So now you know what is a dude ranch. There is nothing more Americana grass roots wholesome fun than vacationing at a dude ranch. It is where families bond together in a most intimate manner. The most important part of a dude ranch experience is relaxation and that is what vacations are for. When surrounded by the natural beauty of the wilderness, the fresh air and star riddled night skies, one can only forget all the worries left behind if only for a short while. Once you experience a dude ranch you will invariably make the return trip time a time again as there is no vacation like a dude ranch vacation.
Cowboy on a golf course?
Relaxing in the evening at an intimate ranch
No matter what your riding skills there is a dude ranch for you
What is a Dude Ranch Part Deux
Dude ranches are now a long established tradition and continue to be a vacation destination for everyone. From a family get together, reunions, weddings or corporate events, a dude ranch vacation is like no other you will experience. Even people traveling alone have found dude ranches to be a perfect vacation spot because of their intimate environments. Since every ranch is operated a little differently they all adhere to the strict guidelines of providing warm hospitality and excellent food. Visiting places like TripAdvisor and looking up reviews is a great starting place for finding out what uniqueness each ranch offers and what past guests experiences have been like.
What is a Dude Ranch?
For a more authentic dude ranch experience one should choose smaller ranches that accommodate 50 guests or less. Here you will find these family run ranches provide you with some of the friendliest and nicest stays you can imagine. You will truly feel like this type of ranch is your home away from home. Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch and Elk Mountain Ranch are two examples of family owned ranches that accommodate less then 50 guests and boast intimate atmosphere. For those looking for a dude ranch experience with all the luxuries and accommodations of a resort hotel you can find such experiences at places like Rancho De Los Caballeros. These larger locations offer all the luxuries of a modern resort hotel while still providing you with a sampling of dude ranch life. Rancho de Los Caballeros is unique in that it is still a family owned business but can accommodate over 200 guests with its 79 rooms. They offer a world class golf course, meeting rooms for corporate events and of course horseback riding. While you will not necessarily get the feeling you have stepped back in time at these high end resorts you will certainly have all the amenities one would expect when vacationing at a 5 star resort hotel.
The vacation of a lifetime
Discovering the American Wild West is what a dude ranch experience is all about. Most dude ranches are family owned and these owners open their homes to guests every year providing some of the best vacation experiences one could ever imagine. A dude ranch experience is more than just a room and food. It is partaking in the spirit of the Old West, the beauty of the wilderness and living the life of a cowboy. It is a simple way of life and that is where its charm is most compelling. Families have found that when vacationing at a dude ranch their bonds become stronger and forever lasting. Fathers, daughters, sons and mothers find the time to be together in environments that are untouched by time and pollution. These pristine locations bring out the best of people allowing them get in touch with their inner self as well as those of their loved ones.
A solid horse riding program is critical in any dude ranch operation. Most of these facilities will have plenty of horses on the property and riding is a main attraction of these destinations. Managed by Wranglers, these cowboys are the heart of any dude ranch operation. They take care of the horses and are your primary tour guide when venturing out on the trails. No matter what your horse riding experience is, a dude ranch can accommodate any kind of riding skills from the novice to the expert. Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch has the unique distinction of being able to accommodate guests in wheelchairs and even has a ramp that enables wheelchair guests to easily mount their horses from above rather than below the horse. No matter what your experience of limitations are there is a dude ranch out there that will satisfy our horse riding needs no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are.
Food at a dude ranch is wholesome and healthy. Most offer home cooked meals and outside barbecue. Some ranches will even take you out on overnight camping rides where you sleep under the stars after a hearty meal cooked outdoors. Most authentic dude ranches offer all inclusive pricing, meaning your stay includes all food costs, riding excursions and rooms (alcohol is usually excluded). This makes for a very inexpensive vacation where your initial cash outlay is just about the only expense you will incur while staying at a ranch.