by Diane Covington

n this day and age of identical supermarkets and hotel chains, it’s rare to find a one-of-a-kind resort like the Highland Ranch. And even more special to find the kind of genuine hospitality we experienced, combined with natural splendor, sumptuous meals and so many choices of fun things to do.

We’d come to The Highland Ranch, in the Anderson Valley, two hours north of San Francisco, for a weekend of fun and relaxation.

We were lured by the description of more than 200 acres of redwoods, firs and ancient oaks, cozy cabins and old-fashioned hospitality. We could choose among trail riding, hiking, swimming, fishing, yoga and tennis to work off all the great ranch food.

Only the shuffling of the horses and the cry of a hawk broke the silence.

The Highland Ranch is owned and run by the Gaines family, and we were welcomed like old friends. The century old yellow farmhouse where we ate family style meals always had a crackling fire in the stone fireplace. Big soft chairs, shelves of books and the delicious smells from the kitchen made it easy to lounge around before dinner or anytime. Or we could watch the pinks and purples of sunset from the deck, sipping local wines and chatting with other guests till the dinner bell rang.

Meals were served family style, meaning we continued our interesting conversations with our new friends while we ate the delicious home-cooked meals. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, fresh garden vegetables, followed by blackberry pie à la mode was one memorable dinner. I counted four generations in the dining room — it felt like a family reunion with just made friends.

You can come to dinner in your boots and jeans and don’t have to worry about putting your feet up in the living room. Riding is a major attraction, but you don’t have to ride. You can drink and eat as much as you want.

With more than 100 miles of riding trails, we took advantage of the daily guided rides through the forests. All levels of riding ability are welcome. After our ride, we discovered a new sport, called ‘hammocking’ that scored high in the relaxation department.

Our cozy cabin (one of eight on the property) had a wood stove, its own bath, shelves of books and a porch with rocking chairs. As we relaxed on our porch, the view toward the coast was pure forest. Only the shuffling of the horses and the cry of a hawk broke the silence. The stars at night were amazing.

The sign on the cabin wall listed two rules that made us giggle: “Thou shalt not hurry” and “Thou shalt not scare the horses.”

If you can stand to leave the property — we couldn’t — you can drive down the road to world-class wineries or over the hill to the coast.

You are free to do as little or as much as you want. When you’re ready to savor a bit of paradise, to stop and smell the roses, or just lie in a hammock and let their fragrance drift over to you, this is the place.

Highland Ranch: tel. 707/895-3600; www.highlandranch.com.

Diane Covington is a freelance travel writer based in Nevada City, California.

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