Santa Barbara Resorts:
San Ysidro Ranch

Here is an elegant, cozy retreat, is nestled on ten acres in the hills of Montecito, a tiny enclave of secluded estates.  The resort sits high on a hill with breathtaking views of the Pacific coast and of natural growth all around.

In fact, the experience of San Ysidro begins before you reach The Ranch.  It begins on the narrow winding roads that lead there, where flowers overflow the flower beds lining the road, and trees form a natural canopy:

And by the time you turn into San Ysidro Ranch itself, my goodness, every sense you have is assaulted with beauty.  Flowers and art blend with the natural environment at every turn, creating a fairy world.

The Hacienda greets you upon your arrival, bursting with red bougainvillea and pink begonias.

When the gracious host has welcomed you, you will return to your car to head toward your very private cottage.  Your guide will run ahead of you, showing you your cottage, and just where to park, and with a smile will bring you wood or ice or whatever else you might want.  It is quite a welcome!

San Ysidro Ranch is an intimate, personal retreat.  There are only 41 cottages.  Each is unique, with its very own personality, and its own name.  We were delighted to discover Oak Grove cottage, the one we stayed in several years ago.  When you visit, your name will be placed on the sign. Do come in and visit!

Yes! This is the Oak Grove living room, very much as we remember it.   The TV is a recent addition, but the gently vaulted ceilings, the patio with the private hot tub, the stone fireplace, each piece of art so perfectly selected ... yes, it is all still there.

The patios are all designed so that each one is totally private, looking only onto the majestic firs and oaks that grace the property.

It is truly no wonder that Winston Churchill retreated here to write his memoires ... nor that John F. Kennedy took his lovely bride Jacqueline Bouvier here for their honeymoon.

For those wanting a bit more activity, San Ysidro Ranch will of course take you to any of the dozens of delights in the area, such as Butterfly Beach for a picnic, or the nearby vineyards for wine tasting, or to the Montecito Country Club for tennis or golf.

You might also enjoy a stroll or a moment of reading in one of the many peaceful corners on the property:

A secluded bench in a secluded corner, surrounded by lavender and blue and white blossoms.

Lovely floral bushes create a natural arbor.  The benches overlook a wide lawn, then the magnificent Pacific Ocean in the distance.

We were sorry to leave. But we gathered up our wandering lion, who had found a sunny perch, and slowly drove back down the hill. We knew that we had to return soon.

Visit the Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch

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