And if there's a lovelier lay of land anywhere in Southern California, one would be hard-presed to find it. Ronald Reagan's former ranch, Rancho el Cielo, lies just beyond the crenelated ridge top. From certain vantage points, while riding horseback to the lake and beyond, you can see the helicopter pad by which the former president and many world leaders once came and went. From the beginning, the ranch has attracted guests who enjoy being pampered between spurts of activity. While horseback riding is an important part of the Alisal program, equestrian pursuits are but a fraction of the overall amenity picture for guests.
Kids have their own full-day activity programs, which are tailored to four age groups.
In summer, these are often filled by families who have been coming back year after year, often for generations. Guest rooms at the ranch, which come in a variety of configurations, are situated in crisp white bungalows with plantation shutters at the windows. These are arranged in neat rows about the shady, campuslike core of the resort. Some buildings are newer than others, both in construction and decor, and though carpet and fabrics are fresh throughout, the Western-style furnishings in most units bear the definite stamp of the 1970s. The newer bungalows, by contrast, are updated with beamed ceilings, rock fireplaces and pine furniture in a Southwestern style.