Seasons of a Dude Ranch
What is your family doing for Spring Break?
Stormy weather is upon us and for many, the passing of Valentine’s Day and the shortest month of the year means more than candied hearts and roses. For many, the passing of January and February signal the perfect excuse to plan your next big break and welcome a spring vacation. Luckily, as the country’s original all-inclusive adventure vacation, guest ranches offer effortless options to satisfy any taste this spring. Whether it’s a warm family getaway that breaks the cliché of bikinis, tequila and crowds or a ski trip with friends, guest ranches can handle any request. Guest ranches offer value and numerous advantages over other all-inclusive vacation options, including no planning once you arrive, flexibility to customize your itinerary, and no additional costs while you enjoy your stay. Ranches located in warmer climates like Arizona allow guests to escape the winter cold and bask in the sun while horseback riding or enjoying luxury spa services. Vacationers wishing to cozy up to the fire can enjoy ranches located in cooler climates, like Colorado and Montana, where guests get the opportunity to bundle up and have one more romp in the snow before spring.
Warm Escapes
- Under the Tucson Sun – Tanque Verde Ranch, located in Tucson, Ariz., offers an abundance of activities for all ages. Whether you’re seeking to explore the desert and mountains, relax and reconnect with yourself, satisfy a creative craving, or burn up some energy with a challenging game, Tanque Verde offers a variety of activities to help you make the most of your guest ranch vacation. Spring break activities include horseback riding, guided hiking and biking, swimming, dancing, fishing or relaxing at the spa.
- Western Adventure – Treat yourself to a historic Wild West adventure while enjoying all of the comforts and conveniences of the modern world at Tombstone Monument Ranch. Set up like an 1880’s Western frontier town, this guest ranch is situated amidst ancient bolder formations and the Dragoon Mountains, located three miles outside of Tombstone, Ariz. in the heart of Cochise County. Ride miles of trails where historic cowboys rode in the Tombstone hills, along old, abandoned railroad grade, in and out of dry gulches and washes, and along old dirt roads. Afterward, guests can step back in time through the swinging doors of an Old West-style bar and enjoy fun evening entertainment after a hearty dinner. Or, get to know the West’s most iconic town, Tombstone, which is home to more history of cowboys, Indians, silver mining and gunfights than any other destination in the West. Tombstone is owned by the same operators as White Stallion Ranch – another warm-weather ranch in Tuscon, Ariz., featuring unspoiled desert mountains and cactus that have brought Hollywood filmmakers and generations of visitors to the ranch for more than 70 years.
Winter Weather Getaways
- Family Style – Taking a spring break at The Home Ranch is a perfect idea for families that want to truly unwind, play in the snow, and still get all the sunshine a spring break vacation requires. Located just outside Steamboat Springs in Clark, Colo., visitors enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding in the snow, sleigh rides, cooking classes and more. This guest ranch is known for its cuisine, offered family-style at long ranch tables. Rates include all meals, ranch activities, equipment, lessons, guides, and transportation to the Steamboat ski area and Hayden airport.
- Snow on the Range – The Medicine Bow Lodge And Guest Ranch is located in the Snowy Range of the Rocky Mountains set within the Medicine Bow National Forest. While the closest town is about 22 miles West, in Saratoga, Colorado, guests will find plenty of bustling activity during their stay. The Snowy Range, with its alpine terrain, is unique in its beauty and splendor. Old mining and logging towns can be seen on horseback rides within just a few miles of the lodge, along with the hundreds of lakes, ponds, and streams that fill the valleys. Snowmobiling is at its all-time best here, where guests can enjoy trails painted with fresh, untouched powder along the backcountry. Afterward, guests can enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, then cozy up by the huge stone fireplace in the lodge to await their homemade meal.
