the pig made my heart melt. I don’t know which one of us had more fun – I think we all had a blast feeding the chickens and then collecting eggs. We brought some eggs home with us and Harlee is so excited to have “eggies” for breakfast.

When we hit the lake, Harlee spotted the yellow paddleboat and was obsessed with getting on it. Although I thought she might get scared of being on the water, she’s a true water lover and enjoyed being on the lake. We spotted ducks, eagles, and paddleboarders.

The views in every direction were unreal and I loved waking up every morning enjoying my coffee while looking up at the rolling hills. I would spot a horse or two and catch up on emails (real life: work doesn’t stop for me). In the late afternoons, Alan and I enjoyed wine on our patio while Harlee played shuffle board with the older kids.

In the evenings, Alan and I enjoyed an adult dinner and it was delicious (we used a babysitting services). We had heard so many great things about Alisal, but no one had mentioned the restaurant. From the service to the various dinner and wine options, we loved every meal we had at the resort.

On our second night at Alisal, Alan and I agreed that we want to come back again with Harlee as well as my family so the kids can enjoy the ranch in all its glory. Alan wants to hit up BBQ Camp, so I think I’ll treat him for a getaway for his birthday, but I really think it’ll be a gift for me since he’ll be fully versed on a good BBQ after the camp!