Experience old-fashioned holidays at Sylvan Dale Ranch! Hop on a horse-drawn hayride, then relax & feast on a traditional Thanksgiving Day buffet, served by "pilgrims." Have a family reunion with their "More Than Just Pumpkin Pie Weekend Special," including meals, lodging, horseback riding, hoe-down, sing-along, butter-making, game room, & hot tub! Get into the Christmas spirit with "Candlelight & Carols" on December 23rd, featuring sumptuous buffet, home-baked desserts, and festive music by Loveland Chorale Society.
www.SylvanDale.com
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Toll-free 877-667-3999
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
10 Surprising Things to Do at a Dude Ranch
Does “dude ranch” conjure images of office workers doffing their Dockers in favor of denim? Do you envision time in the saddle, or sleeping under the stars, and think it might be fun for a day or two … but you’re not sure about an entire vacation?
There’s good news for travelers who would like a taste of the dude ranch experience blended with a heaping serving of other vacation-type activities. Today’s dude ranches cater to a diverse crowd – from families to couples to singles – with activities, attractions and services that travel far beyond the trail.
“While dude ranches still provide that one-of-a-kind ‘cowboy-style’ vacation you can’t find anywhere else, many have also expanded their offerings to appeal to the diverse and discriminating tastes of today’s traveler,” says Colleen Hodson of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, an organization that represents more than 100 dude ranches.
So if you’re considering a dude ranch vacation and would like to spend time out of the saddle, consider these 10 surprising things to do on today’s dude ranches:
1. Get a massage or spa treatment.
Hotels and resorts around the world have hopped on the spa bandwagon, spending millions to build lavish facilities or offer massage, salon and spa services. Many dude ranches now offer comparable services, like White Stallion Ranch in LOCATION, where guests can indulge in a massage.
2. Water ski.
Not all dude ranches are located in desert terrain. Ones like Wilderness Trails Ranch, which is located next to Vallecito Lake near Durango, Colorado, take full advantage of their waterfront setting. Guests can water ski, kneeboard or tube behind a tournament quality ski boat, or sail on a 24-foot Catalina.
3. Take a yoga class.
Many ranches that offer spa services also provide yoga classes and training. Before a long day in the saddle, guests can have a relaxing limbering-up session with certified trainers.
4. Indulge in a wine tasting.
Gourmet cuisine is gaining popularity at dude ranches, right alongside trail traditions like franks ‘n’ beans and strong coffee. Many ranches also offer wine tastings where guests can experience, savor and learn about different varietals.
5. Get married.
Picturesque settings, wide open spaces and top-notch amenities draw thousands of brides-to-be and their grooms to dude ranches each year. Some dude ranches even offer personal wedding planners to assist couples in planning every facet of their special day – a leading-edge service you would expect to find in the finest hotels or resorts. At Wilderness Trails, you can even rent the entire ranch for your event.
6. Catch a movie.
From 27-seat movie theaters to state-of-the art home theater equipment or simple, old-fashioned family-style viewing on a big-screen TV, dude ranches are equipped to show recently released films.
7. Work on your tennis serve.
Recognizing that your craving for sport might exceed chasing down an errant calf, some dude ranches like Paradise Ranch in LOCATION offer other sporting opportunities, such as lighted tennis courts.
8. Surf the Internet.
Demand for high-speed, wireless Internet access is high among both leisure and business travelers. Many dude ranches are in step with the times and offer guests free Internet access. Some may provide access only in guestrooms, while others feature access in some public areas as well.
9. Perform in a talent show.
Friendly competition can be found in many forms on dude ranches, from roping contests to talent shows. If lassoing a speeding calf isn’t your forte, you can sing, tap or joke your way to local stardom in a talent show.
10. Chase a chicken.
Immortalized on the TV reality show “Girl Meets Cowboy,” the chicken chase at Paradise Ranch pits man, woman or child against fowl. Several chickens are loosed in a pen and the human competitors must try to chase them down. No chickens are harmed in the competition and the activity is unusual fun for the other two-legged participants as well. To date, the score tally remains in favor of the chickens.
To learn more about a dude ranch vacation, visit www.duderanch.org.
There’s good news for travelers who would like a taste of the dude ranch experience blended with a heaping serving of other vacation-type activities. Today’s dude ranches cater to a diverse crowd – from families to couples to singles – with activities, attractions and services that travel far beyond the trail.
“While dude ranches still provide that one-of-a-kind ‘cowboy-style’ vacation you can’t find anywhere else, many have also expanded their offerings to appeal to the diverse and discriminating tastes of today’s traveler,” says Colleen Hodson of the Dude Ranchers’ Association, an organization that represents more than 100 dude ranches.
So if you’re considering a dude ranch vacation and would like to spend time out of the saddle, consider these 10 surprising things to do on today’s dude ranches:
1. Get a massage or spa treatment.
Hotels and resorts around the world have hopped on the spa bandwagon, spending millions to build lavish facilities or offer massage, salon and spa services. Many dude ranches now offer comparable services, like White Stallion Ranch in LOCATION, where guests can indulge in a massage.
2. Water ski.
Not all dude ranches are located in desert terrain. Ones like Wilderness Trails Ranch, which is located next to Vallecito Lake near Durango, Colorado, take full advantage of their waterfront setting. Guests can water ski, kneeboard or tube behind a tournament quality ski boat, or sail on a 24-foot Catalina.
3. Take a yoga class.
Many ranches that offer spa services also provide yoga classes and training. Before a long day in the saddle, guests can have a relaxing limbering-up session with certified trainers.
4. Indulge in a wine tasting.
Gourmet cuisine is gaining popularity at dude ranches, right alongside trail traditions like franks ‘n’ beans and strong coffee. Many ranches also offer wine tastings where guests can experience, savor and learn about different varietals.
5. Get married.
Picturesque settings, wide open spaces and top-notch amenities draw thousands of brides-to-be and their grooms to dude ranches each year. Some dude ranches even offer personal wedding planners to assist couples in planning every facet of their special day – a leading-edge service you would expect to find in the finest hotels or resorts. At Wilderness Trails, you can even rent the entire ranch for your event.
6. Catch a movie.
From 27-seat movie theaters to state-of-the art home theater equipment or simple, old-fashioned family-style viewing on a big-screen TV, dude ranches are equipped to show recently released films.
7. Work on your tennis serve.
Recognizing that your craving for sport might exceed chasing down an errant calf, some dude ranches like Paradise Ranch in LOCATION offer other sporting opportunities, such as lighted tennis courts.
8. Surf the Internet.
Demand for high-speed, wireless Internet access is high among both leisure and business travelers. Many dude ranches are in step with the times and offer guests free Internet access. Some may provide access only in guestrooms, while others feature access in some public areas as well.
9. Perform in a talent show.
Friendly competition can be found in many forms on dude ranches, from roping contests to talent shows. If lassoing a speeding calf isn’t your forte, you can sing, tap or joke your way to local stardom in a talent show.
10. Chase a chicken.
Immortalized on the TV reality show “Girl Meets Cowboy,” the chicken chase at Paradise Ranch pits man, woman or child against fowl. Several chickens are loosed in a pen and the human competitors must try to chase them down. No chickens are harmed in the competition and the activity is unusual fun for the other two-legged participants as well. To date, the score tally remains in favor of the chickens.
To learn more about a dude ranch vacation, visit www.duderanch.org.
Guest Testimonial of the Week
In 2004 we searched the web for weeks looking for a ranch where we could horseback ride in the snow; that is where we started. What we found was the most wonderful vacation experience of our lives at Vista Verde in Colorado. We had loved cruises in the past because of all the activities, food and mostly the individual attention. Nothing compares to the experience we received at VV. An all inclusive vacation with amazing staff, accomodations and activities was unbelievable! We returned for the next three years and each year was better than the last. We are so looking forward to 2010 because even more changes have been made including an indoor riding arena. Vista Verde is the best kept secret for a wonderful vacation (always winter for us with lots of snow). Age is not an issue with guests from all over the world from kids to 80 year olds.
Say Adios to "Old Man Winter"
The Farmers Almanac predicts this winter will be “especially harsh” in the Northern climes. That forecast, along with expectations of a continuing economic recovery make it advisable to firm up travel plans now. Reserve a spot to escape the coming freeze, somewhere perhaps like the sun drenched deserts of Arizona or the warm, enchanting lands of New Mexico.
The American Southwest is one of the sunniest spots in the country. It’s also the locale of numerous Western dude ranches, 12 of them proud members of The Dude Ranchers’ Association. The organization has kept the standards for the industry high since its inception in1926. A reservation at a ”DRA” member ranch comes with the guarantee of an authentic, quality, experience. Keeping travelers’ budget, preferred activities, and desired level of service in mind, DRA staffers steer vacationers to ranches best suited for them.
Plenty of Southwest dude ranches offer the same resort-like amenities and services of other popular “snowbird” destinations. What guests won’t find are added charges or daily resort fees. Instead, dude Ranches operate on the American plan. Lodging, activities and delicious, hearty meals are included in one “no-hassle” rate, a guarantee touted by Arizona’s Grapevine Canyon Ranch for their 2010 rates. It’s an upfront, straightforward policy, packaging accommodations, riding, all meals, even taxes and gratuities in one rate. Rates vary by season, with some of the lowest rates in January and February. The no-hassle rate starts at just $178 per person per day. Once the land of Dragoons and Apaches, there are still remnants of primitive Indian villages on ranch property and wild grapevines still flourish in the canyon. Located between Tucson and Tombstone, the working ranch provides an ultimate immersion into the Cowboy life of the Old West with the exception of lodging and meals. No bunkhouses and beans for Grapevine guests. Instead, guests retreat to cool, private casitas and feast on homemade meals made from “scratch."
In Southwest New Mexico’s pristine Gila National Forest, guests of Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch escape the cold and the frantic pace of modern society. Eighty-five miles from the nearest stoplight, solitude is the ranch mantra. The ranch accommodates only 15 guests at a time. Riding the trails, visitors may glimpse elk, wild turkey, even a mountain lion but rarely other people. Not a resort type guest ranch, visitors may add a spa experience at the Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa in nearby Truth or Consequences. Here, ranch guests are offered a 10% discount off all services. And many do choose to soak for a day or two in the spa’s geothermal, natural springs.
Ranches more like resorts are found near Tucson. Both the White Stallion Ranch and Tanque Verde Ranch, come with luxurious pools, spas, and tennis courts. The White Stallion offers a full calendar of special events: horse and riding seminars, cowgirl camps, and packages co-sponsored by Elderhostel. At the Tanque Verde there are special pack trips through December and a mountain bike adventure for serious pedalers.
Can’t get much further south in Arizona than DRA dude ranch resort; The Circle Z Ranch, straddling the border, minutes from Mexico. The ranch is recognized worldwide as a prime destination for “birders.” In the nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Nature Reserve, riders often glimpse vermillion fly catchers and other rare birds. First class amenities include an all-weather tennis court and heated pool. Colorful adobe cottages and meals served on the lodge patio entertain guests with panoramic views of the mountains and desert.
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