A stay at a dude ranch is a great idea for a family vacation. The kids will have a blast, and the moms and dads will find they are having a great time too. There are many activities that will engage the whole family. The U.S. has a wide range of dude ranches that will meet the needs of your family.
Where are Dude Ranches Located
Dude ranches are typically located in what is considered the Wild West. You can find dude ranches in Alaska, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana to name just a few of the states where you can enjoy a western style vacation. Many of the dude ranches offer a variety of activities and you can join in with the cowboys and get your hands dirty helping them do their daily chores. This is sometimes the only chance that city folk get to experience the life that many people treasure.
There are even dude ranches that can be found in many of the Canadian provinces. Though we may think that the life of a cowboy is just legend today, nothing is further from the truth. There are many that live their life on the range and are more than happy to share their passion with others.
What You can Expect when You Visit a Dude Ranch
Meals are typically referred to as chow and they are served family style. This gives everyone a chance to relax and get to know each other and for guests to listen to some of the cowboy’s tall tales. Campfires are a must and you will enjoy toasting marshmallows and listening to stories that you have only read about in books.
Some dude ranches are focused on horsemanship and others are real working cattle ranches. You may get a chance to see doggies getting branded, participate in a round-up or take to the trail along with the rest of the crew.
If you are not interested in getting involved in daily chores, you can take a hike along trails where you will take in the breathtaking scenery. Most dude ranches provide guests with a pool for swimming, basketball courts, tennis courts and of course there is always horseback riding. This may be the first time many tenderfoots get a chance to get up close to a horse. You can learn how to saddle and bridle your horse and feel like an authentic cowpoke.
What about Accommodations
Accommodations range from a bunkhouse styled room where everyone sleeps together to a luxurious private cabin. Depending upon the type of experience you want for your family, you can find a variety of accommodations that are sure to please the whole family.
Going to a dude ranch with your family will give you time to get to know one another all over again and you will often come away from your adventure with a sense of pride in learning new things and forgetting about big city life, if only for a little while.
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If we book, do we get to meet a horse whisperer as well? It would be lovely to see one first hand.
Comment by Jenny — April 2, 2008 @ 8:49 pm