“What sets Alisal Ranch, Solvang, California, apart from other family reunion destinations is its unique ability to provide the same experience year after year,” David and Fran Morse of La Jolla, California, met at the Alisal for the past 33 years with their 17-member family.
Summertime reunion, same cottage, same dinner table, same server and enjoy the renewed friendships with ten other families over the years.
Several generations participate in a wide variety of activities. Alisal’s activity center entertains smaller family members under ten years old with arts and crafts, clay modeling, painting and wood sculpting.
A low elements Challenge Course focuses on knowledge and feedback from every group member, requiring participation and cooperation to achieve success. Adventure seekers entangle themselves in a “Spider Web” suspended by two trees. Family members travel from one platform to another, the objective is to cross the “bridge” without boards touching the ground.
The hang tight, high elements Challenge “Ropes Course,” is performed 30 feet above the ground. There is very low actual risk.
Celebrate family ties with specialized events; mini-Olympic competitions, fast acting foot and sack races, egg toss, volleyball. There is a petting zoo, arts and crafts, archery, group horseback riding, golf clinics and tennis lessons. The Alisal Activities Director can accommodate all family members regardless of age and group size.
The Equestrian center houses 100 quarter horses, 50 miles of trails, weekly hay wagon rides and breakfast rides. Alisal resident wrangler Jake Copass recites cowboy poetry. Singing cowboy Dave Stamey plays guitar during a hearty breakfast around the campfire at the historic Old Adobe. Alisal’s rodeo is a true west evening of team penning, barrel racing and calf roping.
Other popular options at Alisal include barbecue with live country Western music, alfresco seafood barbecue, authentic Western barbecue at Alisal Rodeo Arena with boot stompin’ wranglers, square and line dancing lessons.
Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort is in the Santa Ynez Valley, 150 miles north of Los Angeles, 300 miles south of San Francisco; 800-4-ALISAL; [email protected]; www.alisal.com
