Warner Hot Springs

Warner Hot Springs Ranch is in the foothills of Palomar Mountain, an easy two-hour drive from Los Angeles and a one-and-a-half hour drive from San Diego. This is one of my favorite spots offering all the ammenities of a resort spa at reasonable prices. You can either go up the Pacific Crest trail for hours of riding and extreme beauty, or you can take small jaunts into the fields to ride with pastured horses. Feel like a part of the old west when you tie your horse to the hitchin' post at historic Mission atop a picturesque hill. The historic Warner Springs Ranch, established in 1844, has beeen a hidden oasis for travelers since the days of the old west Butterfield Overland Stage Coach. The resort is open to groups and individual guests, offering equestrian packages. They have 240 cozy cottages, most with fireplaces and mini-refrigerators, but no television or telephones. After a long day of riding, you can't beat a relaxing float in the olympic size mineral pools, heated up to 101 degrees! Then, nothing better than a cool drink at the historic adobe cantina which hosts live music on the weekends, and a fine dinner in the large dining hall. All in all, it's a fine equestrian vacation in our own backyard.

Temps can get quite chilly in the winter, and it's not uncommon to get snow. Check our whether forcast map to get up to the minute forcasts.

Top photo; Pacific Crest Trail ride, forever views.

Bottom right; Two olympic size pools with changing rooms. A fresh cup of coffee with our morning mineral bath was a great way

to start the day.