If you’ve never been on a family ranch vacation before, you may be wondering what to expect.
With no poolside, no beaches, and none of the other defining aspects of your standard family holiday, knowing what to expect from your family ranch vacation can be difficult to guess.
However, after reading this article, such a vacation will no longer seem like such a wild idea, and you’ll be ready to saddle up for a family ranch vacation like no other!
What are Family Ranch Vacations?
These types of vacations, which are sometimes referred to as ‘dude ranch vacations’, generally implies an all-inclusive ranch-turned-resort, with a focus not only on horseback riding but outdoor activity in general.
They are hands-on vacations and are a great destination for families who want to spend more time together, learn new skills, and experience the lifestyle of a bygone era.
They have long been a magnet for western culture-loving holidaymakers, with the general theme being inspired by life on the prairie. You can expect plenty of evening entertainment that’s based around western dancing and country music.
Horseback Riding
One ranch resort can differ drastically from the next, but something that you can expect from all ranch resorts is horse riding.
Most ranches will be positioned near accessible trails, where the more experienced horse riders among you can take the resort’s steeds out for some exercise.
However, there’s no need to worry if you are an inexperienced rider, as most ranch resorts will feature on-site horse-riding lessons and supervised riding sessions to accommodate for all levels and abilities.
Some ranches will even have smaller horses or ponies to give younger kids a go at horse riding, with the minimum riding age being, normally, between 4 and 5.
Are There Other Activities to Do?
Family ranch vacations are not limited to horseback riding – generally, there are a wide variety of activity options to keep all members of your family entertained.
Onsite ranch activities tend to consist of hiking, archery, climbing, and fishing, and several watersports, if your ranch is located nearby a lake, such as canoeing, swimming, and rafting.
Several ranch resorts are better known for their additional facilities than the ranch-based activities themselves, such as Colorado Trails, which welcomes many fishing guests every year; The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Colorado, is known for its mountain biking; and Tanque Verde Ranch, Arizona, is known to provide excellent facilities for young guests while providing a nice place to relax for adults with its onsite luxury spa.
It’s Like a Summer Camp
When it comes to the question of what to expect from your family ranch vacation, the only comparable thing that comes to mind is a summer camp.
The amount of different activities that take place, plus the outdoor setting, really evokes the feeling of a summer camp – which makes the whole experience fun.
For the most part, there’s rarely any onsite bars or restaurants, but there may be some onsite chefs preparing daily meals using local, fresh produce.
There are normally several social areas dotted throughout the ranch, where families can relax, converse with other guests, and enjoy their own food and drink.
Like at a summer camp, each member of the family should sign up for what activities they want to take part in in the morning, straight after breakfast – the heavier the itinerary, the more rewarding each day feels!
You’ll Also Find Space to Relax
As action-packed as a family ranch vacation may sound, there is also plenty of space to relax and enjoy the surroundings – you’re in the countryside, after all!
Between activities, you’ll find the ranch to be quite the tranquil spot to recharge, with spectacular surroundings and the calming ambience of the surrounding nature.
There’s no better place than way-out-west to stargaze, plus, a nightly campfire will be standard practice at most ranches, which gives these vacations a coziness to them like no other!
Is there Internet Access?
Although dude ranch vacations are inspired by a pre-internet world, most resorts feature solar-powered electricity and have Wi-Fi facilities – albeit, given that many of the dude ranches are located in off-the-grid locations, they may not be able to offer fast internet reception.
Some ranches encourage you to switch off your mobile for the duration of your stay, to create a more authentic experience, and allow vacationers to experience a digital detox.
But, if you must have an internet reception, several ranches will be able to facilitate, including Goosewing Ranch in Wyoming, and Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Montana.
What to Pack for your Family Ranch Vacation
If you’re planning on doing plenty of horse riding during your family ranch vacation, it may be a good idea to get yourself and your family members kitted out with fitted riding boots.
Although some ranches will have boots to rent, it may be a safer and more comfortable option to get boots fitted to your size prior to the trip.
Don’t just rely on your cowboy boots, however, be sure to pack additional footwear for the other activities you’ll be partaking in! Classic denim jeans are recommended for horseback riding for optimum comfort.
If you’re planning on going on long-distance horse-riding excursions or hikes around the surrounding ranges, you should aim to pack plenty of appropriate thermal clothing for unexpected temperature drops.
It’s a fun idea to take the western theme to the extreme and dress like a cowboy where appropriate. There may be a gift shop on site where you can get yourself kitted out with cowboy attire, but it may be a better idea to pick out a dashing cowboy hat beforehand.
Given that your ranch may not have amenities such as shops, it would be best to pack all standard holiday essentials such as sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, a flashlight, a water bottle, etc.
Enjoy your family ranch vacation!