ALISAL Reviews

I've been to the ranch many times over the past 40 years. It's a great a place as it ever was although considerably more expensive.
The ranch is a great place for kids 8 and up, younger than that and the activities are limited. You will find food for even the picky eaters though which is a big plus.
Overall a great get away.

The epitome of a high class dude ranch.. tremendous food in the restaurant! Professionally managed with lots of fun activities!

Beautiful place. Rooms and restaurant could use some upgrading though. Great getaway.

Enjoyed my stay here, very relaxing and tranquil natural setting. Went on a wonderful horseback riding trip.
Cozy & charming houses.
I'm looking forward to returning.

The Alisal Guest Ranch is a warm, welcoming, home away from home experience. I have never been anywhere like it. It's beautiful. It's serene. And you can fill your days with a dozen activities or enjoy just doing nothing. Saving your energy to eat the AMAZING food!

Nothing to do, and what there is to do is boring and costly (except for pool which is free). My 3 kids hated this place. EVERYTHING costs extra. Shooting bb guns is $50 extra per person. Archery $50 per person. Fishing $25 to rent pole per person and no fish in lake. Mini motor boat $120. Horse trail $100 per person. Golf $125. All the events advertised (barbecue, kids art classes, bingo, rodeo, hay ride (6 bales of straw in the back of a pickup)) happen only once a week only and cost EXTRA. Even then, there is nothing to do.
The swimming pool was average but crowded and two black kids were throwing a football the length of the pool accidentally hitting people. There is no staff on hand anywhere, no lifeguard, no activities director. Another group of tatooed people were drunk and played loud music.
-The one ping pong table and pool table ALWAYS busy. Tennis was fine but dull. They offer croquet, bocci ball, horse shoes, corn hole bean bag game; cards, checkers, a water logged monopoly board, dull all of them and cheap to provide. Bike riding is $25 per person per hour on a public road w the occasional speeding car or truck racing by.
We hated it, did what there was to do, paid the extra fees willingly, but mostly stayed in our rooms and read. Counted the hours before 60 min drive back to SB airport. Don t even think of coming, and this from a regular nice active family with enthusiastic intentions.

My husband's company, instead of the traditional annual summer picnic, had a company rodeo & BBQ. The "Rodeo" was actually a live exhibition/demonstration/sampling of rodeo activities/events. It was entertaining, and we were comfortable enough in the low stadium seats, shaded from the hot sun. The BBQ buffet was excellent, maybe the best I've ever experienced. The ingredients seemed fresh and high quality, and the side dishes were prepared with skill and in the healthier side, e.g. a good assortment of roasted vegetables, and side salads that did not have gobs of mayonnaise/salt/fat. The delicious garlic bread was made on Dutch crunch bread, which was a great variation on the French bread or sourdough. The tri tip and chicken were expertly barbecued and perfectly seasoned. We had a live country band, and line dance instructors which were a lot of fun. The only negative thing about the dancing is the dance floor was right in front of the stage exposed to the full sun. It was quite bright and hot. My husband and I ended up dancing in a shady corner away from the actual dance floor. A covered dance floor and more trees would be nice. The port-a-potties were decent, but I always prefer a real restroom with running water, soap, etc. More shade, in general (people were vying for picnic table seats in he shade; there weren't enough umbrellas for how many tables there were) and especially for the dance floor, and nicer restroom facilities would change my rating from 4-star to 5-star.

This resort is 5 star top notch in every aspect. Take advantage of the round up rate in the winter...mid week ...all inclusive....this was my 6th stay at the ranch ...and i will for sure stay again ....Prepare to be pampered and catered to ...All staff are Above excellent

Everything is amazing! My husband and I played with reptiles and guinea pigs and bunnies! Horseback riding was offered but we didn't partake. The waitstaff is attentive and kind. The massuers and massuses were the best we've ever experienced. The room was beautiful! The bartender was on top of his game. I legitamately can't think of a single negative thing. I highly recommend.

Beautiful place offering family fun and great food. But the place has jacked their rates too high. $1500 per night for a family of four and then you will pay for horse back riding and golf. It was nice knowing you

Step back in time and become a cowboy while glamping in beautiful surroundings. Gotta love it!

Beautiful grounds and quaint, well maintained accommodations.

it is a great place for family's to come and enjoy a wonderful out doors , with something for every one in your family too enjoy

Amazing Venue! Great People, Great Vibes and Beautiful Natural Surroundings...whether serving as a private event location, a few rounds of golf or a family day on the trails horse riding...its pretty hard to beat Alisal. It has it All in One Venue! Love this Place!

Built in the 1940's (?) Look from the outside but totally renovated rooms on the inside. Very expensive and exclusive to guests. Enjoyed the visit but didn't stay there.

Good employees, well managed, and very warming and comfortable

We were at Alisal for a convention so we did not get to play a lot. The accommodations were top notch, the food excellent, and the staff were all great without exception. We went on one horseback ride and it was very nice. Professional and safe wranglers and the horses seemed great! Alisal is a beautiful property!

Fantastic experience at the ranch. Great attention to detail with their service.

great family retreat. leave your baggage and bring your luggage, because you are going to want to stay longer.

Driving through / along the Ranch makes you appreciate mother nature more: it provides beauty, food, and fresh air. You can see flowers, horses, cows, and hidden treasures.

Played tennis. Ate heartedly, swam and rode horses up to a lake. Pretty nice. Expensive.

Good serene atmosphere. A working ranch and good number of activities for all ages. No TV in the room which is a good thing. Food on the ranch is not the best. Beautiful lake and trials for nature lovers.

Food was Great Wait Staff was even better cant wait to go back..

Had wonderful experience with horses, archary, fishing and alot of activities. Very friendly staff and feels like home during stay. Beautiful views, nature, and large property! Awesome.... will visit again and again!!! Thanks Alisal!

Alisal Guest Ranch is a nice place to go for a special event. It's in Solvang California.. which is a nice little town. The rooms are ranch themed, fireplace, and closets, etc. The service is very good, but the food can be hit and miss.

What a wonderful experience on a yearly stay. Staff are very friendly and helpful and atmosphere is bliss.

The resort is fabulous. The resort and employees are amazing. They generally care about the guests and go over and above to accommodate your every need. The room was close to all the restaurants and the fireplace was the best feature of all. Would recommend to all for a relaxing and wonderful getaway.

Visited the ranch and river golf courses here for a tournament. The staff here is great, very welcoming and kind. The food is top notch and the courses are beautiful and very well maintained.

It's pretty nice, good service, but the food is not the best.

The amenities are fantastic food is great the people are all friendly here you will love it

An absolutely AMAZING resort for couples and families, corprate events and retreats alike. Full of activities for all levels and lifestyles. The menu and meals are well planned and delicious! We enjoyed EVERY minute. Thank you, Alisal

Here currently and having a fantastic and relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of being back home. First time we ve travelled all year long and are thankful to not have been disappointed. Alisal is a jem and food is thoughtful and amazing. Fantastic guest service by the GM and her gracious staff. Petting farm was def a highlight! Thanks Alisal!!!

Get out your popcorn and find a comfy place to sit, this is going to be a long review!

Our family visited The Alisal for the first time in July of 2019. We had a large group with family members of all ages. Our family needed four rooms. Our room (pictured) was a king suite, which we enjoyed very much. The couches in our room turned into twin sized beds. The mattresses were very comfortable. Our room was really clean and fully stocked with amenities including candles, a battery operated lantern, fan, safe, fresh water, a bottle of wine, iron/board, and refrigerator. Our suite had wonderful bathrooms with amazing towels and bath robes. Although we didn't miss having a television, the resort lacks microwaves and room phones (which did cause some issues). The wifi and cell reception were very spotty. Our room got really hot midday as well (despite leaving windows open all night), which wasn't great for naptime. Our family has a ton of allergies, and if you fall into this category, bring a Costco sized container of antihistamines. If wool is not your friend, I'd skip this resort. It's literally everywhere which made for a really hard week for my daughter.

Our family members had smaller suites than we had, and the floor plans were unique. There were large sink/vanity areas next to a bed, which felt kind of like the second bedroom was a part of the bathroom.

The housekeeping staff was wonderful. They offered a turn down service which is unique to the ranch.

The Alisal offers scheduled events daily for all ages, and we took advantage of many of the choices. We were disappointed at the nickel and diming of most activities and because of that we didn't go horseback riding or bike riding. The art room charged $15 to make a candle, which we thought was alot. Some of us did the ropes course which was really, really fun. It was HOT though and we weren't prepared for the swarms if bugs everywhere. Bring bug spray and water if you plan to go. The pool is wonderful with lots of shade, a poolside bar/restaurant, and towels to use. The billiard room was neat. Aside from the weird smell, the kids enjoyed ping-pong, foosball, and billiards. My son also enjoyed playing corn hole in the evening.

We thoroughly enjoyed dining in the main dining room. The breakfasts and dinners were delicious. Don't miss the banana stuffed french toast. The chef and restaurant crew were amazing. I did notice that the dishwashers could spend some time washing both sides of the plates, when I picked up a clean plate at breakfast the entire bottom was covered in old squishy food .

We really enjoyed the BBQ on the front lawn and at the rodeo. The buffet style food spread was vast. The rodeo was fun to watch and they offered caricature drawing (get there early to reserve the limited spots), cotton candy, snow cones, and a magic show. We also had a lovely family photo taken.

We have had some wonderful family vacations eating at restaurants which have taken food allergies seriously. The Alisal seriously lacked in this department. Many of the wait staff were unable to answer questions about ingredients. Frequently we ordered dairy free pancakes and they were served with butter. Luckily, we didn't have any severe reactions, but we would have if we weren't savy with this.

Alisal lake was nice. Many members in our family enjoyed the paddle boats and fishing boat. The dinner at the lake was hot though, and not a favorite for many. My son put cups of ice down his back because he was so hot. The "shuttles" to the lake are either by van or sitting in the back of a truck on hay, which felt ridiculously unsafe (even with the slower speed) as a mom with littles. The car seat technician in me cringed at this, and I didn't allow my youngest kids to go.

Overall, we enjoyed our family vacation. Because of our vast allergy issues, we won't make a return trip. However, I do recommend the Alisal as a fun family vacation spot.

The surrounding are spectacular. The accommodations are slightly rustic, but very enjoyable. The staff is extremely welcoming and helpful. The whole experience from horseback riding to fishing to lounging around the pool is always delightful.

Review of tennis courts only:
Great surface and the umbrella by the chair is very convenient to get some shade between points. The staff and coaches are very nice and helpful. This is also a great place to hit with a ball machine.

Family tradition of more than 25 years. This is my home for the first week of August.

We spent both our engagement weekend and wedding weekend at the Alisal Guest Ranch. They truly went well above and beyond our expectations in every way. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating and the picture perfect moments we spent horse back riding, at the lake or next to the fire couldn't have been more perfect. Thank you!

It was a great place to stay, but just a tip, you need to book your activities weeks in advance!!

We just returned from the most Ah-Mazing staycation at The Alisal Guest Ranch! I have visited the property many times but haven't had the pleasure of staying. I have to say it was above and beyond my expectations! Because it should be mentioned, the C19 safety adaptations that they have made for guest and team safety are extensive. Our room was tagged on the outside for having been sanitized, all major room amenities were bagged and sealed for sanitization as well as clearly marked, friendly reminders of the ground rules for everyone s safety. The staff and overall hospitality is TOP SHELF, I'm in hospitality and my standards are high. It was my birthday and I was wished happy birthday by many of them. The food is incredible, Chef Endy knocked it out of the park every time. The most tender of meats, fresh seafood, including lobster tail, fresh salads and grilled veggies. Their custom label wine is made by well known, top local producers. The grounds are beautiful and the ranch has SO much to do, we hiked twice and enjoyed a morning ride but we mainly relaxed at the pool which is just what the doctor ordered. We had planned to SUP or kayak on the lake but it was triple digits and we just didn't get to it early enough. We don t golf or play tennis but that is an option as well. Their texting communication was very responsive and made it easy to ask questions or secure arrangements. I have recommended The Alisal to many over the years but now having stayed, I can speak on it so much more. Thank you Alisal and team for making my birthday most memorable, delicious and relaxing. I won't ding you for the extra pounds I'm sure I brought home...! Take good care and we ll see you again soon

Great staff, great people, very friendly lots to do and see at Alisal and nearby areas. The breakfast, lunch, and dinners are excellent. I rode a horse for the first time on my way to get breakfast. It was an unforgettable experience. It was a beautiful very scenic and tranquil 30/45 minute ride and the wranglers are very friendly and knowledgeable. Best of all no TV.

Didn't get to explore much during my dinner, but it was a nice venue and the staff was great

I love this place, nowhere else can I feel so comfortable and at home within the hour of arriving. Keep up the good work Alisal!

A great place to relax with family and friends! Delicious food, fun activities, great access to nature

No other place can match the setting, relaxation, food and fun

Beautifully kept grounds, peaceful atmosphere and a genuinely caring staff to generations of families. The family pool, the summertime BBQs and of course, musical chairs for all the kids after dark!!!

Had a work event here and the service and food were fine, resort and location were great.

Is you want to be a cowboy, this is the place to come to.

Gorgeous place with excellent service. Would highly recommend.

Beautiful place.. Trail rides are fantastic. Must visit!

Perfect get away for our honeymoon. I cannot wait to get back there. Family friendly. All inclusive. So many activities. It was wonderful!!

Peaceful and decadent. Great service. Be prepared to pay up. The only problem we've found over the years are spoiled children and under aged drinking.

Beautiful old California ranch-style resort with great food

Alisal is a member of Dude Ranches Association and named one of the Top 50 Ranches. The rest of this review is cribbed from the web. Set on a 10,000-acre working cattle ranch, this rustic resort is 3 miles from downtown Solvang.

The colorful rooms and suites with Western-style art and furnishings have free WiFi, wood-burning fireplaces, minifridges and coffeemakers. Some have patios, living rooms or wet bars.

Breakfast and dinner in a fine-dining restaurant are included, and there are also 3 casual grills. Other amenities include 2 golf courses, tennis courts and a fitness center, plus a spa (surcharge), an outdoor pool and a hot tub. Activities range from horseback riding to lake fishing, to kids' cart rides pulled by miniature ponies (fees may apply).

26th year in a row with the family at Alisal. I think that pretty much says it all. One of the greatest places in Earth. Count yourself lucky if you can visit.

Amazing Ranch and Resort. From the rooms to the restaurant and service, above expectation. The riding, horses and wranglers all terrific. The scenery spectacular!! The Petting Zoo, an absolute must and so enjoyable, even for adults. Everything from grounds to animals is so well cared for. Can't wait to return.

My husband and I spent three relaxing days at Alisal Ranch and we loved every minute of it.

The very best reminder of life in a simpler time. This place is a Bucket List Destination!

Had an incredible time here :) Alisal is a one of a kind ranch and resort experience! Incredible food, people, horseback riding, and golf. Nothing can compare in the area.

Beautiful ranch with experienced staff. This place is absolutely beautiful I had wonderful horseback ride. The grounds are absolutely beautiful I was pleased with everything there

Beautiful course, great weather, my golf swing was ok.

Best place In the world. Great service. Perfect room and food is great. I will for ever be grateful for the memories.

It was my first time visiting the ranch and what an experience! The service was impeccable, the food/drinks were delicious, and the activities and entertainment were amazing. Definitely making this an annual family trip for years to come.

Very nice space, and very family friendly and a real ranch feel that will take you back to when your parents experienced ranch life, or at the least the joy and simplicity of being on a ranch resort. Highly recommend to visit during any weather season.