Choosing a Guest Ranch Like the Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

Choosing a guest ranch for an upcoming vacation has some important considerations to research before you decide.

Accommodations at a Guest Ranch

If you are planning a vacation, one crucial thing is getting good accommodations. The choice mostly depends on what you want in your vacation. Various types of guest ranch accommodations are available. If privacy is what you are seeking, you can choose a guest ranch that offers private cabins otherwise you can choose lodge accommodations to get along more easily with other guests. At Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, you have the option of both.

Activities at a Guest Ranch

There are plenty of activities available at a guest ranch vacation. If a real cowboy experience is what you are looking for then a working ranch would be ideal. If your Preference is horseback riding, skiing, river rafting or skeet shooting; you can choose a guest ranch that offers these kinds of activities. Evening activities are also another important factor, if you want a massage or facial, you can choose a ranch resort spa such as Echo Valley Ranch & Spa. If singing songs around a campfire, playing games, dancing, watching movies or just relaxing is your idea of fun, in that case, you can choose those guest ranches that offer various nightly entertainments.

Guest Ranch Vacations for Families

If your vacation plan is for the whole family, you should choose a ranch that offers entertaining activities for the kids. Choosing a guest ranch that offers a full kids program would be wise. There are many guest ranches available that offer accommodations for family groups and contain an array of activities for the kids.

Seasons

The season and weather also play an important role in your vacation decisions. Depending on your preferences about summer and winter activities you can choose the season you want to book your guest ranch vacation. However, you will find many ranches that are open year round and will offer different entertainment opportunities depending on the season. Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is open year round currently. Please contact us for the various activities offered depending on the season.

Horseback Riding

No matter whether you are an experienced rider looking for a riding adventure or a novice looking for lessons, you will surely find guest ranches that will offer exactly what you want about horseback riding. Echo Valley Ranch & Spa has over 30 horses so there is a good selection for riders of all levels. Our wranglers will also hone your skills in the saddle with horseback riding lessons and guided horseback rides.

Dining at a Guest Ranch

Food is another factor that will influence your selection of guest ranches. If you want special cuisine, you can notify the guest ranch earlier as most ranches can prepare special food on demand. Normally you will get quality food as well as special items like BBQ’s or other items on theme nights. At Echo Valley, we have a gourmet chef on staff who prepares a variety of healthy gourmet organic meals. There is also a variety of Thai cuisine on the menu.

Vacation Cost

Budget is another thing that will influence your vacation. Guest ranch vacations vary in price depending on the season and type of accommodations. Usually the vacation package will cover all meals and most of the activities. The total cost will usually depend on the rating of the ranch. Guest ranches are rated from 1 star to 5 star accommodations. You will find accommodations from basic single rooms to luxurious cabins for bigger groups. Choosing extra activities will sometimes cost you some more money. It would be wise to check out the costs of various ranches before selecting one.

Location of Guest Ranch

You will find guest ranches in almost all the states and provinces of US and Canada. Where you want to go depends on your preference. You can choose one that is remotely placed or you can choose one near a major city or national park.

You should thoroughly evaluate all these areas before booking for your next guest ranch vacation. This way, you will be able to find a destination that fits your expectations the most.

Echo Valley Ranch & Spa is a 4.5 star luxury guest ranch with onside spa. Please visit us at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa

Author: Christine789

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1791158_29.html

7D Ranch Horsemanship Clinic with Spencer Dominick

This exciting opportunity will be at the beautiful 7D Ranch in Sunlight Basin, WY from July 25th through August 1st. Bring your own horse or ride one of the wonderful ranch horses to improve horsemanship techniques, while gaining real mountain experience and meeting new challenges. Spencer will teach group horsemanship clinics and lead scenic trail riding adventures. Picturesque mountains, rivers, and valleys offer the perfect setting to work on a partnering relationship with your horse and to practice practical skills. Participants and their family members will stay in one of eleven comfortable cabins and can enjoy all that the 7D has to offer such as hiking, biking, fishing, wonderful meals and a children’s program. The week is sure to be an exceptional, comprehensive, and fun-filled experience. Spaces are limited, so that everyone receives individual attention. Please contact us to reserve your spot. Spencer Dominick is an accomplished and enthusiastic horseman. He specializes in starting horses and mules as well as helping with problems in older horses. His training techniques are based on kindness, consistency and building trust with each horse. In addition, Spencer enjoys working with people and helping them to achieve a harmonious relationship with their horses through teaching communication, understanding and proper riding. He teaches private lessons as well as several clinics each year in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Georgia. Also, he is a teaching clinician for the
Montana Horse Sanctuary. Spencer and his wife Dale live in Wilsall, MT with their two daughters, Perrin and Nora. For more information Contact the 7D Ranch.

The Vee Bar Guest Ranch located in Wyoming. Experience True Western Hospitality.

RIDING, ROPING AND ROUNDUP WEEK

August 22-29, 2010. All-inclusive rate $1,690 includes all meals, lodging, programs and entertainment. Transportation from Denver, trap shooting and massage therapy, Orvis fishing school and 4.6% Colorado Sales Tax are the only extra chares. Beginner to advanced riders welcome.

It all looked so easy in those John Wayne movies: 3,000 head of cattle, moving hundreds of miles with just 6 cowboys. The skills the cowboys exhibited were: complete control of their horse; a sense of where to apply pressure to the cow heard and an expertise with a rope. We want to to impart these abilities to you at our adult only riding, roping and roundup week, August 22-29, 2010 at Lost Valley Ranch. Under the training of Jeff Wahlert, a three-generation Colorado cowboy, you will learn and experience what cowboys have practiced for over 160 years. You may not be ready for the open range by weeks end, but you will have an appreciation and insight into the life of a cowboy.

Satisfaction Guarantee

Three Bars Ranch

We are so confident that you are going to love your vacation at Three Bars Ranch, we guarantee it!

If you visit Three Bars Ranch, and are not 100% satisfied with the ranch, simply let us know in the first 24 hours and we will refund 100% of your money. This is the only offer of its kind in the industry.

We realize that a Three Bars Ranch vacation is a large investment, and you expect the best. Whether this is your first guest ranch vacation or your an old hand, we want you to be comfortable in knowing we are everything we say we are. If after arriving at the ranch, you feel that we have miss represented ourselves, or if you feel the ranch simple does not live up to your expectations, simply let us know if the first 24 hours and we will refund 100% of your deposit, minus the credit card charges.

A Three Bars vacation is everything that we say it is and more, we guarantee it!

The Beckley Family

Horse and Personal Awareness Week at the Homeplace Ranch

Want to learn more about yourself and improve your riding skill?

Mark a week-end in May to spend at Homeplace Ranch.
Its an opportunity to understand "joining up" with a horse and as well as what it might tell you about your relationship with others.  Go to the Homeplace Ranch website for more information! 

Interested in a REAL Cattle Drive??

Visit the Burnt Well Ranch in New Mexico...

Our 2010 cattle drive schedule is posted on the cattle drive page of our website, but we wanted to let you know firsthand the dates and progress so far. The spring drives are: the Bonney Canyon drive April 25-May 1,  and the Kerr Ranch drive May 16-22. The fall drives are: Bonney Canyon Oct. 3-9 and Kerr Ranch Oct. 24-30, these drives also are beginning to get bookings.

WIN YOUR SUMMER VACATION AT THE AQHA's QUARTERFEST EXTRAVAGANZA!

America’s Horse, April 27, 2009 – Got any summer vacation plans? You might if you attend the QuarterFest Extravaganza May 1 and 2 and win a trip to a Dude Ranchers’ of America dude ranch in Arizona or Colorado.

The Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, and Tarryall River Ranch in Lake George, Colorado, are just itchin’ to host the winners from the QuarterFest Extravaganza, www.aqha.com/quarterfest/allstar_extravaganza.html.

Nestled among the majestic natural beauty of the Rincon Mountains between Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest, the Tanque Verde dude ranch, in business since 1868, is set on 60,000 acres of unspoiled southwest landscape surrounding plush accommodations, unparalleled amenities and a diverse menu of daily rides and activities. Guests are invited to take part in a variety of horseback adventures, hit the trails on a mountain bike, or hike, fish, swim and just play at the Tanque Verde.

The winners of the Colorado dude ranch vacation will be welcomed to the Tarryall River Ranch by the Tesch family. At the Tarryall, you can fish, hike or spend the entire time horseback. You’ll appreciate the wranglers and the thorough instruction provided. Beginners will be made to feel comfortable on the most gentle of horses, while intermediate and advanced riders will be matched with a horse that will perfectly compliment their abilities. With the choice of half-day or all-day rides, you’ll also be able to chose the ride you want: touring beautiful spots, instructional rides to sharpen your skills, leisurely rides or more advanced rides in groups or with your family. An overnight pack trip is available, too. There is also opportunity to work in the arena, team-penning or practicing for the ranch rodeo.

The vacations, which must be used during the 2009 season, are both four-night packages for two people and are based upon availability. Airfare is not included, and some restrictions may apply. Again, one dude ranch vacation will be given away each night – May 1 and 2 – at the QuarterFest Extravaganza. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 to win. Complete contest rules available at www.aqha.com/quarterfest/media/extravaganza_DR_Rules.pdf.

Invest in ‘REAL’ Value ~ Come Stay Where Cowboys Play

Return to the simple way of life, all inclusive ranch offers more for your dollar. A week now, memories forever.

Let’s face it, these last few years haven’t been the easiest of times. On days when things seem especially rough, think about what it must have been like out on the open range, it is time to “Cowboy Up”!
Getting back to the basic’s, the Cowboy way, a handshake was a deal…no papers involved, your dollar bought you food for a month not a candy bar and your word was true, more so than a signature.
Now is the time to step back and recapture your spirit of the west! This code of ethics is still found at North Fork Ranch & Fishing Lodge in Shawnee, Colorado, an easy one hour drive from Denver. A small family owned & operated ranch has taken great pride in welcoming in guests who have become ‘friends’ for over twenty four years. A traditional dude ranch in the summer months finds activities for the young at heart and adventurous alike. Enjoy a day out on the trail exploring the Rocky Mountains upon horseback, making the catch of a lifetime fly fishing in over two miles of private, pristine water, hike into the Alpine Wilderness or simply sit back, relax and rejuvenate counting the stars in the wide open skies.
Enjoy Colorado’s newest Orvis Endorsed Lodge year round. Resting on the banks of the North Fork of the South Platte River, thousands of pounds of teeming trout are awaiting. Fireside dining with a gourmet flare & intimate accommodations are far from a night of beans and the cold ground.
A handshake & a fair deal is the Cowboy way. An all inclusive rate ensures that you will receive more for your dollar than ever before and there’s not even an extra charge for the memories you take home for a lifetime. It takes Real courage to Invest, it’s a promise.

A Ranch to Match Your Dreams

Imagine yourself taking the best vacation of your life at a dude ranch. The cool, fresh mountain air, the open spaces, the feel of a steady horse beneath you as you top the next rise... the flash of color from the dark pool as the monster trout rises to your offering...luxuriating in the warmth of the setting sun as you wait for the dinner bell's call ... shared time with family and friends.

The Dude Ranchers' Association, which was formed in 1926, has over 100 member ranches that offer all inclusive dude ranch vacation packages. Each of the DRA ranches are uniquely different and range from rustic to ritzy with everything in between.

Since every ranch is a direct reflection of the family operating it, there are no two ranches alike. For first time guests, we've created a list of basic questions addressing the question...
"How do you choose the ranch to match your dreams?"

Riding should be your first consideration - choose the riding environment that appeals to you; open meadows, prairies, mountain trails or southwestern desert. The location of the ranch determines the terrain.

Then, choose the type of riding you'd like; working livestock, cattle drives, pack trips, team penning and arena games or daily trail rides. All ranches fall into one of the following categories - which will help you make the best choice:
WORKING DUDE RANCH: These are working cattle or sheep operations. Your horseback riding adventures will be determined by the ranch's livestock and the work related to them. Be prepared to experience these activities first hand.
DUDE RANCH: Horseback riding is central to these ranches. The cowboy in you will experience Western riding and a variety of outdoor activities.
RESORT DUDE RANCH:Horseback riding is featured, and these ranches offer an array of diverse activities and onsite facilities. These are apt to be the larger ranches.

Your next consideration should be the time of year - typically, the ranches in the northern states (and cooler climates) are the busiest in the summer months, while the southern ranches offer warm weather riding in the winter months.

The number of guests that a ranch can host will also be something to think about - a stay at a ranch with only eight guests is a dramatically different experience than choosing a ranch that serves eighty or one hundred guests. The difference is most noticeable in the dining and social experiences.

Your accommodations are also an important consideration - ranch atmospheres range from rustic to luxurious, and everything in between. Ranches are always extremely clean and comfortable, but if you need hair dryers, TV's, Jacuzzi tubs, a daily massage and wireless Internet to make your dream vacation, just choose your ranch accordingly. With over one hundred unique ranches in the Association, we have one to match your dreams - perfectly. As you narrow your choices down to a couple ranches, call and explain to them what's most important to you - they'll help you make the best choice.

Membership in the Association is not automatic. Dude ranches applying for membership go through a rigorous two year inspection and approval process. When you vacation at a Dude Ranchers' Association Dude Ranch, you can be sure of a quality vacation. Choose a Dude Ranchers' Association ranch and Ride The West with The Best!