The truth is, I secretly love rainy day weekends. It gives me an excuse to slow down, be lazy, and catch up on things around the house. I was preparing to tuck myself away for the weekend when my friend, Liz from Nipomo, reached out about a getaway to the Stepladder Ranch.
As an avid pop country music fan, farms and ranches are absolutely my thing. Growing up, I also raised pigs in the 4-H program. I was instantly sold on heading down to Cambria on California’s Central Coast to experience the magic.
Stay at the Big House at Stepladder Ranch
We were fortunate enough to stay at the Big House at Stepladder Ranch. It was aptly named. The Big House comfortably fits up to 16 people in 5 bedrooms and several futons. This makes it the perfect weekend getaway for ladies’ weekends, family retreats, corporate shenanigans and more.
The Big House at Stepladder Ranch was actually built as a vacation rental property and the amenities show it.
The kitchen and communal areas are enormous. Absolutely enormous. Three kitchen sinks, a 6 burner Viking stove, 2 dishwashers and 2 refrigerators make the Big House at Stepladder Ranch the perfect place to whip up delicious meals and cozy up for a weekend. You’ll want to bring your own food to utilize this luxurious kitchen. Plus, the town of Cambria is about 40 minutes away.
On a rainy weekend, sit down and enjoy a book in the study or on one of many couches. Soak in the spa. Or take advantage of the enormous game room for ping pong, pool, or some good, old-fashioned board games.
Looking to hold a small (50 people-ish) wedding? Stepladder Ranch is a perfect place for that too! The Big House is just steps away from the reception venue.
The Big House at Stepladder Ranch begins at $749 per night.
Slow down and have a picnic
The Big House at Stepladder Ranch sits on top of the hill, overlooking everything, like the Eye of Sauron. Grab some cheese from the creamery and a bottle of wine and set up for a picnic. The views cannot be beat. The cheese is pretty darn good too.
Hang out with the Stepladder Ranch goats
Even if you’re not staying at the Big House on the ranch, you can still get a tour of the property. This is well worth it! You’ll get to hang out with goats, who are some of the cuddliest creatures around. You’ll also taste cheeses, and learn about how those cheeses are made.
Tours start at $20 per person.
Tour the orchards
The orchard tour is a part of the premium Stepladder Ranch tour package. You’ll get to play with the goats, but you also get to see the numerous orchards on the ranch. Save some room in your pockets for fruit picking!
Stepladder was originally an avocado farm before bringing in goats and making cheese. The orchards are home to sub-tropical fruit, plenty of citrus varieties and more.
The orchard tour is $35 per person.
Visit the pigs
If you’re staying in the Big House at Stepladder Ranch, take a short (5 min.) walk past the beehives to visit the pigs. They have anywhere between 70-140 pigs throughout the year. Go in the morning to see them get fed. It’s quite the ruckus.
We didn’t leave Stepladder Ranch all weekend. It was that magical. If you’re looking to spice up your trip a little more…
- Drive up the coast to Big Sur
- Visit Hearst Castle
- Check out the art galleries in Cambria. The Vault Gallery and Mission Gallery are my favorites, with unique, contemporary art
such a wonderful weekend. great post Paulina!