Laguna Beach Is 80 Degrees in the Winter – And This Hotel Encourages You to Make the Most of It

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Late Checkout is TQE’s travel vertical. Whether you’re seeking an Eat Pray Love moment of your own, or a wholesome family sojourn, we hope you embark on an adventure requisite of a late checkout below.

A few months ago, a GQ article titled “How to Take a European-Style Summer Vacation in California,” by Chris Black landed in my inbox. The timing felt personal: that same week, I was leaving Santa Monica for a Paris wedding, then heading to the Dolomites for a little R&R. It felt a touch overstated, but I suppose that’s par for the course for a Chris Black article in GQ. 

Fast forward to December, as I made the drive from Santa Monica down to Laguna Beach for a weekend in borderline-perfect 80-degree weather. The article (which I hadn’t thought about in four months) popped into my head. As much as I hate to admit it, Chris Black was right.

While I’ll never say no to a European adventure, Laguna Beach – just an hour down the road – is a pretty perfect pocket of Southern California no matter when you show up. The temperatures are high, the people are gorgeous, the roads are wide and flawlessly paved, and the beach is genuinely breathtaking. You’re pretty much guaranteed a good time. Especially, I learned, if you stay at The Ranch at Laguna Beach.

Arriving at The Ranch

Over the years, I’ve seen and heard my fair share of buzz about The Ranch. A friend attended a wedding there; another booked it for a getaway for her boyfriend’s birthday. So, as my close friend Bella and I considered a little end of year reset, it felt like the perfect spot. 

It should be about a 70 minute drive from Santa Monica, but we headed south during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. We spent the 2.5-ish hour drive catching up and listening to music before falling silent as we rounded the bend into Laguna, greeted by a dramatic sunset spilling over the water.

The Ranch sits about ten minutes outside of downtown Laguna, tucked between the steep walls of Aliso Canyon. It was pitch black by the time we arrived (the one real downside of a winter visit) so we couldn’t yet see the nature we’d read about: 87 acres, panoramic canyon views, a nine-hole golf course, a biodynamic farm. That would have to wait until morning. First up: check-in, dropping our bags, and heading to The Porch for a drink and a bite.

First Impressions

The lobby was dressed in cozy Christmas décor, and we passed several groups of men wrapping up a round of golf. The front desk attendant was warm and cheerful, and I immediately clocked the Rocco Fridge behind the counter. We were handed refreshing sparkling waters before heading down to our cottage.

The layout reminded me of a chic summer camp – or, as The Ranch describes it, a “residential beach estate ambiance.” Our room was spacious and inviting, with a spa-worthy walk-in shower, Malin + Goetz bath products, an extremely inviting bed, and a relaxed seaside-village vibe that made us instantly exhale.

After dropping our bags, we walked up to The Porch, where we were greeted with a high top table, a heat lamp (those high temps drop quickly in the canyon at night), and beautiful live music courtesy of Lauren Black. We shared a cheese board and flatbread before sauntering over to the cozy fire pits and may or may not have shed a tear over a cup of tea as Lauren sang Landslide. It was time for bed. 

The Ranch by Day

The next morning, we awoke eagerly. The sun was shining, so we made the 8ish minute walk down to Lost Pier Cafe on the beach. I couldn’t imagine a better start to our day than giant breakfast burritos and iced lattes with coffee jelly (imagine boba pearls, but coffee). We ate and watched the surfers before heading back up for our tour of Harvest Farm. 

Back on the property, we met McKenna, one of the property’s farmers, who drove us down to the half-acre Harvest Farm at the edge of the grounds. Along with Farmer Ryan Goldsmith, McKenna oversees the farm, its composting system, and a henhouse. For an hour, McKenna walked us through the details of the farm: how it's outfitted to accommodate The Ranch’s unique microclimate, which veggies and greens are planted where, when, and why, and how they compost scraps from the property’s restaurants to feed and enrich the soil. 

They work with the chefs at Harvest, the main restaurant on property, to grow everything from spring mix to unique-looking radishes and edible flowers for maximum presentation points for diners. You can tell there’s a lot of intention and pride in the whole operation. 

After our tour (which ran a bit over time – we had an enthusiastic group with many questions, and McKenna fielded each and every one of them with a smile) we headed back to our cottage to change into a typical California-in-December outfit – bikini, short sleeve shirt, sweater, puffer jacket – and head into Laguna Beach for an afternoon spent shopping around, snacking, and watching the sunset on the beach.

The Ranch by Night

Once the sun had set, we made our way back to the property for our dinner reservation at Harvest. The restaurant atmosphere is cozy and rustic. We could tell that our delightful waiter Sal loved his job as he walked us through the menu, plus the weekend’s special uni menu (the uni was from a diver in Santa Barbara). Our order included: shrimp toast with uni, a beet salad, plus the short ribs for Bella and a piece of fish for me. 

The standout for me was the shrimp toast. Bella couldn’t stop talking about her short ribs. And, overall, it was fun to notice the microgreens, edible flowers, and the like that adorned our dishes because we knew they had been grown on the farm we toured earlier in the day! It’s the type of place I imagine locals look forward to going for special occasions (our hostess asked if we were there for an occasion before we were seated) and I can see why: it’s cozy, hearty, and really delicious. Plus, the dessert menu is *chef’s kiss.*

Overall Reflections

The next morning, we awoke and reflected on our stay: how the property, which was originally settled as a 152-acre homestead in 1879, has blossomed into a resort that feels considered in every way. Sure, it’s designed as a gorgeous getaway for golfers and beach-goers, but The Ranch at Laguna Beach is also a member of Beyond Green, a global portfolio of hotels leading the way in sustainable tourism. Glass bottles are crushed on site and turned into sand for the golf course, all 87 acres are irrigated with reclaimed water, and the farm both composts food waste from the restaurants on site and services them with greens, vegetables, herbs, and eggs. 

In our increasingly global world, it’s easy to get swept up in far-and-away adventures. (For what it’s worth: I’m a huge fan of those!) But, it’s also affirming to stop and take note of the more local gems that might be hiding in your backyard. The Ranch at Laguna makes a strong case for staying stateside and enjoying true, effortless relaxation. No trains, passport, or conversion rates. 

It’s a property you can enjoy for days on end without leaving (now’s a good time to mention the 3,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spa, 9-hole GEO Certified Laguna golf course, saline pool, hot tub and palapa bar, fitness center and complimentary fitness classes, endless activities from bocce ball to surfing and snorkeling, and hiking trails from the property) or return to after a few hours spent enjoying the quaint shops Laguna has to offer. 

I have no doubt I’ll be back for another friendship ‘honeymoon’ as Bella and I have come to call our stay – and I hope it’s sooner rather than later.