In desirable locations from California’s wine country to the not-so-wild West of Texas, these vast retreats offer room to relax while enjoying inspiring views, welcome fresh air, and pure privacy for acres on end.

The Bixby House

Within view of the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge, this irreplaceable home was built for film producer Ralph B. Atkinson. Spanning approximately 5,000 square feet, it offers five bedrooms, six baths, and a window-wrapped ocean-facing sunroom and is accompanied by a delightful guesthouse built in the 1800s. The homes are perfectly positioned on an 11-acre peninsula west of Highway 1, affording some of the most spectacular postcard views in the United States.

Tesuque Ridge Ranch

Enveloping this 14,000-square-foot Southwestern manor and its charming, very private two-bedroom guesthouse are 16.61 acres of seclusion in the rolling hills just north of Santa Fe. The three-lot estate is securely gated and includes an array of relaxing outdoor living areas as well as vibrant landscaping—mature aspen and fruit trees, irises, roses, grasses, and a vegetable garden—that provides inspiring color for much of the year. Additional building sites afford the opportunity for expansions and additions. Horses are also welcome here.

Quail H Ranch

This idyllic 296-acre collection of hills, pastures, rolling grassland, mature oaks, and untouched open space is nestled in a picturesque pastoral pocket of the sunny Santa Ynez Valley. It features an 8,200-square-foot home, a renovated 1920s guest cottage, and a two-bedroom casita. The acreage consists of two legal parcels, offering pastureland for grazing, a “cowboy polo” field, equestrian facilities, and a restored vintage three-stall barn with an entertainment loft. The location is ideal for a vineyard producing Bordeaux grapes.

Resort-Caliber Getaway in Texas

This unique estate consists of a palatial Mediterranean residence, two well-appointed casitas, and a six-car garage, all sited on 54.4 lush, park-like acres. This is a true resort-caliber private retreat, the home featuring a gourmet kitchen, a game room with a golf simulator and a billiards area, a massage room, a theater, and a grand loggia with an outdoor kitchen; while the grounds include a pond, a freshwater river, fountains, a putting green, a fire pit, and a swimming pool.

Originally published on July 4, 2020 by sothebysrealty