Airport Commuter Black SUV + Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chauffeur for the historic 1946 guest ranch on a 10,500-acre working cattle estate near Solvang — 73 Western-style cottages, two 18-hole golf courses, a 100-acre spring-fed lake, and 50 miles of riding trails, the ranch counterpart to Mattei's Tavern and AC's second Santa Ynez Valley anchor.
Alisal Ranch at 1054 Alisal Road is the historic guest ranch on a 10,500-acre working cattle estate just south of Solvang in the Santa Ynez Valley. Opened in 1946 and family-owned for nearly a century — a Historic Hotels of America member, recently reimagined as Alisal Ranch — it offers 73 intimate Western-style guest cottages and an all-inclusive stay with breakfast and dinner included. Its recreation spans two 18-hole championship golf courses (the on-property Ranch Course and the nearby River Course), 50 miles of horseback riding trails across the working cattle ranch, a 100-acre spring-fed private lake (Alisal Lake) for fishing, sailing, and kayaking, seven tennis courts, a pool, and a spa. The library is where Clark Gable married Lady Sylvia Ashley in 1949. Alisal Ranch is the historic ranch counterpart to Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos — the two together deepening AC's Santa Ynez Valley wine country.
73 Western cottages across 10,500 acres. Intimate ranch-style cottages, all-inclusive with breakfast and dinner included — a working cattle ranch and resort in one.
Two 18-hole golf courses. The on-property Ranch Course and the nearby River Course — championship golf in the valley.
Horseback riding + the 100-acre lake. 50 miles of riding trails across the cattle ranch + the spring-fed Alisal Lake for fishing, sailing, and kayaking.
Tennis, pool, spa. Seven tennis courts, a pool, a spa, and Western ranch programming — a Historic Hotels of America member.
Solvang (5 min). The 1911 Danish heritage village — windmills + bakeries + tasting rooms + the Hans Christian Andersen Museum.
Los Olivos + Mattei's Tavern (15 min). 50-plus tasting rooms + AC's Mattei's Tavern (1886 stagecoach tavern, Auberge Resorts).
The four Santa Ynez AVAs. Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir + Ballard Canyon Syrah + Happy Canyon Bordeaux + the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.
The Sideways (2004) wine trail. The Hitching Post + Foxen + the valley tasting rooms of the film.
Lake Cachuma + Chumash heritage. The reservoir + the Chumash valley + the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash.
Santa Barbara + Montecito (45 min S). Over the San Marcos Pass — AC's Four Seasons Biltmore + Rosewood Miramar + San Ysidro Ranch.
SBA Santa Barbara Municipal (closest commercial). 45 minutes south via CA-154 over the San Marcos Pass + US-101 (United + American + Alaska + Delta + Southwest).
SBP San Luis Obispo County Regional. 1:30 north via US-101.
LAX Los Angeles International. 2:15 south via US-101.
SMX Santa Maria. 45 minutes northwest + regional.
SFO San Francisco. 5:00 north via US-101 for the multi-day Pacific Coast Highway tour.
Alisal Ranch is a historic guest ranch on a 10,500-acre working cattle estate just south of Solvang, opened in 1946 and family-owned for nearly a century (a Historic Hotels of America member). It offers 73 intimate Western-style guest cottages and an all-inclusive stay with breakfast and dinner included, plus two 18-hole championship golf courses, 50 miles of horseback riding trails, a 100-acre spring-fed lake, seven tennis courts, a pool, and a spa. Its library is where Clark Gable married Lady Sylvia Ashley in 1949, and Doris Day was a regular guest. Alisal Ranch pairs with Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos to deepen AC's Santa Ynez Valley sub-region - the working-ranch heritage and the 1886 stagecoach-tavern resort - and AC chauffeurs guests between the two, Solvang, the wine-tasting towns, and the Santa Barbara coast with a Black SUV waiting through the day.
Alisal Ranch spreads across a 10,500-acre working cattle estate. Accommodations: 73 intimate Western-style guest cottages, with an all-inclusive nightly rate that includes breakfast and dinner. Golf: two 18-hole championship courses - the on-property Ranch Course and the nearby River Course. Horseback riding: 50 miles of trails across the working cattle ranch, with guided rides and breakfast rides. The lake: a 100-acre spring-fed private lake (Alisal Lake) for fishing, sailing, and kayaking. Plus seven tennis courts, a pool, a spa, and Western ranch programming. The ranch traces its land back to 1810 and opened as a guest ranch in 1946, a piece of Old California hospitality in the heart of the wine country.
From Alisal Ranch: Solvang, the 1911 Danish heritage village with its windmills, bakeries, and wine-tasting rooms, is 5 minutes; Los Olivos, with 50-plus tasting rooms and AC's Mattei's Tavern, is 15 minutes; and the Santa Ynez Valley's four AVAs - the Sta. Rita Hills (cool-climate Pinot Noir), Ballard Canyon (Syrah), Happy Canyon (Bordeaux varietals), and the Santa Ynez Valley AVA - frame the valley. The Sideways (2004) film wine trail (the Hitching Post, Foxen, and the valley's tasting rooms), Lake Cachuma, and the Chumash heritage of the valley are nearby. Over the San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara and Montecito are about 45 minutes south, where AC's Four Seasons Biltmore, Rosewood Miramar Beach, and San Ysidro Ranch anchor the coast. AC builds a Santa Ynez Valley wine + ranch + Santa Barbara coast chauffeur retainer.
SBA Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is the closest commercial airport, 45 minutes south via CA-154 over the San Marcos Pass and US-101 (served by United, American, Alaska, Delta, and Southwest). LAX is 2:15 south via US-101; SBP San Luis Obispo is 1:30 north; and SFO is 5:00 north by the Pacific Coast Highway. Alisal Ranch pairs with AC's Mattei's Tavern in Los Olivos for a two-stop Santa Ynez Valley cluster, and with the Santa Barbara coast anchors (the Four Seasons Biltmore, Rosewood Miramar Beach, San Ysidro Ranch, and Belmond El Encanto) 45 minutes south. It is also an inland stop on the multi-day California coast tour that runs up Highway 1 through Pismo Beach, Cambria, Big Sur, and Carmel toward the Bay Area. AC positions vehicles at SBA, LAX, and SFO for the valley and the Central Coast.