How to Take a Digital Detox at Alisal Ranch

Less screen time. More ranch time.

When was the last time you went an entire morning without checking your phone? Even on vacation, it can be hard to leave emails, notifications and the endless scroll behind.

A digital detox vacation does not have to mean turning everything off for a week. It can be as simple as putting your phone away for part of the day and choosing how you want to spend that time. At Alisal Ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley, you can trade screen time for horseback rides, quiet mornings and a few days at your own pace.

Fall and winter bring a quieter rhythm to the ranch. What might a day away from your usual routine look like? Let these times inspire you, then make the day your own.

7:30 a.m. | Wake up slowly

With no TVs in our guest cottages, the first thing you see can be the light outside your window instead of a screen. Take your coffee onto the porch, linger over breakfast and leave your phone behind when you are ready to head out,

9:00 a.m. | Find your rhythm on horseback

Follow a trail beneath the sycamores and take in the hills at a horse’s pace. With fresh air and the sound of hooves beneath you, it becomes easier to focus on where you are instead of what is waiting in your inbox.

11:30 a.m. | Take the long way to the lake

Make your way to Alisal Lake for a little time by the water. Cast a line, take a boat out or simply find a place to sit and watch the day go by. There is no need to fill every hour.

2:00 p.m. | Follow your curiosity

Walk a trail through Deer Canyon, play a round of golf or settle in with the book you have been meaning to finish. A digital detox at the ranch can be as active or as restful as you want it to be.

5:30 p.m. | Come back together

As the afternoon fades, return to your cottage and get ready for dinner. Share stories from the day over a meal, then linger by the fire a little longer. The photos can wait until tomorrow. For now, you are right where you need to be.

Make a little room for your own Ranch Reset

You do not have to turn off your phone for your entire stay to feel a difference. Check in when you need to, then give yourself permission to put it away again. You may find more time for the landscape, the people beside you and whatever the day brings.

This fall and winter, The Ranch Reset offers 25% savings on select Sunday through Thursday stays from October through January.

Ready for a few days at your own pace? Plan your Ranch Reset.

Offer valid on select dates for new reservations only. See offer page for details.