Ranch-dipped
San Ysidro Ranch (Santa Barbara)
GETAWAYS • Santa Barbara
The following post appeared in a recent edition of FOUND LA. Want more Los Angeles in your life? Subscribe to FOUND LA, with new issues dropping each Thursday.
As spring and summer approach, seemingly everyone will jet off to vacation destinations across Europe and beyond. But for me, nothing could be more sublime than an escape to the San Ysidro Ranch. Recently, I was fortunate enough to experience three nights of bliss there during the holiday season. Now, I daydream about long summer nights on the grounds.
It’s easy to settle in at The Ranch. All rooms are private bungalows, dotted around the lush property, each featuring a stone fireplace, clawfoot tub, outdoor shower, hot tub, and spacious patio covered in bougainvillea. But what really got me were the wallpapers, a woven floral design with delicate fringed flowers in the main living area, and an exquisite, hand-painted floral design in the bathroom.
To alleviate the sticker shock of booking a stay, it helps to know the room rate includes three meals a day at any of the hotel’s restaurants or through in-room dining. We loved easing into the day by having breakfast delivered to our patio each morning. The menus are well done, but not extensive, so if you plan to take advantage of the all-inclusive dining, three nights feels like a sweet spot. (Yes, the seafood tower and the caviar service are included.) For a special dinner, reserve the Old Adobe private room, the resort’s oldest property structure, dating back to 1825.
The landscaping and grounds are the hotel’s best feature, and nothing like I’ve ever experienced before. Hummingbirds are everywhere, constantly darting between rosemary lawns, big beautiful trees, famous rose garden set against the mountain vista, and the gorgeous herb garden frequented by the chefs. The pool has views of the Pacific Ocean and also features an impressive mini golf course, bocce court, and a lovely open-air restaurant, perfect for a late leisurely lunch.
The salon and spa are charming but intimate, so book treatments in advance (and note that the spa doesn’t have a sauna or private relaxation lounges to wait before or after your service).
To make an incredible situation even better, the hotel is extremely dog-friendly. They offer a “Pampered Pets Program,” which will ensure that your cottage has the proper pet bedding, bowls, and a peanut-butter-adorned welcome treat (to say nothing of the special in-room dining menu specifically designed for pets). The Ranch is also connected to more than 17 miles of dog-friendly hiking trails up the San Ysidro Canyon, which our pampered pup, Scout, made the most of every day. –Sarah Jackson
→ San Ysidro Ranch (Santa Barbara) • 900 San Ysidro Ln • Rates from $2695/wknd night.