This charming ranch is perfect for a peaceful getaway. When I visited, the on-site restaurant was…read moreunder construction, so bring your own food--mini-fridges are in the cottages. I stayed in the cozy Sparrow cottage, which was well-decorated and had a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and dishes for two. I loved the rocking chair on the patio for coffee and reading. The pool is cute and relaxing, though unheated, but the hot tub is warm. There's a serene stream with frogs croaking at night, and the property is secluded, with a few nearby wineries to explore. This retreat is ideal for couples or a small group of friends. Cons: The hot water is only lukewarm. The bed had some dirt/sand. My TV didn't work, and the bonfire is only available until 4 pm. The animal sanctuary ($7) requires a reservation, but the front desk told me to just show up. When I did, the staff said same-day reservations weren't allowed--and she was a bit cranky--so I couldn't visit. However, it's small enough to view from outside the fence. TL;DR: This ranch is feels safe, peaceful and promising. Once the restaurant opens and cleaning standards improve, it will be a perfect nature escape.

We stayed at Bandy Canyon Ranch back in October to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. I sat…read moreon this review for far too long because it honestly just made me so incredibly angry and I didn't want to relive the experience. I've also seen how the manager responds to other negative reviews and didn't feel like dealing with the attacks. I had been following Bandy Canyon on Instagram and the experience they promote online nowhere meets the reality. We chose to stay at the Eagle cabin because it had more space for our 2 kids and dog and the other rooms available were much smaller in comparison. The cabin didn't look upgraded online but for $910 for 2 nights, I assumed it had to be nicer than the photos looked. It was actually much, much worse. The website touts upgraded and renovated rooms but the Eagle cabin had clearly not been updated maybe since it had been built. I cannot begin to explain how depressing the cabin felt walking in at night. Floor to ceiling brown shiny walls illuminated by harsh white lightbulbs, no art or decor on the walls, tacky fake plant from the 90s covered in dust, yellow stained and ripped curtains. The floor was ripped and worn. It felt like a prison. The TV was missing the remote so we couldn't even turn on the TV for some added ambiance. It was dead silent. We spent hours turning the place upside down trying to find a remote, my husband was hyperventilating from how suffocating and tacky the room felt with no escape. We almost left as soon as we arrived. I called the front desk over the course of several hours. The front desk couldn't get us a remote that worked and tried calling her manager but couldn't figure out what to do. We hadn't eaten dinner so my husband reluctantly grilled us some food on the sad bbq outside our room in almost complete darkness. It was intended to be a special celebration of our 10-year wedding anniversary and it ended up being a weekend from hell. Did I mention they prohibit you from bringing your own wine? Because they sell wine on site as part of their "winery." However I was told they only had rose when I asked for a red. What is this, a college dorm? I'm going to get in trouble for bringing my own wine to celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary? Didn't find this out until we were packing our bags for the trip and my husband was looking at their website. I somehow managed to convince my husband to stay the night versus driving home immediately. I really wanted to salvage our milestone anniversary trip! I tried using the shower and the pipes screeched loudly, sounding like someone was screaming in your ear the whole time. I sent video to the front desk. The noise was so unbearable that we couldn't even use the shower. The sound echoed through the entire house, making it impossible to ignore. These elements greatly diminished the comfort and ambiance we had anticipated. Furthermore, a major reason for choosing the ranch was the promise of a pool for our toddler to enjoy, especially as it's promoted across the ranch's Instagram. To our dismay, the pool was not heated and was too cold to use, which was very disappointing. Adding to this inconvenience, the pool bar was closed, further limiting our recreational options.    All the ranch workers we interacted with were supportive and apologetic, agreeing that the Eagle cabin was outdated and unfit for guests. They acknowledged that it should not have been rented out in its current condition. They promised us the manager would make it right. I was told she's get in touch with me after the weekend. It took me messaging them for about a solid month for the manager to finally call me, which by that point I had zero interest in talking to her. We paid good money to stay here and it was a complete waste. For 2 nights we spent almost 1k ($910 to be exact). You'd think for that kind of money we'd get a much nicer experience!

Lori is such a patient and kind trainer! My husband and I have been taking lessons from her for…read moreseveral months now. She's very experienced and knowledgeable and truly loves horses. We always feel safe, have so much fun, and learn a ton when we ride with her. She's awesome and I couldn't recommend her more!

Lori is the kindest most passionate trainer you will ever find. No matter what the skill level she…read morewill adapt to your needs. She always has a smile on her face and joy in her heart and it shows through in your experience. She truly loves working with horses and you will feel that connection she will bring to you as well. Every moment is a learning opportunity on or off the horse. You will enjoy every second of your time with Lori and you are never rushed or pushed. You will feel her passion in your heart too.

This is a bit of an overdue review, but I had such an amazing time horseback riding! I hadn't…read moreridden since I was about 5 years old, so I was definitely a little nervous going into it. I'm not sure it's exactly like riding a bike--but Karen made me feel completely at ease from the start. Kiwi, my horse, was incredibly patient and gentle with me. I swear she knew I needed a little extra TLC! It made the whole experience so enjoyable and stress-free. I even got to do a tiny bit of trotting, which was such a fun bonus. Overall, it was such a great experience, and I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking to try horseback riding or get back into it!

Great horses, great guides. It is always a pleasure to do a…read morehorseback ride at Suzie Q Ranch. Lovely afternoon today January 19th of 2026. Will be back! I think this ranch is the best of the area. Thank you Suzie!

I love Daley Ranch! It's a great location in Escondido for hiking and mountain biking…read more There's a lot of parking available and plenty of trails to choose from. I rode mountain bikes out there with a couple of my girlfriends today. The trails are really fun, not too technical for bikes. Some absolutely beautiful view points especially along Boulder Loop. Unfortunately, we were moving too fast to stop and take a photo there, but we did get a selfie in front of the lake! There are porta potties at the parking lot and there are also some little bathroom houses inside the park. No running water though so be prepared with your hand sanitizer if you're planning to use it.

Love hiking here! So many trails you can through. It's also a nice place to camp and go fishing.read more

I love this place and can't stop coming back! Nicole and Gabby have been so lovely and the horses…read moreare the sweetest. I started off by doing an hour trail ride back in January and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. Then I came back a few weeks later for their Cowboy Spirit days where they teach you the basics of horsemanship. It was so much fun and I made new friends who I keep in contact and meet up with. I'm new to riding and the equine world but this ranch has really jumpstarted the hobby for me. They really love and trust their horses and treat them so well which makes all the experiences so comfortable and encouraging. What really stood out to me was how welcoming they are to people who are new to horses and you can tell they genuinely care about you learning and developing the skills to work with and around the horses. I've visited several ranches now and some of them can be very unwelcoming to people with no experience but that wasn't the case here. So happy I found this gem in San Diego, always worth the 40 minute drive from my part of town.

I took my wife, daughter and granddaughter for Mother's Day present they had the BEST time! We got…read morethere as we were told 1/2 hr before our scheduled ride and went thru the orientation process; Gabby was great to all of us and explained the in and out of riding the horses as we were all new to riding! She paired each of them with a horse that was perfect match for their energy. They did a 1 hour ride and all came back with big smiles, thank you so much for the memorable experience Gabby! You can tell all the horses are well taken care of and that everyone there loves them very much! We will be back for sure!!!

Willow creek is a horse lover's paradise. While it is set up for competitive jumping, they also…read morehave trail rides. And if you have an electric car, there is free charging available. The staff is exceptionally friendly and the facilities and setting is top notch and the owner is very accessible and friendly. By far, the best, most thoughtful facility I've seen!

Gorgeous landscape and beautiful riding grounds. Now known as Encinitas Riding Club. Can't go wrong…read morewith this place and you'll love leaving your horse in good hands. Really well maintained and staff is on top of everything. They have a free charging station if you need to.

My wife and I have boarded our paint mare sassy here for 9 years..cannot say enough about the care…read morethat she receives from the barn manager,Nicole,and the way that she manages..always clean and well kept up

Nicole is the best and these stables are so well maintained. The property is tranquil and the…read morepeople who board here are friendly and warm. A hidden gem!

Our family attended a birthday party today and we're so impressed. We'll definitely keep this on…read moreour short list for birthday parties, such a relaxing environment for parents and engaging for the kiddos. The team is friendly, space is comfortable and clean, and the ponies are precious. Thank you PonyTime team!!

From the owner: PonyTime Parties and Lessons is a hidden gem nestled in the scenic foothills of San Diego, offering…read morean intimate and personalized riding experience on our charming 20-acre horse farm. Our brand-new, 5-stall barn features an outdoor kitchen, cozy lounge, and inviting firepit—perfect for relaxing after a fulfilling day with the horses. We offer adult riding lessons, pony parties and pony classes to introduce children to the joy of horsemanship. Our beautiful lounge is ideal for parents to relax while children learn about horses. We have the perfect venue for your next party!