Archive for the ‘San Ysidro Ranch’ Category

Some places just naturally overflow with romance. Take the San Ysidro Ranch in beautiful Santa Barbara.

It was on this charming property that Lawrence Oliver and Vivien Leigh exchanged vows in the garden, and where John and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned peacefully away from the public eye. Years after those happy events, the ranch remains a popular destination for lovebirds and recently topped Travel + Leisure’s list of top resorts in the U.S. and Canada.

Recommended Resort:  San Ysidro Ranch. Located in Montecito, this perfectly nestled getaway sits on 500 acres between the San Ysidro Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Guests are less than an hour from the Santa Ynez wine country and only minutes from downtown Santa Barbara. There are 41 individually decorated cottages on the property, most with king-size beds, patios and fireplaces. Recently renovated suites and cottages feature hot tubs on private outdoor patios with outdoor rain showers, hand-cut stone or Old World masonry fireplaces, radiant-heated bathroom floors, flat-screen TVs and hand-selected antique furnishings. Renowned as the memorable cottage where John and Jackie Kennedy stayed on their West Coast honeymoon in 1953, the Kennedy Cottage consists of two master suites, attractively appointed with king-size beds and fireplaces as well as two luxurious bathrooms with separate tub and shower and radiant-heated floors. The living room features a third fireplace and is highlighted by fine antiques and original artwork. Classic French doors lead to an expansive deck featuring views of the Pacific Ocean and an upper deck features a large raised hot tub.

Check In:  900 San Ysidro Lane, Santa Barbara. 888-ROSEWOOD, sanysidroranch.com.

Check Out:  In-Room Spa Services. From massages to facial care, the resort offers premier pampering in the privacy of your own cottage. Perhaps you and your mate will be tempted by the Ranch Romance, where your therapist will scent the air with a fine jasmine mist, light candles and play music to add to the pleasure of this relaxing Swedish massage with warm oil.

Don’t Miss:  The Stonehouse Restaurant. Chef John Trotta brings regional cuisine to the table using vegetables and herbs from his own private garden. Housed in a 19th century citrus packing house, the restaurant exudes rustic elegance. Ask for a table on the ocean view deck and enjoy your dinner al fresco next to a wood burning fireplace and the stars above.

Want more honeymoon ideas? Check out our other Mini-Moon and Honeymoon Blog Posts!

Blog Post by Always a Bridesmaid Columnist Darren Elms.

Photos courtesy of San Ysidro Ranch.

Subscribe to the Real Weddings Magazine Blog!