At a glance
San Ysidro Ranch is a five-star historic cottage resort on a 550-acre estate in the Montecito foothills, above Santa Barbara.
San Ysidro Ranch is one of California’s oldest resorts, open since the 1890s. Its history is the draw: JFK and Jackie honeymooned here, and Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier married on the grounds. Its 41 cottages line the creek, each with a fireplace, private hot tub, and outdoor shower.
Dining is all-inclusive. The Stonehouse, in a 19th-century citrus packing house, holds a Wine Spectator Grand Award, with the casual Plow & Angel and a speakeasy alongside. Spa treatments come to your cottage, and there is a heated pool, a putting course, and 17 miles of private trails.
It is famously pet-friendly, the kind of place people book to disappear. It suits couples, gay or straight, on a honeymoon or anniversary, and makes a romantic wedding venue. Santa Barbara airport is 15 minutes away, with Butterfly Beach close by.
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- Historic cottage resort on a 550-acre Montecito estate
- All-inclusive dining at the award-winning Stonehouse
- 41 private cottages with fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs
Accommodation
Romantic Garden Hideaway
The Romantic Garden Hideaways are around 475 sq. ft. They all open onto landscaped courtyards surrounded stunning gardens. Private hallways lead to each hideaway.
All Hideaways come with four poster beds, nespresso machines, stone fireplaces and 55″ HDTVs.
Romantic Ocean Hideaway
The Romantic Garden Hideaways average 575 sq. ft. and they come with views of the Channel Islands and the Pacific Ocean. You can also opt for the Romantic Canyon Hideaway – at 900 sq. ft. these are the largest properties.
Cottages
There are 42 cottages on that line the windy hillside creek of San Ysidro. These bungalow style properties are individually decorated in great style. They come with outdoor hot tubs, rain showers and hand picked antique furnishings.
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Wellness
There is no large spa building; instead, treatments come to you, in your cottage or out on its private deck, from deep-tissue massage to facials. Each cottage already has its own outdoor hot tub. Elsewhere on the estate there is a heated pool, a fitness room, and a putting course, and 17 miles of private hiking trails climb into the hills behind. The setting, gardens, and quiet do much of the work.
Dining
Dining is included in the rate and is a destination in itself. The Stonehouse, in an 1889 stone citrus-packing house, is the flagship, with a Wine Spectator Grand Award, a 12,000-bottle cellar, and an ocean-view terrace. The Plow & Angel is the relaxed option, known for its mac and cheese and ribs, and the Speakeasy below pours 1920s-style cocktails as a Forbes Star Bar. You can also dine poolside or in your cottage.
Location
San Ysidro Ranch spreads over 550 acres in the foothills above Montecito, the wealthy enclave just east of Santa Barbara, with the Santa Ynez Mountains behind and the Pacific and Channel Islands below. The cottages are set far apart across gardens, citrus groves, and oaks, so the place feels private even when full. Butterfly Beach is about ten minutes down the hill, with Montecito’s village, Santa Barbara, and the wine country all close by. The airport is 15 minutes away.
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