Dude Ranch 101
Dude ranches make an incredibly memorable and enjoyable family vacation – for moms especially. With a sense of togetherness and shared experiences moms and the whole family are sure to love their time in the great outdoors, horseback riding and participating in a limitless number of outdoor adventures, such as hiking, fishing, white water rafting, cattle work, petting zoos, zip-lining and more. Whether you’re an adventure-loving mom (busy body) or a relaxation-loving mom (spa and hanging out by the pool type), we’ve got you covered. It is sure to be a blast for kids of all ages and we’re sure dads will have fun too, but here are the top reasons why moms love dude ranches for a family vacation.
Paradise Guest Ranch – Buffalo, WY
3 Square Meals Are Prepared Daily (Even for Picky Eaters)
Traveling moms understand the task of finding a restaurant everyone will enjoy while on the road. Who wants tacos for dinner? And you hear simultaneously, “I do!” and “No way!” and this process repeats itself until finally you order pizza and take it back to the hotel room. This just isn’t the case at a dude ranch. All the guesswork is taken out of the equation and professionally trained chefs make wonderful dinners for the whole family – even if someone has a special dietary need. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are all planned out for you. And the best part? Moms get to enjoy this with the whole family, not worrying one bit about clean up, grocery shopping, and making sure there’s something on the menu the kids will eat. Once you let the kitchen know what you’ll need for the family, the entire week will be “all gravy,” if you will, at the dinner table.
Chores Are Non-Existent
A ranch vacation goes far beyond booking a typical hotel or even staying at a vacation rental home. We all know what it would take to replace mom’s job while on vacation, an entire team of folks. And that’s just what we’ve got for you for your week’s stay. With a two-to-one guest-to-staff ratio moms won’t have to worry about cleaning up their cabin – a swat team of housekeepers are deployed every morning, that will sweep through every room, tidying up every sock and pj’s from the day before. And what about the dishes? There won’t be any fighting over whose turn it is. Mom certainly won’t have to do it and neither will the kids. And, not one time during the week will anyone have to vacuum dirt dragged in from the barn. If something breaks, no worries, maintenance crews are on staff with all the right tools.
The Activity Planning is Already Done
Moms won’t have to worry about scouring the internet for things to do at their destination. Stop the hassle of worrying about TripAdvisor reviews of afternoon excursions for outdoor adventures. The ranch will have you and the whole family covered for fun things to do. The best thing about this? You won’t have to plan every step or every activity out for the week beforehand. You and the family can decide in the morning what you want to do. There won’t be any need for additional transportation. Fly into the airport and someone from the ranch will be there to pick you up. There won’t be any need for a map or navigation – unless of course, you go geocaching while you’re there.
Bar Lazy J Ranch – Parshall, CO
Everyone Can Be Together or Free to Be with Their Own Age Group
Sometimes the adults want to have some time together, and kids counselors make this easy and fun for everyone. With a full day of programming, your kids have the option to be with their peers all day playing games and learning about the Western cowboy lifestyle. And mom and dad can make some much-needed memories as a couple.
Cell Phones Are Put Away
Without cell service in most locations and limited WIFI, everyone in the family will be encouraged to leave their phones alone. When you think about it, if you are spending your days at the barn riding horses or fishing, your hands are full and won’t be able to carry around your cell phone. Minimal opportunities for electronics are definitely something any parent will love about dude ranches.
Hello Fresh Air and Sunshine!
Moms will have an easy time getting kids outside. Dude ranches are known for their beautiful settings in the mountains. With every horseback ride or afternoon rodeo, kids and parents will get plenty of time in the great outdoors. The only thing to remember is your camera. Although the pictures won’t do justice of the real-life experiences, you’ll enjoy looking back on the pictures of your kids on green grass and mountain views.
Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch – McLeod, MT
Crowds? What Crowds?
Dude ranches are full of wide-open spaces and an intimate number of people. Moms won’t have to worry about anyone getting lost in the crowd, or have to wait in long lines to do anything, really. With an average of 30 guests per week on most dude ranches, everybody will get to meet each other, the staff and other guests alike. By the end of the week everyone in the family is sure to have made a new friend. Who knows? You might even book the exact same week next year to hang out with the same families.
Moms will certainly be able to enjoy a much-needed vacation on a dude ranch. As a worry-free destination, everyone will get to have fun and get to take a break from their normal day-to-day routines. Here are some great destinations to consider for your next visit:
Family Vacation at a Dude Ranch
7D Ranch Near Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Wyoming
Bar Lazy J Ranch Near Rocky Mountain National Park
Majestic Dude Ranch Mancos, Colorado
Tumbling River Ranch In the Rocky Mountains, Grant, Colorado
Crossed Sabres Ranch Near Yellowstone National Park, Cody, WY
Elkhorn Ranch Near Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin Gateway, MT
Hawley Mountain Guest Ranch Near Yellowstone National Park, McLeod, MT
Paradise Guest Ranch In the Big Horn Mountains, Buffalo, WY
Looking for more options? Read about:
Affordable Ranch Vacations for your Family
A Family Dude Ranch Vacation – Fun for All Ages
The Best Multi-Generational Dude Ranches
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