Dude Ranch 101
Traveling is one of many wonderful things a parent can do for a child’s education and early experiences. Many families may be come dismayed while searching for a destination to take their young ones. That being said, here is a great solution for families with babies as new as one month can find suitable – or rather an amazing – ranch vacation.
The Wind River and Tumbling River Ranches are just those types of spots. Although you may be looking for a baby friendly place the fun doesn’t stop there. Nope, it continues on to great times for small children through the teenage years and settles in with activities for parents and grandparents alike. Here are some adventure ranch destinations with amazing experiences for all ages.
Ranches for Children of All Ages
Wind River Ranch
Wind River Ranch, takes care of your entire family’s needs and desires seriously. They know that kids and teens need the time and space to play and explore with kids of their own ages and interests, that infants need to be coddled and swooned, and that everyone in the family needs a chance to experience rejuvenation and unplugged happy downtime in nature.
All of the children’s counselors at Wind River have gone through a tough screening process and rigorous training and they excel at creating a wide variety of fun and exciting activities~ from morning to night. So whether they choose to hang out at the kids club or go horseback riding with amazing wranglers, your kids will find both the elbow room and latitude they need to explore freely, combined with the supervision and security you need to ensure they have a wonderful and safe experience in the great outdoors.
Tumbling River Ranch
Tumbling River Ranch is well-known as a premier kids ranch in Colorado, for good reason: not only do they focus on the interests of the children, but relish the opportunity to introduce them to the Western lifestyle and Western ideas. It is a flexible program, built both to allow families ample time together and kids to have plenty of their own adventures. Some of the teen group highlights: rock climbing (not on a wall), the teen loping brunch ride, white-water rafting, the overnight pack trip to a ghost town in the mountains, fly-fishing clinics, teen cookout, yoga, capture the flag, private arena clinics and horseback games.
Tumbling River Ranch offers a nanny program, loves babies and has lots of gear. In fact, Scott and Megan added the program once they started a family of their own. They want the program to work for your family, so you have a few options. The full nanny program (8 hours a day to use as you’d like; this is a one-on-one program with college-age nannies) is one option.
Another option would be once you get to the ranch and find yourself enjoying the activities and wanting to get out on your own, there are babysitting services for an additional charge. The counselor team at Tumbling River is top-notch: each was chosen based on their experience with and desire to work with children. Most have an extensive background working with kids, and many return each summer–a testament both to their love of the west and the quality of their programs every year.
To find out more about these family destinations (and their adult activities) visit them on the web or use the contact information below. To make a reservation contact the ranch directly. If you have general questions about a ranch vacation you can call the Dude Ranchers Association.
Wind River Guest Ranch
Estes Park, Colorado
Open May through September
Tumbling River Ranch
Grant, Colorado
Open May through October
