Luxurious Guest Ranches

How to choose a great dude or guest ranch

Hang on, I need to get something out of the way. "City Slickers." Okay, now that the inevitable has been mentioned, we can move on. Guest ranches --also known as dude ranches--are an excellent choice for a family vacation, regardless of season. Even if it's just two of you, many ranches cater to couples, ensuring you of an active and romantic holiday. The guest ranch tradition was established in the Western states as early as the late 19th century. They grew in popularity after the first World War, when advances in technology and the era of the automobile sparked nostalgia for the "Old West" way of life and legendary hospitality. It was also around this time that "dude" ranches spread to the eastern U.S.. While some ranches were and are dedicated to serving tourists, many are working ranches that host guests as a means of supplemental income. My dad worked as a wrangler at one such spread in northern Colorado in the mid-1950's, when he was putting himself through vet school. Then called UT Bar Ranch, it's now the Laramie River Ranch , and Colorado's "newest old dude ranch." I spent a very enjoyable week there with my extended family for my parents' 50th anniversary five years ago. It was the first time I'd stayed long enough at a guest ranch to really get the full experience. Even though I grew up on a ranch, I still love being immersed in the Western lifestyle and participating in ranch activities such as cattle and horse gatherings, trail rides, feeding and care of livestock, and barbecues . When kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, nordic skiing or snowshoeing , horsemanship clinics, mustang/wildlife viewing, pack trips, or even yoga are thrown into the mix, a ranch stay can become a diverse holiday adventure, and you don't need previous riding experience. Ranchseeker.com provides a listing of various national and international dude and guest ranch organizations, as well as state associations for Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming. It also describes the strict criteria required for membership. The Dude Rancher's Association site is helpful for both potential guests and those in the industry. Another excellent site is Top 50 Ranches , which is "dedicated to showcasing some of the most breathtaking, authentic, and luxurious [international] ranch destinations." It also allows you to input dates, destination, and other info, highlights special-interest packages, and offers helpful articles and tips, such as what clothes to pack.

Away.com – August 9, 2011 « Vista Verde Ranch's Blog

Vista Verde Guest Ranch – by Kara Williams for Away.com

Wide-open meadows, thick pine forest, pretty aspen groves, and looming mountains… welcome to nature on steroids at Vista Verde, a luxury, all-inclusive guest ranch near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Vista Verde may be a dude ranch, but this property offers so much more than just horseback riding. Think gourmet meals, whitewater-rafting and fly-fishing trips, mountain biking, a plethora of kids’ activities, and, yes, trail rides for every equestrian—whether you and your children have never been on a horse or you ride regularly.

Vista Verde is open year-round. Winter brings opportunities for cross-country or backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding. The ranch is adjacent to north Colorado’s Routt National Forest, so there are miles and miles for exploration—on horseback or on foot. The ranch’s proximity to Steamboat Springs means you can also easily downhill ski on world-class slopes or go on dogsledding or snowmobiling excursions. Transport to the ski town is included in the price of your vacation. A small property, Vista Verde only hosts up to 40 guests at one time, so it’s easy to get to know other visiting families over the course of a week—the standard length of stay. Similarly, some families form strong bonds with the on-site wranglers and the kitchen and childcare staff; even at the ranch’s busiest times, the staff-to-guest ratio is 1:1.Vista Verde recommends that visiting children are ages six or older to make the most of the excellent outdoor offerings at the ranch; if you have younger ones, just chat with the friendly reservation staff to see if Vista Verde is a good match for you. The ranch can be flexible, for sure, due in part to its small size.

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