I realize my wife loves this place and has many wonderful memories but all I can say as I sit here in our $315 room is, "Huh?!?!" Circle Bar B is a dude ranch. It's a destination in its own right. If you come here to hang out a couple of days, ride horses, sit by the pool, and basically unplug from the real world, then you're seriously going to love this place. My expectations, however, were different. While I'm all for "unplugging", that wasn't what I had in mind when we came here. I figured we'd spend a couple of nights at a nice hotel, maybe hang by the pool for a few hours, and spend the rest of the time touring the wineries or hanging out in Santa Barbara. If that's what you have in mind, then you'll probably feel like I did and think that Circle Bar B is way overpriced because the nightly rate is inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner. You cannot *just* pay for the room. Kind of a bummer... The rooms are ok... Mattresses suck. Bathrooms have a pretty big shower with very hot water (a nice plus) but fairly low water pressure. There are no TVs or phones in the rooms and you probably won't get cell phone coverage either. You'll come pretty close to being "off the grid." As for the meals? Breakfast is served at 8:30 AM and dinner is served at 7 PM. You don't get to pick what you eat. You grab a plate and they dish out your food and you eat at a large table, family style. If you're not all into talking to perfect strangers, that can be a little bit awkward. The first night you're there, you'll probably sit next to Jim Brown, 2nd generation owner of the Circle Bar B. Ask him about Ronald Reagan and I assure you he can tell you fascinating tales about our ex-President. Breakfast comes with Orange Juice and water. Dinner is served with Lemonade and water. You can order wine or any drink at the bar, but beware! I ordered two glasses of "Coastal Vines" red wine the first night here and I had a monstrous headache the next day. This is probably $5 wine at best. You've been warned! They have a nice pool and a jacuzzi. My wife and I personally did not do any horseback riding. The pool is not heated but was certainly warm enough for me to jump in. Granted, this was on June 21st... The Jacuzzi is nice and the water pressure is awesome, but you have to ask them to heat up the water if you're going to jump in the hot tub during the day. I think they only typically warm it up in the evening. In my opinion this place is not worth the price... I don't feel like I got my value's worth here for $315/night. I think I might come back if I were to make this a destination where I park the car for 3 days, but if I intend to do some sightseeing and eat some or all meals out, then I probably would pick a different place. read more

Circle Bar B Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Goleta, California

Wow! What an incredible time at Circle Bar B! The grounds are gorgeous and all the staff is so friendly! My boyfriend and I arrived early and got a few drinks at the bar. What a beautifully western and rustic place. You truly feel like you have escaped reality for the time you are there. The ride was breathtaking! Our guide was extremely helpful and made our experience great. We definitely will be going back! read more

Circle Bar B Ranch - What an amazing time at Circle Bar B! A great getaway and activity for all to enjoy! Elvis and I had a great ride! - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Goleta, California

Definitely a once in a lifetime adventure. If you don't love the wilderness/cowboy atmosphere 1 time is enough. Pricey weekend to ride horses, buffet food, and swim..... Had to take my son he enjoyed it and the staff were stupendous. Absolutely NO reception here, so be ready to disconnect from civilization before you check in. Bring snacks for the room because if it's not chow time you aint eating. read more

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I just spent two wonderful nights here, recharging my batteries by getting away from the city. Located 3.5 miles off the 101, the ranch is nestled among beautiful rolling hills and greenery. My one bedroom cottage was clean and comfotable. I had the luxury of a coffee maker and TV... with plenty of cable channels. No WiFi... no phone reception, but I didn't care, and the ranch makes it quite clear on their website and upon arrival not to expect the same amenities you are used to in the city. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Brown, the 89 year old owner, and his lovely family, who now run the ranch and stables. Loved hearing his stories while we sat at the bar in the evenings. The staff were super friendly and helpful, and I hated to leave at the end of my stay. I went for a horseback ride in the early morning air with a private guide. The hills were still green and lush and some water was still running off the rugged cliffs. A lovely experience. If you are looking for a 5 star hotel with endless amenities... don't go. If you want a true ranch experience with lovely people and a rustic atmosphere, you've found a lovely experience with this family run ranch. I came home refreshed and content. read more

I went up on a Tuesday right before Labor Day weekend... Took my 11 year old son. I wanted the two of us to get away and enjoy the woods, horses and really unplug from the hustle and bustle of the city life. To be honest, when we first got there, it was empty... A couple of people hanging out, so we looked at each other and then our phones that had 'no service' and discussed the possibility of leaving a day early... We are very social people, at that point I think the thought of entertaining ourselves was overwhelming lol. We walked around and found game rooms which were full of things to do, along with lots of board games... As soon as dinner rolled around, we met all of the other guests... Some of which came from across the pond, if you know what I mean (England). We ended up getting to know more guests and had the time of our lives, playing board games and doing lots of horseback riding. The rooms were very clean and very comfortable. In fact the entire property was very well kept up! The horses are very calm... I would recommend doing two rides a day unless you have other plans... Do a morning ride and then an evening ride, it is just so much fun to be on the horses... To see the landscape, it is so beautiful. The family certainly has done an amazing job keeping up on everything... Their guides are very nice and comical :) There is a beautiful beach about 5-7 minutes down the road from the ranch... I'd recommend checking it out at sunset or sunrise (if you're not on the horses). We will definitely be making this in the annual trip for us... Extremely and highly recommend the ranch and the horseback riding!! read more

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This review is so conflicted for me since there were so many positives that came with the negatives but, at the end of the day, the negatives won out. I want to give all the positives first, before I say what eventually led me to settling on such a low star review. First and foremost, the staff here are amazing! From the moment we checked in to when we left, every interaction we had with everyone on staff here was extremely positive, warm, friendly and helpful. Shout out to Kale and the other front office staff, who helped us make sure we had access to milk for our baby, even in the middle of the night, if we needed. Also to the bartender, sorry I never got your name, but you were awesome and (as bad as this may sound) our baby loved hanging out at the bar! This place also provided meals and shout out to the kitchen staff for the awesome food! We absolutely loved everything we had while we stayed there! My wife is still dreaming about the cheesy mashed potatoes and I'm still thinking about the delicious tri-tip. Our biggest issue, and the one that really drives this review was how poor quality the room we stayed in was. I don't mind spending what we did on our weekend at the ranch, but I think there are some basics that should be provided for: 1- Our AC didn't work when we got there and the room was stiffing hot. Some of the friendly staff came to check it out and they got it to turn on but it never got very cold in the room the entire time we were there. My wife and I prefer to the low 70's and I doubt this room got much below 80. 2- The spiders were pissed that we were hanging out in their room. We must have killed about 6 spiders the first night, and after that it was hard to notice the spiders because we were too occupied trying to avoid all of the ants. This bothered us a lot because we had our baby crawling around and playing in the room and we worried that he'd get bit by a spider or crawl into a path of ants and get covered in them. There was a can of ant spray we found on the second day, but once again, in a room with a baby- were not going to spray the room down with chemicals. 3- The carpet was old, starting to pull up and dirty. Maybe wouldn't have been a big problem for us in the past, but definitely noticeable when your baby gets filthy from crawling around on it for a while. To piggy back on the spiders issue- there were cobwebs everywhere. It seemed like maybe that room hadn't been used in a while and nobody went in and cleaned up again before checking it out to us. 4- Maybe this isn't a room problem, but still a negative. The FLIES were an absolute nightmare. The ranch is located in the beautiful hills of Santa Barbara county and the weather was great for sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful surroundings, but I couldn't stand being outside for too long because we were being harassed nonstop by a swarm of flies. I know this aspect isn't completely fair to blame on the ranch, but you seriously need to know to expect this if you come during the warm weather months. I hope for everyone else that weekend's sake, that they had a much more positive experience in their rooms. Maybe it's just room #6 that has all of these problems? I don't know for sure. I heard from my wife other people had experienced other issues in their rooms, but I don't know if they were all that bad for them. Overall, I can't say that the amazing staff and food is enough to convince me to want to come back to this place, which is an absolute shame, because everything else outside the room was so nice and positive. read more

The Circle Bar B was great! From Jack who great making the appointments and the lead there for the ranch to our guide Jimmy who gave the best tour of the mountains. We would truly recommend this place to all who are looking for adventure in the beautiful mountains in Santa Barbara. read more

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Girls weekend! We love this place! I've brought my own horse in the past, but came with a friend who doesn't own a horse, so we rode the stable horses. We enjoyed a 1.5 hour ride, 2.5 hour ride, then hiked the trails too. The lodge would hold our meals until we got done with our activities which I really appreciate. The food was Home style and delicious. The barn guys were all accommodating and funny! The barn dogs were a funny sweet cute little welcome committee. I'll be back in the spring with another girlfriend. read more

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I have wanted to visit Circle B for so long and never got the chance until last week (9/19/2018). Knowing it is family owned and now in its 3rd generation means a lot and you feel the family vibe. We had some scheduling issues, but Cathy remedied the situation with grace. The food is amazing and you meet all kinds of people from near and far. It was so nice NOT to eat in a restaurant rather family style with other guests. LOVED the horseback ride and then the massage that followed. Kayla, our guide, knew her stuff which made me so comfortable during the ride. Getting a massage in our cottage felt very fancy and relieved the ride soreness. We are planning our next trip. Thanks Circle Bar B! read more

Amazing place! Beautiful scenery, beautiful healthy horses who love their job. A bit nervous at first but then it was wonderful. Trails are great, many views from waterfalls to deer with so much in between. Really knowledgeable guides, loved Kara. It was a good time. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get away for a bit. Not crowded when we went and if you are concerned about covid, they have private tours. The horses don't get too close together so the social distancing is there plus beautiful outdoors, can't get any better than that. Drove about 2 hours from LA and it was 100% worth it. Thank you to Kara, and the horses Elvis and Smokey for the amazing time and I will do it again sometime. read more

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Circle bar B ranch is a wonderfull little spot hidden among walnut and ols oaks in the Base of the San Ynes valley. what a terrific experiance it was. The ranch owners and staff were great and very welcoming, the food was yummy also read more

Great place to enjoy a weekend getaway. Hiking trail and pool made for a perfect weekend. Breakfast and dinner meals served. Food and atmosphere was perfect. read more

I'm going to give this place a solid 4 stars. Great family destination to get away for the weekend. The bad: Remote location with spotty wifi. Do not come here if your looking for that next foodie experience this is not your place. In fact the food is scores a 2.5 out of 5 in my book. The good: Your not coming here for the food- you have plenty of choices in town. The is a family and horse riders destination. There is a pool and jacuzzi, stables for horse riding and it's conveniently located off the 101 past Goleta. During the day your minutes from Refugio beach, El Capitan and about 25 min outside of downtown Santa Barbara. Perfect mix of city and nature. All in- it's a great spot to visit if you haven't been yet. If you have kids this may be the place to go on a annual basis. If your getting married this is a potential spot. If you just want to get on a horse and ride make a reservation. read more

Went to celebrate my sister's wedding, and spent 3 wonderful nights. Had an end unit, it was comfortable and clean with a great view. No telephone, tv, wifi, or phone reception in the room, but that was just fine...was able to spend more time with family and friends. We didn't need to leave the ranch unless we wanted to site see or pick up something from town. All the meals were provided by the ranch, and they have a full bar. If you want you can even rent a horse or dive in the pool..it's a win, win! The staff there is very accommodating and sweet, they really go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Just a beautiful stay and wedding to boot. read more

Took my grandsons for trail ride at CircleBar B Ranch. Everyone at the Ranch was very courteous from my first call to inquire about a ride to dismounting at end of ride. Tex, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the area and the horses. Our ride was so enjoyable with beautiful views. I know my grandsons will want to return. read more

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Our family took our summer vacation and stayed at Circle Bar B. Everyone here from the owner to the cowboys were friendly and welcoming our entire stay. Henry and Kathy made our stay so enjoyable with their friendly demeanor when hosting us. Highly recommend for any family looking to get away with young kids. Such a fun experience for all of us! read more

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What a great find in the Santa Barbara foothills! My score is based on the 5 star hospitality! You won't find 1000 thread count sheets, but you find a good ole fashion welcome! This GEM is third generation family with a 1,000 acre ranch, 60 horses, 15 people staff, all with family style smiles and conversations! The location is 6 miles off highway 101. About 15 ranch houses with nice quite spots nestled under California oaks! Highly recommend for family reunions, weddings or a nice romantic get away. read more

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My girlfriend had been giving me a hard time about getting away due to work, kids, life etc and as we were coming down to the end of a spring break I realized I had to figure something out... So with 3 days left to go... I started researching get aways I could find within driving distance. For me in OC it was San Diego, Palm Springs, Vegas or Santa Barbara. Since I had 2 of the 3 kids and I knew the normal hotel's only normally provide so much for the kids I randomly googled "Dude Ranches Southern California" and what do you know Circle Bar B was about the only place around where the kids wouldn't be asking me every 2 seconds if we were there yet... After the normal internet research I called in at 6PM on a Friday night and talked to a great guy Bruce and just the way he sounded over the phone made me want to come up. So I packed up the kids, car and luggage and headed up to Goleta. When we arrived at midnight, the owner Kathy waited up for us and we arrived at our creekside cottage with the fire made, heat up and an immediate warm and cozy feeling. The first impression I had was the warm and welcoming way we felt once we arrived. She gave us the midnight tour and away we went to our cottage looking forward to the morning. Not having seen the place in daylight, we woke up feeling worlds away from the city and the hustle and bustle. No phone service, no internet, and one TV channel it beckoned us to the world we had been trying to leave behind. The scenery was gorgeous and the nature and wildlife felt like as close to the Rocky Mountains you could get. The rest of our weekend was spent eating 3 homemade meals a day, horseback riding, napping, sightseeing and being a family. As a fan of all things technology it was amazing to be in a world where none of that technology existed and we spent so much time as a family spending the kind of time together we never get to do... The horse back riding was just a blast. The kids rode 3 times and wanted to ride again. Girlfriend had never rode a horse, rode the first time and liked it so much we went twice. We checked out the play, ate with other's staying there, picnicked in Solvang, picknicked on the Beach at El Capitan on our way home and we ALL felt we couldn't of had a better time. Bottom Line: This was truly one of the best places I've been to that covered all the bases when it came to fun, family and relaxation!! Here's what we LOVED: 1.) The staff. Every single person there genuinely seemed happy to be there, and genuinely happy to have us there. From the owners, to the chef bringing the breakfast tray back to us in the morning, to the wranglers at the stables to Bruce who we made the reservation with, the service was exemplary. 2.) The accommodations. My girlfriend's been spoiled with all the 5 star resorts so I was worried if rustic would overcome luxury. Although it may not be the 4 seasons the cabin was beautiful. It was simple, clean and comfortable with great views and windows that opened to the beautiful sounds of nature. It's exactly the kind of place you should be at in the setting you're in. 3.) The meals. We realized we loved not having the stress of having to worry about where and when to eat. We just had to show up, eat, get full and move on to the next adventure. It was nice not having to plan eating within that. We enjoyed the picnic lunches which made us find cool places to eat them. The food was simple yet homemade and tasty. 4.) The horseback riding. If you're a serious horseback rider wanting to take a horse out and gallop it may not be the "perfect place," but for my family, their ages and experience levels it was the "perfect place." The staff there made us all feel welcome, the trail ride is amazing and the views are to die for. You would be hard pressed to find a better view at the top of the ride and the fact that it's on horseback makes it even more enthralling. 5.) The activities and environment. From the gameroom which has Foosball, ping pong and pool, to the riding, trails and hot tub tucked in the scenery and setting it's in...it really can't be beat. 6.) The value. While it wasn't "cheap" it was certainly priced well below any 5 star resort and the value from the accommodations, food and riding I felt it was a great value. We hope to be back soon and I know this is a place the kids most importantly will remember for a long long time... Thanks to everyone at Circle Bar that created our "5" star experience. read more

Let me start my review by saying that the Circle Bar B is NOT CLOSED! It seems as though many locals heard the news about the recent closure of the theater at the ranch and have misinterpreted it as though the ranch itself has closed down. My brother and his wife had their wedding ceremony held at the Circle Bar B last weekend and what a phenomenal place for the event to be held. Henry and Kathy and their staff were outstanding - very gracious and easy to work with throughout the entire weekend. The food that they prepared was amazing; nothing pretentious or frilly, but with generous portions and delicious flavors. The main building complex has many options for either unwinding and relaxing to gaming with your friends and family (fooseball, billiards, ping-pong). I didn't personally go on one of the horseback rides, but some of the other wedding guests did and were very pleased with their experience. My only complaint was that the bathroom in the cabin where my wife and I stayed was in desperate need of an update - the shower, sink and toilet were all in a very cramped amount of space. The room was rustic, but clean and well kept by their housekeeping staff. My wife and I look forward to visiting the Circle Bar B again in the future! read more

Found this place while searching for a secluded cabin for labor day weekend..saw some good reviews and contacted them..i reserved a room here for the weekend....the drive from Sandiego to this place on CA 101 was beautiful...the guest ranch is about 3.5 miles from the highway... Up on arrival, we were received by Kathy,while doing paper work she mentioned that the place has been with her family for 75 years!!!! It was amazing to hear the history and how the place has been maintained for so many years... This place was absolutely secluded..no cell reception and wifi...our room was a decent size ,had a king bed...the bathroom had a very deep roman soaking tub... The ranch had a game room, swimming pool and spa...a full bar...the people here are extremely nice and courteous... They serve breakfast lunch and dinner everyday...this is kind of family style where everyone assembles at 7.30am for breakfast and 7pm for dinner...we are both vegetarians and the staff was so nice to prepare special vegetarian meals for us....i would really love to go back here just to unwind and relax for a weekend.. Henry and Kathy the hosts here are just wonderful people...it was really nice of them to pack us lunch on the day we checked out for the road even though we did not request the for it...please stop by this place for ur next relaxing vacation away from the crowd and u will appreciate their hospitality read more

Just got back from an amazing 3 day stay. Office staff was FANTASTIC!! Food was great! Wranglers (especially Jimmy and Rick) got us safely and steadily through some simply stunning trail rides. Other than having to leave and come home...I have no complaints. Can't wait to go back. We were made to feel at home the whole time. read more

When I was younger, I was blessed with having three wonderful horses. I trail rode, showed and was really into riding. I absolutely loved every moment of it! Then we moved and had to leave the horses behind. I'd rented horses a few times, tired old nags that dragged their feet apathetically and stuck their noses up the horse in front's butt. Just blah. It was never the same again. Then I rode with some visiting horse friends at the Circle Bar B Stables, and Wow!! What a difference! They have cowboy horse wranglers and really good horses. This was the best horseback riding experience I've had in a very long time! The trails are wonderful and the views spectacular and the wranglers gave the experienced riders feistier horses and the newbies kinder horses. We had such a wonderful ride. Everyone loved it. The Circle Bar B Stables really take into account horseback riding abilities and matches riders with a skill level appropriate horse. This was great as we had one beginner kid riding with us. At one point, the wrangler even rode double with him when the rest of us wanted to go faster. Sammy just loved it! He was whooping and Yee-haaing in no time and decided he wasn't afraid of horses after all. Super high marks for the Circle Bar B Stables!!! read more

I recently attended a friends birthday party here. This ranch is very cool. Stealthily located way up Refugio Canyon; the grounds are immaculate. This party lasted for a weekend and had any number of people coming and going. Through it all, the staff was friendly, helpful and accommodating. Meals were expertly served and the food was delicious. If I lived nearby, I'd look for excuses to come here. read more

Let me just start by saying that I told my husband that I wanted to get away for my birthday. And I mean get a way to a place where my phone didn't work, ride a horse and have real conversations with my family while spending some quality time....boy did I get it! The Circle Bar B was so homey and quaint, I didn't want to leave. What really makes this place special are the people. This is a family owned place and everyone that works there now seems to be part of their family and by the time we left, we felt like we were part of it too! From the minute we walked in, we were greeted with the most courtious and friendly folks. They went out of their way to make sure we were taken care of. They knew our names and were just so cool and casual about everything. No strict procedures here! When walking down to the stables, the cowboys (these guys were the real deal) would give you the ol' "can I help you?" with one eyebrow raised. They were awesome. Note: Don't wear flip-flops or do anything else they don't like by their horses because they won't hold back! The food was great and if you are going on a day trip, you can take your boxed lunch with you. I don't eat meat and they went out of their way to make sure there was something good waiting for me. My husband and son are real carnivores and they couldn't have been happier. What There is To Do: Dinner Theater - Good fun, especially if you had a couple of drinks at the bar first. Ride a Horse - Hello, it was only $45 bucks for an hour and a half and you get a real cowboy singing real cowboy songs and gettin' on ya to control your horse! Chill Out - Just haning around there felt good and totally relaxing. I was so happy and calm and wasn't ready to leave. There are only 18 rooms so you feel like you have the whole place to yourselves. We met some pretty cool folks staying there too. Since the place is small, two days is pretty much the perfect amount of time to do everything there. read more

Remote, serene, beautiful, gracious staff, delicious meals. We always have a great time. My hubby and I came here on our first vacation away from the kid. Just 2 nights but we had such a great time. We dint need a whole lot of activities to enjoy each others company. We purchased a package which included 2 nights, 2 1.5 hour horseback rides, 2 1-hour massages, and all meals for about $1,000. Well worth the money. The grounds are beautifully maintained. The Creekside Cabin we had was quaint, new construction, beautifully decorated with a large walk-in shower, wood burning fireplace, hardwood floors, and huge windows looking out onto the year-round creek and oak grove which surrounds this 800-acre ranch. Breathtaking!! The meals were delicious. It is not a fancy 5-star, decoratively plated, bunny-food meal. I can enjoy that too. But this is good, home-cooked, cowboy, ranch food. Good to the last bite! Dished up by Kathy (third generation owner). We also had a great time talking with her Dad, Jim, who broke bread with us at breakfast and dinner. Wonderful family. Pat (Kathy's brother) runs all the cowboys and horseback rides. We went on a 1.5 hour ride that takes you up, past a huge waterfall and beautiful canyons, to the top of the property which boasts an expansive ocean view. Your tour guide will take your picture! We went in the morning the first time we visited, and in the afternoon the second time. I like the afternoon because the horses seem a little bit more relaxed. Also we enjoyed a cocktail before hitting the trail, so maybe I was more relaxed too! The lodge is a beautiful, newly constructed building which housed the office, gathering room with wood-burning fireplace, full bar, librbary, and dining room. It is so cozy and tastfully decorated. Conected to the lodge is the game room with a pool table, ping pong, and big scren t.v. A great vacation to get away from it all! Go to enjoy outdoor living, cowboys, and down-home cooking! 5-stars!!! read more

My family and I went to Circle Bar B Ranch for an hour and a half horseback ride. The scenery is beautiful, the stables are in great shape and the horses are very well taken care of. Our guide Cade was fantastic. He was kind and knowledgeable. He and his horse ponied my 9 year old on her horse and he took great care with her. I was so thankful. It was a great day for my family. Thank you Circle Bar B!! read more

My wife was looking to get a way with the family for a few days and started looking at the Alisal Guest Ranch in Solvang. After being told the only accommodations they had available were starting at over $900 a night, she kept looking and stumbled upon the Circle Bar B and we were not disappointed. At a third of the price, the Circle Bar B includes all meals and has a down home atmosphere brought about by a friendly, homey and professional staff! A busy Easter Week schedule limited us to one of the "Standard" Ranch rooms more typical of a hotel room, but I have to say the room was huge! It included a normal size bathroom, a King Bed and a Bunk bed for the kids. A nice sized table with chairs for game playing and a shared front porch for the five or so rooms included in the row. When available, they also offer separate cottages with wood burning fireplaces, creek side cabins with lofts and kitchens, and a larger Homestead cabins with all the modern conveniences! We happened to choose to arrive and stay during what turned out to be a rain storm, but we still had a great time! Los Olivos, Solvang, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez are within easy driving distance and offer different activities and dining choices. The resort itself is tucked up in a canyon and offers a beautiful setting with just about anything you might need. As I already mentioned, the staff makes you feel at home from the moment you arrive and the main lodge is very comfortable with a huge fireplace, an upstairs library for those looking for a quiet escape, a full bar downstairs, and plenty of seating for conversation, reading and games! A walk around the property reveals the pool, spa, a creek, game room, plenty of outdoor areas, all of which are maintained very well. The main lodge is the only place on the property with wi-fi service, and cell phone service is non-existent, so remember to plan accordingly. The stable is located on the lower end of the property and is staffed with a professional group of salty cowboys both young and old. Most importantly, the horses are friendly, look healthy and are well maintained. The cowboys go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and to insure you enjoy your riding experience! The food is what you might expect for group service dining. The meals are set with breakfast at 0830, and dinner at 0700. They also provide you with a selection for a box lunch. So although not "Fine" dining, it was exactly what you would expect for a Ranch! However, my wife is a vegetarian and they made sure that she had plenty of choices for each meal. They even have a salad bar with lots of extras! Our whole experience was great and the kids are already asking to come back so I see a repeat visit in our future. I'd love to see the Circle B do some upgrades to the game room. The room and the games see a lot of use, and probably abuse by some of the more rambunctious kids and are due for some TLC. They have a large outdoor bbq and it would be great if they offered a lunch time bbq a couple of times a week. It would be a great way to enjoy their grounds on a beautiful day. The Circle Bar B Ranch offers a peaceful getaway, and remember cell phones won't work here, with beautiful vistas, well maintained grounds and good ranch food! The staff was genuinely friendly and will go out of their way to insure that your stay is a memorable one! read more

I just had my dream wedding at CBB and could not imagine having had it anywhere else!!! Our family and friends (especially those who stayed on site for the weekend) said it was the most amazing venue and wedding they'd ever been to! Henry, Kathy, Sammy and ALL the rest of their staff were so sweet, warm, accommodating, and easy to work with. Their food was to die for (people can't stop raving about it... and these are San Francisco foodies!), their property is gorgeous, and they're pretty much the most easy-going staff you could imagine working with. My family and friends loved them. It's so cool that you get the whole property for the weekend (makes you feel like your wedding's not over in the blink of an eye) and everyone staying on the property got to know each other so well. I love seeing pictures of my friend's horse back riding while I was getting ready on Saturday- I highly recommend doing that while you're here- stunning views! If you're looking for a chill, rustic wedding venue, look no farther!!! I just want to go back and do it all over again. read more

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Review of Dinner Theatre only. Growing up in Santa Barbara, Circle Bar B was a place I only came to once in grade school as a field trip. My kid brain heard there was a ranch for "barbie" and how cool is that. Well! No barbies, but definitely horses! But moving on, I came here recently for their Dinner Theatre package. It was FUN!! During the performance season, CBB puts on shows Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. An hour prior they serve up a big dinner of grilled tri-tip and chicken with all the ranch bbq fixings of chili beans, grilled garlic bread, green beans with sundried tomatoes, green salad, mashed potatoes with skins, and chocolate cake. Lemonade, water and coffee is also included. There's also a FULL BAR to get some cocktails as an optional purchase. The food is served up buffet style, and everyone sits at long tables together, outside if the weather is fine, inside if it's not so fine. Fifteen minutes beforehand, they ring a bell and everyone makes a slow trundle down to the the theatre barn. A fun quirk is that the producer, Susie, assigns your seats as you arrive. So there's a little social gridlock at the door as she jigsaw pieces you into place. The theatre is rustic (it's like a barn, okay) and that's its charm. The show I saw was a melodrama with elements of pantomime. Many of the actors were Santa Barbarans and it was a hoot! Cost was $45 for a pile of Santa Maria style bbq and the show, it kept me busy from 7 pm - 11 pm. The drive is also gorgeous, going up Refugio past citrus and avocado fields and stands of oaks on an increasingly rural (but safe) road. I can see it getting gnarly if the creeks are flowing hard, but in late April it was easy peasy and everything was beautiful. Bring a jacket to layer, especially for the Friday and Saturday shows! The night air can get chilly. And be prepared to tune out the rest of the world, because there is no internet signal on the ranch! The dinner theatre is appropriate for all ages, it's good, honest, clean fun at a dusty (not really) and sweet ranch. read more

Who knew there were still places on the planet where cell phones don't work? Pull up to Circle Bar B Ranch, and you'll soon find out that this is the case! It didn't matter though. It was a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life when we ventured into Santa Barbara for a wedding this past weekend. Sure, it made things like calling a taxi challenging, but who needs a taxi when the workers at the ranch are willing to drop you off? These people went above and beyond on more than one occasion, including said ride to the wedding venue, putting aside tri-tip late plates for our post-wedding nosh in the mess hall, chilling a bottle of wine, and just generally being available when we needed them. If you're hoping to nestle into your room and watch TV or make phone calls, however, Circle Bar B probably isn't the place for you. They take "rustic" to a whole new level here, but the rooms were comfortable and cozy, and it was nice to hear the rustle of the leaves outside and the wind blow by instead of busying ourselves with updating our Facebook pages. Circle Bar B is located about 3.5 miles off Highway 101, and the road is narrow and curvy at times. While you won't need a 4X4 to reach it, the post-freeway journey is something to keep in mind. I'd gladly go back though for another "adult sarsaparilla" (Captain Morgan's & rootbeer) in the lodge, and the chance to ride their horses. If you're looking for a slice of yesteryear, Circle Bar B should be the first place you call. read more

Perfect peaceful getaway! We just thoroughly enjoyed three stress free days up at this guest ranch. We decided to go there for the fourth of july instead of dealing with traffic and crowds. We are 50 years old and have seen fireworks plenty of times :) so we opted for a romantic relaxing weekend of really exceptional massage, horse back riding, their fun dinner theater, four wheel driving up into the mountains and time reading at the pool and soaking in the Jacuzzi. We live in santa barbara so how sweet is it to go away for the weekend & only drive half an hour?! The other surprise is the food. I own a large catering company and have been a chef for 30 years and did not expect to be impressed by the food, but I was; very! Its wonderful to not have to figure out where you'll go 3x a day and drive and wait etc, at the ranch you just go down to eat and Henry and the crew take awesome care of you. Both nights we got to sit with Jim who was born & raised on that ranch 70+ (I'm guessing) years ago, what a doll he is! A very amusing & interesting man and hearing the love story of his life - meeting Betty and their life together was such a treat. The hospitality from Kathy & her gang makes you feel right at home and theres a great pool table, the place is super clean and I can't wait to go read more

My friends & I had a wonderful experience horseback riding here! The guys who operate the ranch are really friendly and were very patient with us after we called twice to change the time of our reservation, and even waited for us when we arrived 20 minutes late. (I know, we were *those* people. Ergh.) The photos on the site are totally representative of what you'll see on your ride, and even though it hadn't rained in a while and the creek beds and waterfall were pretty dry, the entire landscape was absolutely breath-taking. We'd definitely go back! (Also, don't forget to bring cash for both the ride and a well-deserved tip at the end!) read more

Just had my wedding last weekend at the Circle Bar B. Henry and Kathy and their entire staff were friendly, kind, and super helpful throughout. All of our friends and family really enjoyed the food and horseback riding. Located about 20 minutes from SBA, the Circle Bar B is a short, scenic drive up the 101 from Goleta. The location was convenient for all of our out of town guests from the east coast, LA, and Japan. Also, you're close to good wineries, breweries, and the beach. The ranch is beautiful, the staff is great, the food was delicious, and the size easily accommodated our 70 person wedding. We rented the entire ranch for 3 days so Henry and Kathy really let us customize the space for all of our wedding activities. The staff were soooo hard working and just amazing. I highly recommend this ranch for a wedding or relaxing weekend! read more

Circle Bar B was described by the woman who took my call as a "complete experience" and she could not have been more correct. First of all, this is THE bargain of the Central Coast. For the price of the adult ticket, 45 dollars, you get wonderful show after a spectacular dinner served in a beautiful horse ranch in the hills of Goleta: tri-tip, chicken, mashed potatoes, vegetables, salad, beans and dessert. I was shocked at how good the food was and bottles of wine are available for purchase beginning with a basic white for 16 or 17 and a far better white (it was summer after all) for 24. I took my boyfriend to see the Paul Rudnick play, "Regrets Only," not long after I dragged him to "Menopause: The Musical" at the Lobero Theater at which, in spite of himself and his musicals-averse ways, he had a very good time. I'm sure he had a better time because he didn't pay for it: if I want him to come to the theater or to a musical, I have to pay. (I've immensely enjoyed myself alone at PCPA Theaterfest for The Rivals, Legally Blonde, and the best show by far, Daddy Long Legs.) Of course "Regrets Only," by the well-known gay Jewish playwright behind the poignant and funny film, "Jeffrey," with an ensemble cast including Patrick Stewart and Steven Weber (of Wings), was less of a stretch than a bunch of covers of old pop songs (or pop song parodies) about hot flashes, weight gain and bloating. I loved "Menopause," incidentally, and when I went on YouTube to compare the performances in the local show to those in back east touring companies as I am wont to do, I was pleasantly surprised. I think our cast was better overall than many incarnations of the wildly successful off-Broadway hit. Of course, the topic and setting of "Regrets Only"--wealthy Upper East Siders in an uproarious but bittersweet comedy of manners which centers around a character named Hank Hadley whom we are to recognize as a fictional representation of Bill Blass--is right up my alley. I currently spend 80 days a year on average on the UES and Susie Crouch wore real Bill Blass gowns which would make any slender girl who could fit into such a creation terribly envious. The ostensible plot, as the program explains, is gay marriage. But this is not a political or politicized show; the very left-wing (like left of Elizabeth Warren left) SB Independent, the Village Voice of SB, was right to say that they only disagreement among audience members was which character made them laugh the most. The husband of the UES socialite is a corporate lawyer who has been asked by someone working for the POTUS to draft a definition of marriage which might form the basis of a Constitutional amendment which defends the traditional (man/woman) conception. The daughter is a young lawyer herself who has just become engaged to a "suitable" partner, i.e. rich and successful, and she wants to work with her father on the project, regardless of her personal loyalty to the man who has been a second father or uncle to her. The rub is that the couple's oldest, dearest friend--"Bill Blass"--has recently lost his lover of some three decades, a famous and wealthy surgeon. The gay marriage theme is neither central nor peripheral to the real human drama here which comes down, roughly, to this: is the love between a husband and wife necessarily greater or deeper or richer than that between a wife and her gay best friend? Does there need to be a hierarchy or can loyalties ultimately be divided in a number of ways. As one who worked intensely in the AIDS community in the early 1990s--when getting AIDS meant dying, usually within a few years--the LGBT community has always been one in which I have felt at home. I've had many close gay friends over the years though now I'm not around the world of theater or design in LA or NYC and I have far fewer gay men in my life than I did when I was in school. So I found myself crying quite quite a bit when Susie Crouch must "choose" between supporting her husband--who is taking a stance in direct opposition to their oldest friend (and his dead lover, who was an intimate part of their social circle)--and her smart, loving but ultimately pompous husband. I did take notes during the show and I will try to write a fuller review if/when I can get my hands on the text of the play, but it truly was as crisply written a play of this kind as I can remember. I'm a lover of Woody Allen and Aaron Sorkin fan (politics aside). Thus, I revel in lightning-fast banter among smart people of the coastal upper middle class. If you like that kind of thing, Paul Rudnick's newest play will warm your heart even as it is elicits many laughs and a few tears. All's well than ends well in Rudnick's play. This was my first time at Circle Bar B and I will absolutely return for the final play of the season, Any Wednesday, which opens 9/21. read more

Thank you to our Guide Jimmy. Not only was he our guide, he was a comedian, photographer and he kept my daughter calm. Thank you Jack and Jackson for watching JuBo (our dog). Thank you Robbie for your kindness and helpfulness. Thank you for the most pleasurable horseback ride. All I can say is AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME!!!!!! Lisa & Nevaeh read more

We dropped by to investigate - looks like a great place to stay or have a retreat. Nice pool, horseback rides... (looks like five star). It was started by the manager's grandmother as a camp for kids (way back when). read more

Circle Bar B Ranch - Bed & Breakfast Near Me - Goleta, California

Great private horseback ride! Jon was an excellent guide. A true cowboy and tons of knowledge... a great guide for me and my wife! We really enjoyed our trip. read more

Giddy up little horsey! You will not find any fancy carpet & marble on the floors during your stay but the service and general laid back feel will make you feel right at home partner. I would come up with my Grandmother Noni and Aunt Sharon for the dinner and show, which is a lot of fun too! read more

Had a private 1/2 day ride with Snuffy, LeRoy, and Bob. Bob was great. Plenty of stories and stayed awake the whole time! LeRoy was my ride, size of a clydesdale, and really enjoyed keeping me on my toes. Snuffy was my wife's horse. Little frisky- zero complaints from her. Horses were treated well... As much attention was given to them on the ride as was us. Great getaway from the city. We did catch Bob repeating our names to himself over and over before the ride so he wouldn't forget! Haha read more

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We had the BEST TIME horseback riding yesterday! Thank you to the guys who helped us and to our guide Johnny! Everyone was so nice and Johnny took the time to teach my son how to ride and treat horses and he gave him some great advice too! Johnny told us about how beautiful it is after it rains so we will definitely be back. He even took the time to take lots of pictures of our family and we are so grateful because they came out so beautiful! Thank you so much for such a great time! Look no other place to go horseback riding, this IS THE PLACE! read more