I've stayed at the Redwood Ranch twice now--once in December and for my birthday 10/2-10/5. Both times were magical. It's about a 3 1/2-4 hour drive from LA. The drive is beautiful once you pass the 5 freeway. Make sure you have plenty of gas at all times. Once you get on the 65 gas stations are pretty spread out. The ranch is breathtaking! I promise you will have the most amazing experience!
Food/Cooking:
There's so much room for cooking with the two kitchens and outside grill. The chickens lay delicious eggs. On my way to the ranch, I stopped at Exeter Meats (about an hour from the ranch) to grab some beef, as we didn't want to leave the ranch while we were there. I don't eat meat, but my guests said it was delicious. The prices were reasonable and the service was great. Andrew provided pretty much everything you need to cook--pots, pans, cutting boards, etc.
Environment:
You are in the middle of beautiful mother nature, so you should take a moment to educate yourself on the environment and wildlife if you are not familiar with it. Andrew has done an amazing job with the hints along the property--poison oak sign "leaves with three--let them be", arrows guiding you along the hikes, maps of the property, etc. The hike along the property is kid friendly, but be sure to keep an eye on them. Teach them to walk mindfully through the beautiful mountains, and how to approach or not approach certain animals. The ranch is kid friendly, but you can't just let your kids run around with out supervision or teaching them a few things about being in the mountains. The kids that came with us were 2-5 years old. They brought bikes and rode them nonstop around the ranch and fire pit area. Tom the caretaker is great if you have any questions during your stay.
Lodging:
There is plenty of sleeping space in the ranch. Most of the bedrooms are private. There are a few that are not private, but their website shows you images of them. We didn't have anyone camp outside, but there is plenty of space for camping. The ranch was super clean. The beds/pillows/linens are so comfortable. The bathrooms/showers have nice travel size shampoo, conditioner, and soap. The water pressure on the showers is high! :) We were able to put the kids to sleep and still enjoy the downstairs area, play pool, chit chat and laugh without waking them.
Communications and Quality:
You can tell Andrew has put so much thought into everything about the ranch. From the decorations, to the booking, answering questions, finding someone to take care of the land, and letting you know all the ins and outs. If you look at their site, it's straightforward with information and photos. The photos do not do the ranch justice and they are beautiful photos, but in person it's just beyond what a camera can capture--the beauty and experiences you can have.
Take time to disconnect, be present with the ranch, mother nature, animals, your guests, and yourself. You will not want to leave. :) But you will leave feeling loved and recharged.
Thank you Andrew and Eric for creating a lovely space! I can't wait to come back! read more