FAQs
When do I get the gate code?
The Gate Code for entry is included with your confirmation email. Please be sure to keep this in a safe place.
What's the best time of year to come to the Ranch?
We are a year round resort. There is something wonderful about each and every season here. It comes down to what you like best. The grass covered hills are green in the cool season, the oaks wear mint green coats, but there are fewer warm days and the nights dip into the 40s. The gardens are cutback in January. The grass covered hills turn burnished in summer and fall, the air is dry and warm, heavily scented with sage and coyote bush. In counterpoint to the hills that surround it, our gardens are lush and producing in the warm season.
The Warm Season lasts from June 25 - October 18 with an average daily high temperature above 76°F (but not by much.)
The hottest day of the year is September 1, with an average high of 79°F and low of 55°F.
The Cold Season lasts from December 1 - March 13 with an average daily high temperature below 67°F.
The coldest day of the year is December 22 with an average low of 40°F and high of 64°F.
What's included in the price of my retreat?
Included in your retreat is a private room and bathroom; all meals; and a full pallet of offerings, listed below.
Complimentary offerings
- al Fresco cuisine
- Picnic boxes on second day of stay (Sunday brunch exception)
- Dinner beneath the stars
- Yoga classes and guided meditation (daily)
- Private outdoor showers (in addtion to indoor)
- Campfires with s'mores and stars
- 5 miles of hiking trails to explore on the ranch
- Endless trails to explore outside the front gate
- Guest refrigerators
- Cedar hot-tub
- Monet pond and gardens with tables, seating, hammocks and picnic spots
- Accueil, our guest living room with fireplace, books and sofa
Amenities
- Memory foam mattress
- 750 thread count sateen sheets
- Turkish Cotton plush robes
- Towel warmers
- Pond towels and beach towels
- Gas Fireplaces
- Organic Bath Products
- Purified mineral-rich Wellspring water
- Hiking sticks, water bottles
- Easels + paints, books, games, telescope (coming soon)
- Manduka Pro Yoga mats, all customary props
Extras, not included
- Massage: Individual or couples. Please inquire and book in advance of arrival date.
- Wine tours
- Wine and beer
With so much offered off-ranch in terms of amazing destinations, do you recommend we plan an excursion during our stay?
Yes, but only if you are booking a 3-night stay. We encourage early arrival on Friday so that you will have two full-days to experience the wonder of just being here. Sunday afternoon is a perfect time to head off the Ranch for an excursion, ending the day with dinner at a restaurant, or returning to the Ranch for Sunday evening supper.
What kind of clothing/essentials do I need to pack?
For the Ranch
- Casual attire: jeans, shorts, t-shirts, flannels
- Sweatshirt or warm jacket for cool season
- Quick-change clog-like shoes for indoor-outdoor transitions
- Heavy socks or slippers; there is a no-shoe policy in bedrooms
- Ugg-type cozy boots for mornings on the porch and evenings around the fire
For Hiking
- Hiking clothes
- Light jacket/vest for cool season
- Boots and socks
- Day pack
- Binoculars
- Bug repellent
For Yoga
- Yoga clothes
For the Beach
- Sun hat
- Bathing suit
- Beach towel
- Sun screen
- Wetsuit
- Beach chair
- Surfboard or boogie board
- Kayak
- Fishing pole
What should I not bring?
- Dogs: While we love furry four-legged creatures, we ask that you please leave yours at home.
- Cigarettes: Our Ranch (all 160 acres) is a non-smoking facility
- Digital Devices: Please note that there is no cell service at the Ranch; there is no texting. Please turn off all devices and disconnect to reconnect.
Are there bugs around?
Wellspring is similar in terrain to the Mediterranean or Southern France/Italy. Temperatures rarely exceed 80°F on the ranch, and nights are typically on the cool side. For this reason, there are fewer bugs than in most parts of the US (not counting honey bees that are encouraged on the ranch). In the unlikely event temperatures exceed 80°, the bugs of most nuisance are gnats. They don't bite, but they do annoy. We have experimented with how best to deal with the gnats on a hot day, and rather that doing as most resorts do (hose the grounds down in the middle of the night with nasty chemicals) we've concluded that the best solution is at the personal level. You need to apply repellant.
We recommend that you pack with you two kinds: Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellant (available online at Amazon) and Avon's Skin-So-Soft Bug Guard Plus (available online at Avon or Amazon). In addition, we make and provide a "minty cider vinegar" to spray on after showering, which actually temporarily changes the pH of your skin and is quite effective. We also use only mint soaps on the ranch. We are on a grey water system, and using this soap is easiest on our environment; the added benefit is that it's also a bug deterrent when used on your skin/hair.
What's your cancellation policy?
Our booking agent, AirBnB, handles all cancellations and refunds on our behalf. Our policy, which they implement, is strict. 50% refund will be granted up until one (1) week prior to arrival, except fees. Please carefully read the details concerning cancellations on our AirBnB listings.
